What is the FLIPCHART file format?
.flipchart files are used to store presentations created with the ActivInspire application by Promethean - a program for planning and delivering interactive educational lessons. Unlike a simple binary file, a .flipchart is packaged as a ZIP archive (identifiable by the PK signature 50 4B 03 04 at byte offset 0), bundling lesson pages, embedded media, and proprietary XML data into a single self-contained file.
A .flipchart file contains lessons prepared by teachers. They include interactive presentations for students based on word puzzles, jigsaws, mathematic exercises, or other activities. They may also contain templates of the "Jeopardy" game, popular in the US.
.flipchart files can be used in interactive lessons using electronic devices, for example the Promethean ActivBoard Touch interactive whiteboard. In case of lack of proper equipment, data contained within a .flipchart file can be exported into more popular formats, like PDF or HTML.
ActivInspire was introduced in 2009 as the successor to ActivStudio and ActivPrimary, which used the older .flp format. ActivInspire can import legacy .flp files so that previously created lesson content remains accessible.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA .flipchart is a passive lesson document (a ZIP of pages, media and a data description), not an executable, so opening one in ActivInspire is safe. The only real cautions are sourcing and privacy: download ActivInspire only from Promethean (prometheanworld.com), because searches for "open flipchart file" can surface fake "universal viewer" adware; and remember that since the file is a ZIP, embedded media (and any pupil names/photos a teacher added) are inside it - be mindful when sharing classroom flipcharts publicly.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open FLIPCHART files
Windows1 app
ActivInspire (Promethean)
Free Download and install ActivInspire (free, registration needed), then File > Open the .flipchart to view, edit and present it. 
macOS1 app
ActivInspire (Promethean)
Free Install the free macOS build of ActivInspire and open the .flipchart with File > Open. 
Linux1 app
ActivInspire (Promethean)
Free A Linux build of ActivInspire has been offered by Promethean; install it and open the .flipchart. (Check the download centre for current Linux availability.) Technical details
deep spec| Container format | ZIP archive - begins with `PK` magic bytes (`50 4B 03 04`) at byte offset 0 |
| Developer | Promethean Ltd. |
| MIME type | `application/octet-stream` |
| Internal structure | Proprietary XML lesson data and embedded media assets packed inside the ZIP container |
| Magic bytes | `50 4B 03 04` - standard ZIP local file header signature |
| Supported platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux (all via ActivInspire desktop application) |
| Legacy predecessor format | `.flp` (used by ActivStudio and ActivPrimary; importable by ActivInspire) |
| Export formats | PDF, HTML, and common image formats (JPEG, PNG) |
| Embeddable media | Images, audio clips, video, and interactive HTML5 objects |
| Primary use case | Teacher-authored K-12 interactive whiteboard lessons |
| Hardware integration | Designed for Promethean ActivBoard interactive whiteboards and touch displays |
| Supported activity types | Drag-and-drop, image reveal, text matching, and live voting via ActivExpression clicker handsets |
| Proprietary packaging | Internal ZIP layout is Promethean-specific and not publicly documented |
| Compression | ZIP deflate compression applied to embedded media resources within the package |
| Released | 2009 (ActivInspire, succeeding ActivStudio/ActivPrimary) |
| Specification | support.prometheanworld.com |
FLIPCHART conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about FLIPCHART files.
