How to open .HGL files on Linux
To open .HGL files on Linux, try opening the file with an installed vector/CAD viewer that supports HPGL (support varies by distribution and apps).
Step-by-step instructions
- Try opening the file with an installed vector/CAD viewer that supports HPGL (support varies by distribution and apps).
- If it does not open, use your desktop’s “Open With…” and pick an HPGL-capable viewer you have installed; Linux file associations are typically managed via the shared-mime-info system.
Common issues
The file opens as plain text or gibberish
Many .HGL files are HPGL command text; a text editor will show the plotting commands rather than a rendered drawing.
- Open the file in an HPGL viewer/editor (e.g., ABViewer or ViewCompanion as listed by FileInfo).
- If you only need to inspect commands, use a text editor; if you need the drawing, use an HPGL renderer.
Nothing happens or the OS asks what app to use
Your system likely has no file association for the HGL/HPGL type or no HPGL-capable application installed.
- Install an HPGL-capable application (examples listed by FileInfo include ABViewer, ViewCompanion, and Canvas).
- Use “Open with…” to select that application and optionally set it as the default for .hgl files.
The drawing renders incorrectly (wrong scale, missing text, strange lines)
HPGL can have variants and device-specific expectations; different viewers may interpret commands, scaling, and fonts differently.
- Try opening the same file in a different HPGL viewer (interpretation differs across tools).
- If you know the intended plotter/printer settings, adjust scaling/units and page setup options in the viewer if available.
The file is corrupted or incomplete
Truncated downloads or partial exports can break HPGL command streams, leading to incomplete drawings or read errors.
- Re-download or re-export the .HGL file from the original source.
- Confirm the file size matches the sender’s copy and try opening with a second HPGL viewer to rule out app-specific issues.
Still can’t open your .HGL file?
Recover a deleted or lost .HGL file
If the file was deleted by mistake or the drive was formatted, data recovery software may be able to get it back. Stop writing to that drive right away, because new data can overwrite what you want to recover.
Windows software that recovers deleted or lost files from PCs and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and memory cards, after deletion, formatting or a crash.
Wondershare RecoveritWindows and Mac software that recovers deleted or lost files from computers and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and SD cards.
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Security note
.HGL is typically a plotting-command format (often text), not a macro-enabled office document; however, malformed or maliciously crafted files can still trigger bugs in viewers/parsers—open untrusted files only in reputable, updated HPGL software.