What is an ALB file?
An ALB file is a library file used by Alpha Anywhere (formerly known as Alpha Five), a rapid application development (RAD) environment for building web and mobile database-driven applications. These files serve as containers for various project-related resources and work alongside other Alpha Anywhere files to support the development workflow.
ALB files primarily store supplementary project data such as:
- Script pointers
- Menus
- User-defined functions
- Toolbars
- Bitmaps
- Import definitions
These elements are crucial for managing reusable components across multiple applications, making ALB files an essential part of project organization in Alpha Anywhere.
Purpose and Functionality
ALB files are tightly integrated with the main Alpha Anywhere database file (.ADB). While the ADB file contains the overall structure and logic of the application, the ALB file holds the shared components that can be accessed and reused throughout the project or even across different projects.
This modularity allows developers to streamline their development process by reusing commonly defined settings and UI elements.
Technical Details
- File Extension:
.alb - Associated Program: Alpha Anywhere (formerly Alpha Five)
- File Type: Library File (Proprietary format)
- MIME Type: Not publicly defined
- File Format: Proprietary and undocumented
The internal structure of ALB files is not publicly documented, as they are part of Alpha Software’s proprietary file system. Consequently, they cannot be edited or viewed with standard text editors or third-party tools.
How to open ALB files?
ALB files are not designed to be opened directly by users. Instead, they are automatically loaded and managed by the Alpha Anywhere IDE when a project is opened. Developers can access the resources within an ALB file through the IDE interface, such as through the menu editor, script editor, or other design tools.
To open and use an ALB file:
- Open the Alpha Anywhere IDE.
- Load the project that includes the associated
.ADBfile. - The ALB file is loaded automatically as part of the development environment.
Related File Types
ALB files are typically used alongside several other file types in the Alpha Anywhere development ecosystem:
| File Extension | Description |
|---|---|
.adb | Main project/database file |
.alb | Library file containing reusable components |
.ddf | Data dictionary field properties file |
.ddm | Data dictionary layout and menu configuration |
.ddx | Data dictionary index information |
Can ALB Files Be Converted?
Since ALB files use a proprietary binary format, there are no official tools or third-party applications that can convert or extract their contents. They are intended solely for use within the Alpha Anywhere environment.
When Do You Encounter an ALB File?
You are most likely to encounter an ALB file when working on or maintaining applications developed with Alpha Anywhere. They are especially relevant in larger projects where shared libraries and resources are reused to ensure consistency across different application modules.
