What is a .FCX file?
An FCX file is a type of file that has been made smaller using a special tool called the FCX file compression utility. Imagine you have a big box full of toys, and you use a magic tool to make the box smaller so it's easier to carry around. That's similar to what the FCX utility does with computer files. It takes one or more files and shrinks them down so they take up less space. This is really helpful when you want to move files from one computer to another because smaller files can move faster.
To make these files big again so you can use them, you need the same FCX tool. Think of it like needing the same magic tool to make the toy box big again so you can play with the toys. Sometimes, these FCX files are also locked with a special code (encrypted), which means you need the right key to open them up and see what's inside.
However, the tool that opens these FCX files isn't being made anymore (discontinued). It was first made by a company called Compact Data Works back in 1988, and it worked on several types of computers, including some old ones like VMS, Unix-based systems, MS-DOS, and Windows. Before everyone started using .ZIP files (which are another way to make files smaller and are very common now), people used FCX files. The FCX tool could do a lot of the same things as the tools we use for .ZIP files today, like making it easy to pick which files you want to shrink or making a special FCX file that can open itself up without needing the tool.
So, if you find an FCX file, you'll know it's a file that's been made smaller using a special tool that's not around anymore. To open it, you would ideally need the FCX utility, but since it's discontinued, it might be a bit tricky to find a way to use those files today.
Verification
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