LIN File

What are LIN files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a LIN 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 LIN files.

What is a LIN file?

LIN files have multiple uses, and Electronic Arts Interactive Sequence is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Electronic Arts Interactive Sequence

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 LIN files

Important: Different programs may use files with the LIN file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your LIN 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 LIN openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 7, 2026

All known file formats using extension .LIN

While Electronic Arts Interactive Sequence is a popular type of LIN-file, we know of 2 different uses of the .LIN file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

X-Plane Painted Line

The X-Plane Painted Line (.LIN) file is a scenery-asset used by the X-Plane flight simulator written by Laminar Research. It defines painted line graphics (such as taxiway markings, centerlines, edge lines or other striping) that are draped over the terrain mesh or scenery tiles (DSFs). Designers of airports and scenery use .LIN files to add visual line details that conform to the ground shape, especially where precise alignment, texture repetition, and curved paths are required.

These files are created in text form by scenery authors, using the X-Plane painted-line specification. Line files are referenced by scenery packages, which load them and apply their visual definitions over the terrain. Texture images such as PNGs supply the appearance of the line (color, pattern). Additional visual controls allow setting the line's width, how the texture is scaled horizontally and vertically, specifying layers and offsets for lateral placement across the line's width, bezier-curve paths or straight segments, and optional end caps for the line start or end.

Files begin with header keywords (for example "LINE_PAINT"). They include directives such as TEXTURE, SCALE, S_OFFSET, and optionally TEX_WIDTH or TEX_HEIGHT. Lines or polygons are defined by longitude/latitude coordinates, with control points for bezier curves where needed. The file format supports open and closed shapes (open chains or loops), multiple texture layers, alignment of texture repetition to segments, and mirroring of textures for better visual joins at corners. These keywords appear plainly in the file text.

LIN opener for Windows

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

Various apps that use files with this extension

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