16 File Extension

What is the .16 file type?

The most frequent occurrence of the ".16" numerical string as a filename extension has to do with versioned Pro/Engineer project backups. A complicated and powerful parametric CAD (Computer-Aided Design) system by PTC, Pro/Engineer sets a high standard of hi-tech design and modeling in a whole range of technology-reliant applications.

To ensure data safety and traceability, Pro/Engineer uses a system of versioned backups, i.e. an indexed copy of an original project file is saved every time changes are about to be made. Such versioned backups are assigned numerical indexes (e.g. ".16") that are appended to original filenames, so a .16 file is the sixteenth copy of a project.

Versioned backups like ".16" are recognized and handled by Pro/Engineer applications the same way as regular project files.

Quite differently, the ".16" dotted numerical suffix can also either appear or actually become a provisional filename extension. This usually happens with files whose original extension has become missing or concealed, while the filename has dotted section at the end (e.g., to indicate a file's position, version, or number). Thus, such trailing dotted numerals (like ".16") can easily take over as extensions.

On Microsoft Windows, the "Hide extensions for known file types" option is turned on by default, which is a controversial behavior and can lead to confusion, concealing actual filename extensions. The "Hide extensions..." option should always be turned off, and if the original extension is still missing, a proper one should be added manually, basing on the actual file type and/or format.

On POSIX-compliant operating systems (Unix, GNU/Linux, and others), a numerical string like ".16" can often be an index part of a filename, rather than an extension, which are generally not used at all. Such dotted indexes are a handy way to point out to a file's version or other properties (e.g., "libldb.so.1.1.16").

Software to open or convert 16 files

Pro/ENGINEER

 

3D-Tool by 3D-Tool GmbH & Co. KG

 

VLC media player by VideoLAN

 

Microsoft Office

 

XnView

 

Free File Viewer Pro

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