Formats

• A Webloc file created with Safari is formatted as a property list, or plist, which stores data in a list style. Older Mac browsers such as versions of Internet Explorer prior to 5.2.3 and older Netscape browsers create Webloc files in binary format, which consists of a series of zeros and ones. Plist-style Webloc files are similar to text files, whereas binary Webloc files are not.
  
  

Opening

• You can open any Webloc file by clicking and dragging the file to an open browser window. Safari, Opera, Goggle Chrome and Firefox are all capable of opening these files. You can also open a Webloc file by double-clicking on its icon. The file contains the full URL of the associated website. You can copy the address and paste it into a browser if desired by opening the Webloc file with a text editor.
  
  

Windows Issue

• You can share a Webloc file with a Windows user, but he won't be able to open the file by dragging it to a browser. Instead, he will need to use a text editor such as Notepad to open the file and retrieve the URL of the associated website. On a Windows system, a Webloc file may appear as two separate files with one having a “.webloc” extension and the other one having a “._webloc” extension. Both files can be opened with a text editor.
  
  

Conversion Programs

• Webloc conversion programs are available for converting the files into a format that Windows systems can open directly in a Web browser. The programs offer installation wizards, user-friendly interfaces and a component that warns you if a Webloc file is corrupt.