What Is a PDI File?

This article explains all the file formats that use PDI files, including how to open each type and how to convert your file to a different format that might be more relevant for whatever you're using it for.

What Is a PDI File?

A file with the PDI file extension is most likely an exact copy of a disc created with Pinnacle Systems' InstantCopy DVD ripper program.

Your PDI file might instead be associated with PReS Document Creation Subroutines, or it may be some kind of definition file used with PI software from Aveva (formerly OSIsoft).

Some versions of Microsoft PowerPoint use this file extension for a format that supports importing and exporting PowerPoint files, while other PDI files stand for Portable Database Image, a format used for publishing and analyzing data.

How to Open a PDI File

Although it's discontinued, InstantCopy, from Pinnacle Systems, was the primary program used for both creating and opening files that are in the InstantCopy disc image file format.

ImgBurn is a free alternative that also opens these files, but only for the purpose of burning it to a disc—it does not support ripping (copying) discs to the PDI format as InstantCopy did. IsoBuster might be able to open PDI files similarly.

Here's how to open the other file formats:

• PReS Document Creation Subroutines are associated with Objectif Lune (previously called PrintSoft), but we're not sure if or how the file comes into play there. It's not clear what specific program the file is used with.
• Aveva PI Vision is used to open display definition PDI files.
• PDI files that PowerPoint uses can, of course, be opened with that program.
• Excel, and software from Panoratio, are two options for opening Portable Database Image files.

How to Convert a PDI File

A dedicated file conversion tool is usually enough to convert most file types, but that's probably only true for PDI files when it comes to the InstantCopy format.

You can use ISOBuddy to convert those kinds of PDI files to the ISO format. ImgBurn might work, too, and if so, it probably supports additional export formats like BIN, IMG, and MINISO.

We have little confidence that any of the other formats described above can be converted to a different format. However, if it's possible, just open the PDI file in whatever software it's supposed to work in, and look for some sort of File > Save As or Export menu.

Still Can't Open It?

If you can't get the file to open or convert using one of the programs linked above, double-check that you're reading the file extension correction. Make sure it reads ".PDI" and not something similar like PDF, IDX, PDD, or PDL (Perl Data Language).

All four file formats require different programs to open them, even though they look very similar in the way they're named.

If you find that you're not really dealing with a PDI file, research the file extension you do have. Unless it's an extremely obscure format, you'll likely find out which software programs support it and how, if it's possible, to convert your file to some other format.