CBT File

What are CBT files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a CBT file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your CBT files.

What is a CBT file?

CBT files have multiple uses, and IBM Private Tutor Lesson is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

IBM Private Tutor Lesson

We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

How to open CBT files

Important: Different programs may use files with the CBT file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your CBT file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested ten different CBT openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 5, 2026

All known file formats using extension .CBT

While IBM Private Tutor Lesson is a popular type of CBT-file, we know of 2 different uses of the .CBT file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

WordPerfect Writing Tools Data

WordPerfect Writing Tools Data files hold auxiliary vocabulary content used by WordPerfect's proofing tools - such as the thesaurus, dictionary, and similar writing aids. These are data-only support files created and read by WordPerfect alongside a user document when you use features like spell-check or thesaurus lookup.

WordPerfect generates and updates these files when installing or customizing its writing tools vocabulary. These files are not text documents you write or edit like letters or reports; they store structured data used behind the scenes to power functions that suggest synonyms, check spelling, or maintain the dictionary. WordPerfect looks up terms in these files whenever you invoke one of the writing tools.

These files are identified by a binary signature: the first bytes at offset 0 match the pattern FF 57 50 43 10 00 00 00 01 46 01 00 00 followed by many zero bytes. That header allows WordPerfect (and some archive tools) to distinguish a Writing Tools Data file from other file types.

CBT opener for Windows

We have identified one CBT opener that is compatible with this specific type of CBT file.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of CBT files. Remember, different programs may use CBT files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about CBT file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.