LBL File

What are LBL files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a LBL 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 LBL files.

What is a LBL file?

LBL files have multiple uses, and NiceLabel Label Template is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

NiceLabel Label Template

Files with the .lbl extension are most commonly associated with NiceLabel template files. NiceLabel is a software application that is used to create bar codes and other professional labels. The LBL files contain templates used by the software.

These templates store defined layouts and designs, such as the formatting, text, dimensions, and other label settings. This allows a user to print a number of labels from a single template without creating a layout for each label.

How to open LBL files

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

Programs that open NiceLabel Label Template files

Last updated: August 7, 2026

All known file formats using extension .LBL

While NiceLabel Label Template is a popular type of LBL-file, we know of 8 different uses of the .LBL file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Act! Label Definition

Act!, previously Sage Act, is a marketing and CRM software solution. It stores custom label designs (for label printers) in files with extension .lbl.

LBL opener for Windows

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

DBase Label Design

The dBASE Label Design file (.LBL), formally called "dBASE IV Label design", is a legacy file used by dBASE IV to store layout definitions for printing labels. It holds settings for creating label sheets (such as address labels or mailing labels), including label size, margins, number of labels per sheet, text or field placement, font or formatting - everything specifying how data from a dBASE database should appear when printed in label form.

This file is created by using dBASE IV's CREATE LABEL or MODIFY LABEL commands, which guide the user through defining dimensions and content. Once designed and saved, it is used with the LABEL FORM command to produce printed labels or write the output to a file. These files are no longer generated by more recent versions of dBASE, which use the LAB extension instead.

Internally the file is binary and begins with a noticeable header signature: at offset zero it starts with the ASCII string "dBASEIV Generic Design File Version 1.0", followed by specific control bytes; it also contains the string "H'P'X" somewhere in its data. These markers help distinguish this format from other .LBL formats using the same extension.

Programs that open these LBL files

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

Detached PDS Label Info

We know that one LBL format is Detached PDS Label Info. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

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

MapWindow Labels

MapWindow Labels files with the .LBL extension store label settings and label objects for map layers in MapWindow GIS (MapWinGIS). These files are XML-based and used to save and restore how textual labels appear on map layers - what text should display, where each label is positioned, and how it looks.

These .LBL files are normally created by MapWindow GIS when a user configures labeling options for vector (especially shapefile) layers and chooses to serialize those settings. The label text may come from a field in the layer's attribute table or be set manually. The file can include label positions, rotations, visibility rules, font settings (name, size, style), frame and shadow effects, and categorization for different visual styles. When the map is reopened or the layer reloaded, MapWindow reads the .LBL file to reconstruct the same labeling appearance.

When saving labels, MapWindow offers multiple "saving modes." One mode embeds only basic label visualization options into the layer or map settings. Another mode writes a stand-alone XML file named after the layer with the extension .lbl; this file contains the full state of label text, positions, categories, rotation, and styling options. The choice of what to include is controlled by a "SavingMode" setting.

Files in this format begin with a signature identifying them as MapWindow label data: they start with the ASCII string ".MapWindow" at offset zero. Internally they contain XML tags such as "LABELS", "LABEL X", "VERSION", which are used for parsing the file's structure.

Programs that open these LBL files

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

PC-Label Label

We know that one LBL format is PC-Label Label. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Planetary Data System Info File

We know that one LBL format is Planetary Data System Info File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

ZebraDesigner Project

We know that one LBL format is ZebraDesigner Project. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Various apps that use files with this extension

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