PM File

What are PM files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a PM 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 PM files.

What is a PM file?

PM files have multiple uses, and Perl Module is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Perl Module

PM is an acronym for Perl Module. These PM files are modules that contain functions in the Perl scripting language. Perl Modules can be used by different Perl applications and are often a library of related functions, e.g., scientific calculation functions, or statistical functions. The programmer can use these functions from his own Perl program without writing everything from scratch.

When PM files are compiled, they are given the .pmc file extension.

How to open PM files

We have identified five PM openers that are compatible with this specific type of PM file.

Programs that open Perl Module files

Last updated: August 10, 2026

All known file formats using extension .PM

While Perl Module is a popular type of PM-file, we know of 3 different uses of the .PM file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Power Music Module

We know that one PM format is Power Music Module. 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 PM openers which you will find listed below.

XV Raster Image

XV Raster Image (.PM) is a raster‐graphics image format created and used by the "xv" program under the X Window System. It is saved when the xv image‐display tool exports or saves images in its native PM (XV bitmap) format. Users commonly encounter it when converting or saving pictures in xv rather than working with standard formats like JPEG or PNG.

The PM file stores image data in bitmap form, supporting full color as well as indexed color or greyscale, depending on xv's mode. After editing or visualizing an image (resizing, color adjustments, cropping, dithering, etc.), xv can write the result out as a .PM file so that the image retains whatever format type (8-bit, 24-bit RGB, or otherwise) that xv was operating in. Other software that reads xv‐supported formats can usually load PM files to view or convert them to other formats.

Files in this format begin with the ASCII byte sequence VIEW at offset 0, serving as a signature to identify the file as an XV/PM bitmap.

PM opener for Windows

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

Various apps that use files with this extension

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