What is a CI file?
A .CI file can be several different file types. Most often, it is a Flow Cytometry Experiment Data file used by BD Accuri C6 Software. These files store experiment data and use the standard ZIP format. Another common use is for GCC call graph information generated by the GNU Compiler Collection. Additionally, it can be a PLC project component file for Codesys or Siemens SIMATIC PLC. It is also sometimes a Microsoft Windows Content Indexer Catalog File.
How to open CI files?
You can open .CI files using the specific software that created them. For flow cytometry data, use BD Accuri C6 Plus. For GCC call graphs, developers use command-line text editors or GCC tools. Because .CI has multiple possible meanings, it can be hard to know which tool to use. viewer.online/ci analyzes .CI files to identify their exact format and creator software, shows which programs can open the file, and usually previews it.
Best practices and troubleshooting
Because .CI files can belong to different software, you should identify the actual format of your file before making changes. Do not rename the extension blindly. If you suspect the file is a Windows Content Indexer Catalog File, do not delete it manually, as the Windows operating system manages these files for search indexing. If the file is a flow cytometry data archive, you can often rename a copy to .ZIP and extract the contents with 7-Zip or WinRAR.
Software and tools
Different programs create .CI files. Biologists use BD Accuri C6. Programmers use the GNU Compiler Collection or PolySpace by The MathWorks. Industrial engineers use Codesys to edit PLC components. Automotive technicians encounter them as Subaru car information files via the Subaru Select Monitor.
Summary
Because .CI files use the known ZIP format in their most common application, viewer.online/ci can safely open and display them online, eliminating compatibility problems.