File extension OSM
| File type | OpenStreetMap Data Format |
| Developer | OpenStreetMap |
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What is a OSM file?
File with an .OSM extension contains street map data stored in the OSM (Open Street Map) file, based on XML. Such record is based on nodes representing specific points, roads (which connect the nodes), and relations that may contain properties of given streets, points, objects or indicators.
There is an OpenStreetMap file entitled Planet.OSM, which contains a continuously expanded Earth’s streets database. They can be viewed and exported also via supporting FTP services. OSM files can contain data in different scales – representing a small fraction of space or the whole planet.
Program(s) that can open the .OSM file
How to open OSM files
If you cannot open the OSM file on your computer - there may be several reasons. The first and most important reason (the most common) is the lack of a suitable software that supports OSM among those that are installed on your device.
A very simple way to solve this problem is to find and download the appropriate application. The first part of the task has already been done – the software supporting the OSM file can be found in the table. Now just download and install the appropriate application.
Possible problems with the OSM format files
The inability to open and operate the OSM file does not necessarily mean that you do not have an appropriate software installed on your computer. There may be other problems that also block our ability to operate the OpenStreetMap Data Format file. Below is a list of possible problems.
- Corruption of a OSM file which is being opened
- Incorrect links to the OSM file in registry entries.
- Accidental deletion of the description of the OSM from the Windows registry
- Incomplete installation of an application that supports the OSM format
- The OSM file which is being opened is infected with an undesirable malware.
- The computer does not have enough hardware resources to cope with the opening of the OSM file.
- Drivers of equipment used by the computer to open a OSM file are out of date.
If you are sure that all of these reasons do not exist in your case (or have already been eliminated), the OSM file should operate with your programs without any problem. If the problem with the OSM file has not been solved, it may be due to the fact that in this case there is also another rare problem with the OSM file. In this case, the only you can do is to ask for assistance of a professional staff.
This extension
can be converted to:
How to associate the file with an installed software?
If you want to associate a file with a new program (e.g. my-file.OSM) you have two ways to do it. The first and the easiest one is to right-click on the selected OSM file. From the drop-down menu select "Choose default program", then click "Browse" and find the desired program. The whole operation must be confirmed by clicking OK. The second and more difficult to do is associate the OSM file extension to the corresponding software in the Windows Registry.
Is there one way to open unknown files?
Many files contain only simple text data. It is possible that while opening unknown files (e.g. OSM) with a simple text editor like Windows Notepad will allow us to see some of the data encoded in the file. This method allows you to preview the contents of many files, but probably not in such a structure as a program dedicated to support them.