Extract text from Localization files (CHS)
To convert CHS files to another format, you need Microsoft Windows or other System software.
To convert other file formats to the "System Resource File" file type, you need software like Microsoft Windows or a similar tool.
A .CHS file is typically a Chinese localized program resource used by Microsoft Windows and various desktop applications. These files contain translated interface elements like menus, dialog boxes, and text strings. In many cases, a .CHS file acts as a compiled executable resource, sharing the exact same internal structure as a standard DLL or EXE file. Another common use for the .CHS extension is within the Cincom Smalltalk development environment as a Store changeset file, which holds source code modifications. Additionally, companies like Adobe use it for ActiveX resources, while Microsoft uses it for Windows Chinese noise-word lists to assist search indexing.
The main disadvantage of the .CHS format is its highly specialized, proprietary nature. These are internal system or development files, not standard documents. Windows resource files are compiled binaries, meaning you cannot easily read or edit them without specialized developer tools. Smalltalk changeset files require the specific IDE to be properly applied to a codebase. They offer zero portability for average users.
Users typically attempt to convert .CHS files to extract text, icons, or localized strings. For Cincom Smalltalk files, the best conversion target is TXT, as the underlying data is already plain text. For compiled resource files, users often seek to extract strings to CSV or XML. Standard online converters fail entirely when processing .CHS files because they do not understand compiled application resources or proprietary code scripts.
Because this file format is difficult to open or convert, standard tools are useless. Often, only the original software can properly read or export the data. However, convert.guru can still identify the file format, inspect the file, and show text or internal content. Just drag and drop your file to identify the format, view it, and convert it when possible. If our analysis detects a supported underlying or embedded format, viewing or extraction may still be possible.
Convert.Guru analyzes your CHS file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted EXX, RUL and INS files.
If you want to convert CHS file to SYS, DLL, EXE, DRV, VXD, 386, COM, BAT, CMD, SCR, PIF or LNK, you can use Microsoft Windows or similar software from the "Localization or Source Changeset" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert MSI, EXE, REG, MST, LNK, CAB, CAT, DRV, INF, SYS, MSU or DLL files to CHS, try Microsoft Windows or another comparable tool in the "Localization or Source Changeset" 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 CHS converter.