Extract text from AI village files (AIV)
To convert AIV AI villages to another format, you need Stronghold Crusader or other Game software.
To convert other file formats to the "Game AI Data File" file type, you need software like Stronghold Crusader or a similar tool.
The .AIV file format is primarily associated with the Stronghold series of real-time strategy games developed by Firefly Studios. Specifically, it serves as a Stronghold AI Village file. These files store the precise architectural layouts, economic priorities, and military strategies of computer-controlled opponents. Modders and players use these files to customize how the AI builds its castles and manages its economy in skirmish matches. A secondary, much rarer use is the AIVault Data File developed by EllaZ Systems.
The primary disadvantage of the .AIV format is its highly specialized, proprietary nature. It is a closed binary format that is completely unreadable by standard text editors or database software. You cannot open it natively on Windows or macOS without having the game installed. Because it is locked to the Stronghold engine, sharing custom castle designs requires the recipient to also own the game and manually place the file into specific hidden installation directories. If the file is corrupted, it can cause the entire game to crash.
Because this is a closed, proprietary game file, standard online converters fail to process it. There is no direct conversion to standard formats like PDF or XML because the data is strictly interpreted by the game's hardcoded logic. If our analysis detects a supported underlying or embedded format, viewing or conversion may still be possible. For actual structural editing, users must rely on specialized community tools like the AIV Editor designed specifically for Stronghold modding.
Convert.Guru analyzes your AIV file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
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If you want to convert AIV file to , you can use Stronghold Crusader or similar software from the "Game AI Opponent Data" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to AIV, try Stronghold Crusader or another comparable tool in the "Game AI Opponent Data" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our AIV converter.