Extract text from XR files
To convert your XR file to another format, you need S.T.A.L.K.E.R. or other Game software.
To convert other file formats to the "Particle Effects Data" file type, you need software like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. or a similar tool.
The .XR extension typically signifies a container or configuration file used within the X-Ray Engine, the proprietary technology powering the cult classic S.T.A.L.K.E.R. video game series. These files (e.g., particles.xr, shaders.xr) serve as compiled libraries for game assets, storing critical data for particle effects, shader definitions, and material properties. Users primarily encounter these when attempting to mod the game or tweak visual fidelity. The primary problem is that .XR files are often binary-compiled containers, meaning you cannot simply open them in a text editor like Notepad++ or a standard 3D viewer. To modify them, you typically must rely on the fickle X-Ray SDK, specific Perl scripts, or community-made decompilers to extract the contents into editable formats like LTX or raw text.
Alternatively, in the motion graphics world, an .XR file may represent a preset for the Trapcode suite of plugins (specifically Particular or Form), now owned by Maxon. These files store complex particle simulation settings for use within Adobe After Effects. The limitation here is proprietary lock-in; you cannot view or convert a Trapcode .XR preset without the specific plugin version installed, making cross-version sharing or archiving difficult. For archiving or inspection, the goal is often to convert these proprietary settings into human-readable text or screen captures for reference.
Convert.Guru analyzes your XR file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted SMX, DNS and RWT 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 XR converter.