Sighted Viewing of Plain Braille Files

This page explains how to view plain braille files known as braille formatted files. These are files with the filename extension .brf. If you need to know how to obtain a .brf file to start with, read this other page first.

The best text editor for viewing .brf files is WordPad. You might want to make a backup copy of the file before you start.

1. Instead of clicking on the filename to open the file, first open WordPad. You can usually locate WordPad on a Windows computer by going to start, All Programs, Accessories.
2. Once you've got WordPad open, use the Open... item on the File menu to browse to the directory where you've put your .brf file. If you don't see your file, make sure that "All Documents( *.*)" is selected from the "Files of type:" pull-down menu at the bottom of the Open window.
3. Once you've opened the file, you can use the Format... item on the Format menu to change the Font and Size of the selection in the normal manner. (You can select the entire file by using Select All on the Edit menu.) You can view the braille as ASCII braille using any ordinary print font or as simulated braille using a braille font.

If you don't already have a braille font installed on your computer, you can download and install Duxbury's free Simbraille and Braille fonts from here.

Click here for an article that explains how to read Nemeth braille mathematics when the braille file is displayed using a print font.