# What the Hell Is an "ink" file? I actually DO need the answer kinda fast. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 7, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354 "2010-06-07T22:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354/21 "2010-06-08T01:46:56Z")
The file, if it is a .lnk file, will not have meanigful text. It is a shortcut file and the original is not accessible. Your prof uploaded the wrong file and needs to redo it. I have done this myself, while uploading a syllabus. It’s an easy mistake to make. ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354/22 "2010-06-08T03:35:01Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > I did. It talks about touch sensitive PDAs. Not a lot of help. What’s with the attitude? You asked for what you might need to be able to read an “.ink” file, and BigT linked to a site that gave the three most likely applications that can be associated with this extension. It even said which of the three was most likely, in its estimation. What else did you want? Should one of us come to your house and figure it out? Maybe call up your prof for you? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354/23 "2010-06-08T05:25:22Z")
> [@arseNal](#): > > What’s with the attitude? You asked for what you might need to be able to read an “.ink” file, and BigT linked to a site that gave the three most likely applications thathat can be associated with this extension. It even said which of the three was most likely, in its estimation. What else did you want? Should one of us come to your house and figure it out? Maybe call up your prof for you? I apologize to **BigT** if I came across as having an attitude. It’s just that his link doesn’t help. I appreciate him for trying, but don’t read me saying that that won’t work as a personal attack. I _like_ the guy, but the link doesn’t even remotely fix my problem. **monkey** : I need a screwdriver. **BigT** : I have a hex head. Will that work? **monkey** : No. **arse** : How dare you! ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354/24 "2010-06-08T05:30:43Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > The file, if it is a .lnk file, will not have meanigful text. It is a shortcut file and the original is not accessible. Your prof uploaded the wrong file and needs to redo it. I have done this myself, while uploading a syllabus. It’s an easy mistake to make. That’s gotta be it. Having poked around a bit, I think that’s the most likely explanation. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354/25 "2010-06-08T10:27:03Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > That’s gotta be it. Having poked around a bit, I think that’s the most likely explanation. Thanks. Whoo boy! The first day of class, and the professor makes a mistake like this? Are you sure it’s worth paying $1,000-$1,500 to be taught by this guy? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354/26 "2010-06-08T11:16:29Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Whoo boy! > The first day of class, and the professor makes a mistake like this? > > Are you sure it’s worth paying $1,000-$1,500 to be taught by this guy? Assuming you’re asking a serious question- yeah, it’s an easy mistake to make. If you upload a file to the online environment by selecting the file from your “recent documents” menu, rather than from the file itself you will upload a .lnk file. The file looks no different on the computer, as it often just displays the file name without extension. I have made this mistake- on the first day of class no less- and have managed to teach a credible class nonetheless. :rolleyes: **Monkey** - hope you get it worked out. ---
**Author:** ![StrangerThanFiction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@StrangerThanFiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangerThanFiction)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354/27 "2010-06-08T11:29:41Z")
That’s one of the things about OSX, Vista and 7 that really drives me nuts. I guess file extensions must confuse some people, but hiding them by default just makes the situation worse IMO. ---
**Author:** ![arseNal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@arseNal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arseNal)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354/28 "2010-06-08T12:19:02Z")
> [@A Monkey With a Gun](#): > > **monkey** : I need a screwdriver. > **BigT** : I have a hex head. Will that work? Not even close to how I see it, but not worth pursuing this conversation, esp. since you seem to have figured it out. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354/29 "2010-06-08T16:22:13Z")
If it is a .lnk file, wouldn’t your computer bring up an error message about not being able to find the target of the shortcut? It sounds like you haven’t actually downloaded the file, and are just trying to open it from the browser. Please download the file, view the file properties, and tell us what you see (file type, file size, etc). This will give us more information to help solve the problem. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354/30 "2010-06-08T17:21:27Z")
> [@Amblydoper](#): > > If it is a .lnk file, wouldn’t your computer bring up an error message about not being able to find the target of the shortcut? It sounds like you haven’t actually downloaded the file, and are just trying to open it from the browser. Please download the file, view the file properties, and tell us what you see (file type, file size, etc). This will give us more information to help solve the problem. No… I’ve been through this and the computer lets you download the file, but then is unable to open it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-an-ink-file-i-actually-do-need-the-answer-kinda-fast/542354.md?page=1)