Did you find an FDX file on your computer and wonder what program should open it? Maybe someone emailed you an FDX file but you're not sure how to use it. Perhaps you tried to open the FDX file but Windows told you that it could not open it.
Before you can open an FDX file (assuming it's even a file format that's intended to be viewed or edited), you'll need to determine what kind of file the .FDX file extension refers to.
Other types of files may also use the FDX file extension. If you know of any additional file formats that use the .FDX extension, please let me know so I can update this information.
How To Open an FDX File:
The easiest way to open an FDX file is to double-click on it and let your PC decide which default application should open the file. If no program opens the FDX file then you probably don't have an application installed that can view and/or edit FDX files.
Warning: Take great care when opening executable file formats received via email or downloaded from websites you're not familiar with. See my List of Executable File Extensions for a listing of file extensions to avoid and why.
FDX files can be opened and edited with Final Draft version 8 or newer. Previous versions of Final Draft used FDR files.
Tip: Use a text editor to open the FDX file. FDX files are XML-based and thus are text-only files, meaning any text editor (like Notepad in Windows) will able to display the file's contents. You'll need Final Draft to do any actual work with the FDX movie script but you'll be able to get some idea of what's contained in the file from a simple text editor.
If you know of anything else helpful about FDX files, please let me know so I can update this page.
If you find that an application on your PC does try to open the FDX file but it's the wrong application or if you would rather have another installed program open FDX files, see my How To Change the Default Program for a Specific File Extension guide for making that change in Windows.
How To Convert an FDX File:
There are two main ways to attempt to convert an FDX file to another file type:
- Open the FDX file in its default program and choose to save the open file as another file format.
- Use a File Conversion Online Service or Software Program to convert the FDX file to another file format.
The first option involving opening the FDX file in its native program is preferable because it's both easier and will probably result in a more accurate file conversion. Of course if you don't have a program that opens FDX files, a third-party file conversion tool (the second option) could be very useful.
Important: You cannot usually change a file extension (like the FDX file extension) to one that your computer recognizes and expect the newly renamed file to be usable. An actual file format conversion using one of the methods described above must take place in most cases.
Still Having Problems Opening or Using an FDX File?
Let a community of computer support enthusiasts help out! Post in the PC Support Forum about what kinds of problems you're having with opening or using the FDX file and we'll see what we can do to help.
