Extract text from PL1 files
To convert your PL1 file to another format, you need ArchiCAD or other Cad software.
To convert other file formats to the "2D Floor Plan" file type, you need software like ArchiCAD or a similar tool.
A .pl1 file is primarily associated with legacy architectural layouts and floor plans. Historically, it served as the native format for Graphisoft ArchiCAD PlotMaker, a standalone utility used to assemble drawings for printing before it was integrated into the main ArchiCAD suite in 2006. Additionally, the extension is used by consumer-grade design tools like Punch! Home Design and early versions of Broderbund 3D Home Architect to store 2D layout data.
A major drawback of .pl1 files is their obsolescence and proprietary nature. Since modern BIM workflows have moved on, opening a legacy PlotMaker file often requires finding an outdated version of ArchiCAD or a specialized viewer, neither of which is practical for quick reference. These files are not web-friendly and cannot be opened by standard image viewers. Furthermore, Euro Truck Simulator 2 uses .pl1 for player profiles, which are binary encrypted files not meant for standard editing.
To make these files usable, the best approach is converting them to standardized formats. For archiving and sharing architectural plans, converting to PDF ensures the layout remains visually intact without requiring CAD software. If you need to edit the geometry in modern tools like AutoCAD, converting to DXF or DWG is necessary, though you may lose some proprietary object metadata. For PL/I source code files (which also share this extension), a simple conversion to TXT allows them to be read in any text editor.
Convert.Guru analyzes your PL1 file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted PB1, PL2, PLI, PL, PLAN, BLD, RPD and JAVA files.
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 PL1 converter.