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MS Publisher border (.bdr)

.bdr file signature | application/octet-stream

Microsoft Publisher border (BDR) is a border file format associated with Microsoft Publisher, a desktop publishing application developed and maintained by Microsoft. It is used to store decorative border elements that can be applied to newsletters, flyers, brochures, and other page layouts. As a legacy Publisher-related format, it is generally safe to open, though support may be limited in modern software.

Safe

Magic Bytes

Offset 0
58 54

Sources: Gary Kessler

Extension

.bdr

MIME Type

application/octet-stream

Byte Offset

0

Risk Level

Safe

Validation Code

How to validate .bdr files in Python

Python
def is_bdr(file_path: str) -> bool:
    """Check if file is a valid BDR by magic bytes."""
    signature = bytes([0x58, 0x54])
    with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
        return f.read(2) == signature

How to validate .bdr files in Node.js

Node.js
function isBDR(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
  const signature = Buffer.from([0x58, 0x54]);
  return buffer.subarray(0, 2).equals(signature);
}

How to validate .bdr files in Go

Go
func IsBDR(data []byte) bool {
    signature := []byte{0x58, 0x54}
    if len(data) < 2 {
        return false
    }
    return bytes.Equal(data[:2], signature)
}

API Endpoint

GET /api/v1/bdr
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/bdr

See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a .bdr file?

A .bdr file is a MS Publisher border file. Microsoft Publisher border (BDR) is a border file format associated with Microsoft Publisher, a desktop publishing application developed and maintained by Microsoft. It is used to store decorative border elements that can be applied to newsletters, flyers, brochures, and other page layouts. As a legacy Publisher-related format, it is generally safe to open, though support may be limited in modern software.

What are the magic bytes for .bdr files?

The magic bytes for MS Publisher border files are 58 54 at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.

How do I validate a .bdr file?

To validate a .bdr file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (58 54) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.

What is the MIME type for .bdr files?

There is no officially registered MIME type for .bdr files. Systems typically use application/octet-stream as a generic fallback when handling this format.

Is it safe to open .bdr files?

MS Publisher border (.bdr) files are generally safe to open. They are classified as low risk because they primarily contain data rather than executable code. However, always ensure files come from a trusted source.