Types of BTAB Files

Chief BTAB Description

.BTAB

Extension:	.btab
Group:	Base Guitar Tabulature Data

BTAB file is a text file format used for writing guitar, bass guitar and drum tabulatures (a form of musical notation) that uses plain ASCII numbers, letters and symbols. This format seems to be obsolete.

Developer:	Microsoft Corporation
File Category:	Text Files
Entry:	HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.btab

Software Programs That Open The Base Guitar Tabulature Data:

Microsoft Notepad by Microsoft Corporation

Windows

Mac

Linux

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Sources of BTAB Problems

Common BTAB Opening Problems

Missing Microsoft Notepad

You encounter an error message such as "%%os%% Can't Open BTAB Files" when trying to open your BTAB. If this is the case, it's usually due to the fact that you do not have Microsoft Notepad for %%os%% installed on your computer. The OS won't know what to do with your BTAB file, so double-clicking to load the file doesn't work.

Tip: When you have another program installed that you know will open your BTAB, you can select it from the other programs listed (see "Show Apps").

Wrong Version of Microsoft Notepad is Installed

Your Base Guitar Tabulature Data file is incompatible with Microsoft Notepad because you might have the wrong version installed. Installing the latest version of Microsoft Notepad from Microsoft Corporation is recommended. The primary cause of this problem is that your Base Guitar Tabulature Data file was created by a different (newer) version of Microsoft Notepad than what's installed.

Tip: Investigate your BTAB file by right-clicking and selecting "Properties" to find clues on what version you need.

Ultimately, most of the difficulties opening BTAB files are due to having the wrong version of Microsoft Notepad installed.

Other Causes of BTAB File Opening Problems

Errors opening Base Guitar Tabulature Data files can still occur even with the latest Microsoft Notepad software installed on your computer. There can be external issues inside of %%os%% that are causing these errors when opening BTABs. These other problems include (listed in order from most to least common):

• BTAB file type Registry entries are wrong
• Mistaken removal of the Windows registry BTAB description
• Invalid installation of a BTAB-associated program (eg. Microsoft Notepad)
• Your BTAB can't be loaded properly (file corruption)
• Past or present virus infection has affected your BTAB
• Device drivers for BTAB-related hardware are out-of-date
• Windows cannot load your Base Guitar Tabulature Data file due to insufficient resources (eg. RAM)