You're here because you have a file that has a file extension ending in .a4w. Files with the file extension .a4w can only be launched by certain applications. It's possible that .a4w files are data files rather than documents or media, which means they're not meant to be viewed at all.

Files stored in the .a4w extension are created and may be opened and edited using the Authorware 4 application as well as newer versions of this software. These A4W files contain unpackaged Authorware 4 projects developed for the Microsoft Windows environment. An unpackaged Authorware 4 project refers to application development projects created using the Authorware 4 program, and these unpackaged A4W files are in editable versions, since this also means these Authorware 4 application development projects have yet to be finalized. Users can install the Authorware 7 software into their computers to implement A4W support into their Microsoft Windows-based systems. Mac users can also integrate A4W support into their systems by installing the Authorware 7 program, since this application also has a version for Mac-based platforms. The Authorware 4 program is used to develop applications with media-rich content for the e-learning environment. These A4W files contain elements and objects found in an Authorware 4 application development project, and these pieces of data are referenced and retrieved by the Authorware 4 application and its newer versions when users need to access the content stored in these A4W files.

Launch a .a4w file, or any other file on your PC, by double-clicking it. If your file associations are set up correctly, the application that's meant to open your .a4w file will open it. It's possible you may need to download or purchase the correct application. It's also possible that you have the correct application on your PC, but .a4w files aren't yet associated with it. In this case, when you try to open a .a4w file, you can tell Windows which application is the correct one for that file. From then on, opening a  .a4w file will open the correct application. Click here to fix .a4w file association errors

Be careful not to rename the extension on .a4w files, or any other files. This will not change the file type. Only special conversion software can change a file from one file type to another.

A file extension is the set of three or four characters at the end of a filename; in this case, .a4w. File extensions tell you what type of file it is, and tell Windows what programs can open it. Windows often associates a default program to each file extension, so that when you double-click the file, the program launches automatically. When that program is no longer on your PC, you can sometimes get an error when you try to open the associated file.