Sometimes a file posted for download on a website can have a .xml extension appended to its name during the download. For example, a file named experiment.smbl becomes experiment.smbl.xml. This corruption of the file name blocks the file from opening in Vernier apps.

The apps Spectral Analysis, Graphical Analysis, and Instrumental Analysis use file extensions of .smbl, .ambl (or .gambl), and .imbl, respectively. If a file doesn’t have a matching extension, the app won’t be able to find or open it. If this happens, you need to rename the file to remove the bad file extension. This involves deleting the .xml extension to restore the file name (e.g., experiment.smbl).

The procedure to change the file name varies by operating system.
(Click or tap the appropriate section for instructions for your device.)

  1. Select the file and press command−I to summon the Get Info dialog.
  2. In the Name & Extension field, edit the file name to remove the trailing .xml.
  3. Press return to commit the change.
  1. Display a Windows File Explorer window and navigate to the folder containing the problem file.
  2. To remove a file extension, the extensions must be displayed. Use the View tab and confirm the option File name extensions is checked. If it is not checked, select it.
  3. Right-click on the file and edit the file name to remove the trailing .xml.
  4. Press return to commit the change; you’ll be prompted to confirm that you want to change the file extension; say Yes.
  1. Use the built-in Files app to navigate to the problem file.
  2. Right-click on the file and choose Rename to edit the file name.
  3. Remove the trailing .xml and press enter to commit the change.
  1. Use the built-in Files app or the Drive app to navigate to the problem file.
  2. Right-click on the file and choose Rename to edit the file name.
  3. Remove the trailing .xml. Press enter to commit the change.

We do not have a method for renaming a file that will change the file extension error on these platforms. You will need to change the file name using a different device.

After you’ve removed the .xml extension for the file, launch the desired Vernier app and use the Open Saved File option to open the file. Click or tap and navigate to the renamed file. Double-clicking a file to open it is unreliable on many computers, so do not use this method to open the file.

Published: November 9, 2020. Updated: November 10, 2020.