What is a .cil file?
A .cil file is a compressed clip art file. It is a proprietary format developed by Microsoft and was primarily used in the Microsoft Clip Gallery, a program that was discontinued in Windows 7. However, .cil files can still be opened and used with a variety of third-party applications.
.cil files typically contain .wmf files and other images in a compressed package, as well as keywords and other metadata. This makes them a convenient way to store and manage clip art collections, as well as to share clip art on the Web.
How to open a .cil file without Microsoft Clip Gallery
There are a number of third-party applications that can be used to open .cil files. Some popular options include:
To open a .cil file with one of these applications, simply right-click on the file and select "Open with" from the context menu. Then, select the application that you want to use to open the file.
Alternatively, you can drag and drop the .cil file onto the application window.
Once the .cil file is open, you will be able to view and extract the images that it contains.
How to convert a .cil file to another format
If you need to convert a .cil file to another format, such as .png or .jpg, you can use a third-party file converter. Some popular options include:
To convert a .cil file, simply upload the file to the converter website and select the format that you want to convert the file to. Then, click the "Convert" button.
Once the conversion is complete, you can download the converted file to your computer.
How to extract images from a .cil file
If you only need to extract the images from a .cil file, you can use a file archiver such as 7-Zip or WinZip.
To extract the images from a .cil file, simply right-click on the file and select "Extract" from the context menu. Then, select the location where you want to extract the images to.
The file archiver will then extract the images from the .cil file and save them to the selected location.
How to fix corrupted .cil files
If you have a corrupted .cil file, you may be able to fix it using a file repair tool. Some popular options include:
To fix a corrupted .cil file, simply launch the file repair tool and select the .cil file that you want to repair. Then, follow the instructions on the screen to repair the file.
How to use .cil files in Microsoft Office applications
Although Microsoft Clip Gallery is no longer available, you can still use .cil files in Microsoft Office applications. To do this, simply insert the .cil file into the document or presentation.
To insert a .cil file into a Microsoft Office document or presentation:
- Open the document or presentation.
- Click on the "Insert" tab.
- In the "Illustrations" group, click on the "Pictures" button.
- Navigate to the .cil file that you want to insert and click on the "Open" button.
The .cil file will be inserted into the document or presentation. You can then resize and position the image as needed.
Conclusion
.cil files are a convenient way to store and manage clip art collections, as well as to share clip art on the Web. Although Microsoft Clip Gallery is no longer available, you can still open and use .cil files with a variety of third-party applications.