How to Open a .Big File (10 Steps)
By Nick Davis
A .big file contains data files, known as asset.dat files, related to your Electronic Arts video game. The file is compressed and is similar to a Zip file. A .big file can also contain dynamic link library, executable and other files that the Electronic Arts video game needs for loading and running. You can open a .big file directly within the Electronic Arts directory using the Asset Cache Builder utility or with a third-party extraction application.
Using Asset Cache Builder
Step 1
Click “Start” and “Computer.” Click the “C:” icon and click on the “Program Files” folder. Click on the “EA GAMES” folder and then click on the folder containing the name of the specific Electronic Arts game on your computer.
Step 2
Click on the “Tools” folder. Locate the “assetcachebuilder.exe” program and right click on the file’s name. Click “Copy.”
Step 3
Navigate to the directory containing the .big file you want to open. The directory should only contain the .big file and no subdirectories. Click and drag the .big file into its own directory if subdirectories are present.
Step 4
Right click in the right pane of the directory containing the .big file. A sub-menu will open. Click “Paste.” The assetcachebuilder.exe file will appear in the directory. Double-click the assetcachebuilder.exe icon to run the program -- the program will automatically detect the .big file. The .big file will extract to the directory it is in -- you will see one or more asset.dat files.
Using Final Big Editor
Step 1
Navigate your computer’s Internet browser to the “Final Big Editor (0.36)” or “FinalBIG” link and click the "Download Now“ button. Click the “Save File,” “Save As” or “Save” button. Navigate to the directory containing the “finalbig036b.zip” or “finalbig” file. Click on the file’s name and then right click. A sub-menu will appear. Click “Extract All.”
Step 2
Click the “Extract” button. The extraction process will begin and the files will appear in a new Windows Explorer dialog box. Double-click the “FinalBIG” icon to open the application. Click the “Run” button if an “Open File - Security Warning” message appears.
Step 3
Click “File” and “Open.” Click the down arrow next to “Look in:” and navigate to the directory containing the .big file you want to open. Double-click the file’s name to open the file. The file’s contents will appear in the dialog box’s left pane.
Step 4
Click one of the file names in the left pane to see specific information about the file -- the information will appear in the right pane.
Step 5
Click “Edit,” “Extract All” and the “Yes” button to extract all of the files in the dialog box’s left pane to your computer’s Electronic Arts or other folder. Click the down arrow next to the “C:" directory and navigate to the directory you want.
Step 6
Click the “OK” button to start the extraction process. The .big file is now open and its contents, one or more asset.dat files, are in the Electronic Arts or other folder on your computer.
References
Tips
- Once the .big file is extracted, you can safely delete the .big file if you no longer need or want it on your computer.
Writer Bio
Nick Davis is a freelance writer specializing in technical, travel and entertainment articles. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Memphis and an associate degree in computer information systems from the State Technical Institute at Memphis. His work has appeared in "Elite Memphis" and "The Daily Helmsman" in Memphis, Tenn. He is currently living in Albuquerque, N.M.