Genealogy octet-stream file?

Question:I need to open a file of the type: octet-stream but am not sure which application to choose to open the file. I tried Excel but the data isn't properly readable in the way it should be. Its genealogical relationship information. Thanks in advance of any input...

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I need to open a file of the type: octet-stream but am not sure which application to choose to open the file. I tried Excel but the data isn't properly readable in the way it should be. Its genealogical relationship information. Thanks in advance of any input...

http://www.mhonarc.org/archive/html/mhon...

here is an old old discussion relating to what this is.. and it is one of the less technical things I ran into. (I've been online over 25 yrs and run into many of these concepts). It has to do with coding type thingies in how a mail is sent.
And the above is still over my head.
Here's my take/explanation. YOU have a program on your system that you assume other persons have, or they have one that they assume YOU have. Computers and programs are very different. Forgive me if you have been down this road.. my explanation assumes that someone knows zero.
For many years, the way around this type of problem was using plain text files, which are generic. I would not know what to do with one of what you got , either. And I've worked tech support.
Apparently the sender seems to have set up his info in a way/ program of his choosing. Easiest thing would be to contact the sender and tell him your system won't open it.
A comparison.. a gedcom file transfers genealogy data between two compatible genealogy programs. But it is only readable by such a program.. it does not work right in a word processing program. Most researchers use standard programs for just this reason.. so you don't have to have the same exact program.
If he/she set up the info in something of his own design, then he is the only one who can explain what you need, or resend it in a more generic format.

An octet-stream is really just a fancy name for a binary file. It is usually a file generated by a program FOR ITSELF. For example, if you create document in word then forward that via e-mail or some other method to another computer, it will be octet-stream. It will also include the file extension .doc so that other systems will know what program to use to read it.

Unfortunately, a binary (octet-stream) file can only be "opened" by a program designed to read and understand the file.

In your file - does the file have an extension?? (like .ftw, .exe, .doc?) -- WARNING - if the extension is .exe, DO NOT CLICK ON IT unless you REALLY, REALLY trust not only your source but also their ability to protect THEIR system from hackers.

If it has an extension, then you might be able to determine the program that generated the file (.ftw for example is from Family Tree Maker). If it does have an extension - add additional info to this question to identify that extension - might be able to get better help.

If it doesn't have an extension, you unfortunately (unless you have significant background in analysing binary file types) forced to contacting the source of the file and asking them what program created it. Then you might be able to go from there or have them send the same information in another more common format.