Image file
File type: Bitmap image file
Files with xpm extension can be usually encountered as pictures in X Pixmap (XPM) format, an ASCII-text-based image format used by the X Window System.
Found 2 different file type records with the same xpm filename suffix.
File type category:
Bitmap image file
Date updated: July 14, 2025
File extension xpm is used for X Pixmap (XPM), an ASCII-text-based image format used by the X Window System. It was created in 1989 by Daniel Dardailler and Colas Nahaboo working at the INRIA, France, and was later enhanced by Arnaud Le Hors.
It is intended primarily for creating icon pixmaps, and supports transparent color. It has a simple structure, deriving from the earlier XBM syntax. It can be created and manipulated using any text editor and can be included in a C language file.
Unix-X11 PixMap (256 color image for X Windows) (8bit text).
MIME types:
image/x-xpixmap
image/xpm
image/x-xpm
Use Nero PhotoSnap, IrfanView, OpenOffice.org Draw.
Use OpenOffice.org Draw to save xpm file to another format.
Software applications that can open xpm files:
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Linux/Unix
Multiplatform
Software applications that can edit xpm files:
Software capable of saving xpm files:
Programs for viewing xpm files:
Microsoft Windows
Linux/Unix
Multiplatform
Software apps that convert xpm files:
On-line services
Software apps that import xpm files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that print xpm files:
Microsoft Windows
Multiplatform
Software applications that handle other tasks involving xpm files:
Microsoft Windows
File type category:
Settings, options, themes or skins file
Date updated: September 27, 2026
DESQview was developed by Quarterdeck Office Systems and allowed users to run multiple DOS programs concurrently in separate windows. It was used primarily in the late 1980s and early 1990s and achieved modest popularity.
An .xpm file stores macro definitions for use within DESQview.
Open an .xpm file with DESQview on a compatible DOS system. The file is intended to be loaded or used by DESQview rather than opened as a normal document.
There is no standard conversion for a DESQview macro file. To preserve its functionality, keep the file in its original format and use it with DESQview.
Macros can be recreated manually in another automation tool, but that is a rewrite rather than a direct conversion.
Language
