CMS File

What are CMS files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a CMS 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 CMS files.

What is a CMS file?

CMS files have multiple uses, and CaseMap Script is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

CaseMap Script File

The .cms file extension is used for a source file format developed by LexisNexis for one of their software products. These CMS files are also called CaseMap script files and are used by the CaseMap software. This software was designed for Windows PCs and provides case, facts, and data management tools for lawyers, investigators, and other legal professionals.

These CMS files contain source code, which allows the CaseMap software to perform its intended functions. These .cms files are usually found in the directory where the CaseMap software is installed.

How to open CMS files

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

Programs that open CaseMap Script files

Last updated: August 31, 2026

All known file formats using extension .CMS

While CaseMap Script File is a popular type of CMS-file, we know of 4 different uses of the .CMS file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Celestia 3D Sphere Displacement Mesh File

Celestia Sphere Displacement Mesh (.CMS) is a deprecated model format used by the astronomy program Celestia to represent simple, irregular celestial bodies like asteroids or small moons by deforming an otherwise spherical mesh. These files are plain text and describe shape distortions via procedural noise rather than storing full vertex models. They sit in the "models" folder of Celestia or within an add-on's "models" directory.

Files of this type allow creators to define how "bumpy" or irregular the surface is using parameters such as FeatureHeight (controls height of displacement), Octaves (controls noise detail), NoiseOffset (shifts where noise is sampled), along with the mesh resolution through Slices and Rings. These settings are used instead of explicit mesh vertices; Celestia generates the distorted sphere at runtime based on them. They are suited for coarse, fractal-like distortions, not for highly detailed surface modeling.

Files begin with the ASCII signature SphereDisplacementMesh at offset 0. Within the file text are keywords such as FEATUREHEIGHT, NOISEOFFSET, OCTAVES, and SIZE that specify the particular noise and size parameters for the displacement.

CMS opener for Windows

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

Creative Music System Music File

Creative Music System Music files store music data specifically for playback using the Creative Music System sound card, introduced by Creative Labs in August 1987. Such files hold "song disk" recordings made for the CMS hardware, containing the instructions and instrument data the card's synthesizer uses to generate music through its square-wave and noise channels. These files are used by the Creative C/MS Music Player bundled with the Creative Music System and associated software packages.

The files are generated by Creative's own tools included with the CMS system, such as graphical song disks or the Intelligent Organ recording tool, both of which produce files that the card's music player reads and interprets. After creation they reside in game or utility directories, and games that support the CMS sound card use them directly for musical playback using the installed CMS driver.

On a technical level these files begin with the two ASCII characters "CM" at the very start of the file, indicating the Creative Music System format.

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

Eldritch 3D Meshes

Eldritch 3D Meshes files store the geometric shapes used by the game engine in Eldritch by Minor Key Games. They define static 3D models - walls, furniture, monsters, props - used in the game's visuals. These meshes enable the engine to display rooms, objects, and characters within Eldritch's procedurally generated world.

Files are generated by the Eldritch game's content tools - either internal asset makers or exporters tied to Eldritch's development pipeline - and later bundled into the game's asset archive so the engine can load them at runtime. They are not intended for general‐purpose modeling software.

The format begins with a four-byte ASCII signature DCMS at offset zero, used to recognize valid files.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of CMS files. Remember, different programs may use CMS 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 CMS file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.