File extension .PBN
| Full Name | Developer | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Portable Bridge Notation Format | N/A | Game Files |
The .PBN file extension stands for Portable Bridge Notation File, a file format created by a popular software used to play different variations of the game Bridge. It was first developed by Jeff Goldsmith as part of the GIB Program in 1987. It is an internationally recognized file format that has been accepted and used within all major computer card games.
PBN files store data for Bridge games such as all the moves made during the game, comments about all or individual moves, and options to label players, as well as any other customizable settings. It follows the Seven Tag Roster (STR) notation to organize data within the file. This notation has been standardized for use in bridge files and allows for a variety of tag values that can be found at the beginning of every line in the file. These tags identify the information included in each line. Popular programs used to open .PBN files include Bridge Baron, SnapBridge, Q-plus Bridge and Bridge ScoreKeeper. Other related extensions include .LIN, SAV X-Bridge, .LBR, .ACBL, and GIB.
Structure of PBN Files
PBN files are plain text files that are highly structured so that they can be processed by programs. As mentioned above, each line in the file consists of tags followed by values. Tags indicate information such as event type, board number, dealer, matchpoints won/lost, vulnerabilities etc. These tags can define which kind of line it is under the Seven Tag Roster (STR). For example, a tag listed as [Event] followed by a value like 'Club Championships' would indicate this game is part of a club championship event.
Programs for WINDOWS system
After installing the required software, the operating system will usually automatically associate an unknown file type (in this case .PBN) with the new application. If this does not happen, we can help the system a bit by selecting the software for it, which it should always use to open files with the .PBN extension.
When choosing the software we can select the system to use this software every time.
Remember!
Using it for the first time it is good to check whether the .PBN file opened in the application can be read by us and opens in a way that allows us to use it. If everything is in order, select this option the next time you open a file with the .PBN extension. However, if the file has not opened correctly, we have to look for a different software, with which we can open files with the .PBN extension. Select a different software from our list and install it on your computer. After the software is installed, repeat inspection openings of a .PBN file. Sometimes you have to repeat the operation several times.
Other instructions
If none of the programs listed by us to work with the .PBN file has not meet your expectations, you can try searching other websites. But remember to avoid downloading programs "that can open any file". These applications not only have very limited functionality, but may also expose you to expense tens of dollars when purchasing a license.
In the vast majority of cases you will find the program dedicated to support the .PBN file, or any other file format. In addition, there is a chance that it will be a free program, and its functionality (concerning the .PBN file) will be extended to the maximum.
It is also good to check
- if the .PBN file has no errors
- or if it has been copied (or downloaded by the browser) thoroughly
Author’s guidelines
Mr B. Adam
Author of the guidelines / Founder of FileExtension.info
New technologies enthusiast, helping to solve problems with the files.
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