DJVU File Extension

What is DJVU file?

Files with DJVU extension contain colourful high resolution images of scanned pages of a book, magazine, comic book, catalogues, etc.. The main advantage of the DJVU format is its high level of compression, with a very high resolution and quality of stored images, maintained at the same time.

Additional information

DJVU is based on segmentation of the content and structure of the IFF format. Within separate layers, it stores images, background images, and sometimes also an OCR text layer, which facilitates fast navigating across the document, and enables to quickly copy and search for fragments of text. DJVU format (orig.: French „déjà vu”), is characterised with a very high level of compression – even 10 times higher than in case of JPEG. DJVU format encodes both text and image data. The DJVU compression in lossy, thus while storing a scanned image, some data is being lost permanently.

According to some opinions, the DJVU format is better that competitive PDF format, due to a much lower volume of files while maintaining similar quality of scanned images.

DJVU compression

Compression in DJVU is efficient due to the fact, that the image is being divided into multiple single images, compressed separately. Every image is initially divided into 3 images:

• a background image – usually of a lower resolution, compressed with an IW44 compression algorithm
• a foreground image – also in a low resolution, similarly as in case of the background image – it is compressed with an IW44 compression algorithm.
• a mask image – a high resolution image. It utilises the JB2 compression method, which identifies the identical elements on a page (for instance: shape of a given letter), compresses and stores the locations of a given Shape on a page – instead of compressing the same letter multiple Times (as a bitmap).

Programs which support DJVU file extension

The following list contains programs grouped by 3 operating systems that support DJVU files. Files with DJVU suffix can be copied to any mobile device or system platform, but it may not be possible to open them properly on target system.

Updated: 03/29/2022

How to open file with DJVU extension?

Being unable to open files with DJVU extension can be have various origins. Fortunately, most common problems with DJVU files can be solved without in-depth IT knowledge, and most importantly, in a matter of minutes. We have prepared a listing of which will help you resolve your problems with DJVU files.

Step 1. Get the WinDjView

The main and most frequent cause precluding users form opening DJVU files is that no program that can handle DJVU files is installed on user’s system. This issue can be addressed by downloading and installing WinDjView or different compatible program, such as ACDSee, Web browser, DjView. On the top of the page a list that contains all programs grouped based on operating systems supported can be found. If you want to download WinDjView installer in the most secured manner, we suggest you visit Andrew Zhezherun website and download from their official repositories.

Step 2. Check the version of WinDjView and update if needed

If you already have WinDjView installed on your systems and DJVU files are still not opened properly, check if you have the latest version of the software. Sometimes software developers introduce new formats in place of that already supports along with newer versions of their applications. The reason that WinDjView cannot handle files with DJVU may be that the software is outdated. All of the file formats that were handled just fine by the previous versions of given program should be also possible to open using WinDjView.

Step 3. Assign WinDjView to DJVU files

After installing WinDjView (the most recent version) make sure that it is set as the default application to open DJVU files. The process of associating file formats with default application may differ in details depending on platform, but the basic procedure is very similar.

Change the default application in Windows

• Right-click the DJVU file and choose Open with option
• Select Choose another app → More apps
• Finally select Look for another app on this PC, point to the folder where WinDjView is installed, check the Always use this app to open DJVU files box and conform your selection by clicking OK button

Change the default application in Mac OS

• By clicking right mouse button on the selected DJVU file open the file menu and choose Information
• Find the Open with option – click the title if its hidden
• Select WinDjView and click Change for all...
• A message window should appear informing that This change will be applied to all files with DJVU extension. By clicking Continue you confirm your selection.

Step 4. Check the DJVU for errors

If you followed the instructions form the previous steps yet the issue is still not solved, you should verify the DJVU file in question. Being unable to access the file can be related to various issues.

1. Verify that the DJVU in question is not infected with a computer virus

If the DJVU is indeed infected, it is possible that the malware is blocking it from opening. It is advised to scan the system for viruses and malware as soon as possible or use an online antivirus scanner. If the scanner detected that the DJVU file is unsafe, proceed as instructed by the antivirus program to neutralize the threat.

2. Verify that the DJVU file’s structure is intact

If the DJVU file was sent to you by someone else, ask this person to resend the file to you. During the copy process of the file errors may occurred rendering the file incomplete or corrupted. This could be the source of encountered problems with the file. When downloading the file with DJVU extension from the internet an error may occurred resulting in incomplete file. Try downloading the file again.

3. Verify whether your account has administrative rights

There is a possibility that the file in question can only be accessed by users with sufficient system privileges. Log out of your current account and log in to an account with sufficient access privileges. Then open the DjVu Image file.

4. Check whether your system can handle WinDjView

If the systems has insufficient resources to open DJVU files, try closing all currently running applications and try again.

5. Check if you have the latest updates to the operating system and drivers

Latest versions of programs and drivers may help you solve problems with DjVu Image files and ensure security of your device and operating system. Outdated drivers or software may have caused the inability to use a peripheral device needed to handle DJVU files.

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