Files that end with the .AEC extension, can often present a conundrum to users who are not familiar about which software to use in order to open these files. This issue may arise due to multiple reasons. Among them, the two primary uses of the AEC file extension might be the most significant. Those two applications belong to Cache which is an InterSystems database as well as a data format used by Cinema 4D, a 3D modeling, animation and rendering application developed by MAXON.
Cinema 4D .AEC Files
If you come across .AEC files in a context relating to 3D modeling or animation, it's highly likely that they've been created with Cinema 4D. The .AEC file extension for Cinema 4D specifically denotes After Effects Composition files. These files can be directly imported into Adobe After Effects enabling a smoother work pipeline between Cinema 4D and After Effects. If you find this the case, to open .AEC files you would need to have a copy of Adobe After Effects installed. You can download Adobe After Effects from the Adobe website.
InterSystems Cache .AEC Files
On the other hand, if your .AEC files are related to databases or health data, then probably they belong to the InterSystems Cache database system. The Cache system uses .AEC files to cache certain forms of data. Information on how to manage or open these files can typically be found in the InterSystems Cache documentation. To access these files, you'll need a specific set of system commands or use InterSystems' Cache objectscript.
AEC File Important Information
Regardless of their source, .AEC files belong to a binary format class, which means they are not easily human-readable. It's recommended to take caution before opening .AEC files especially if you're unsure about the source. For security reasons, always ensure that your software versions are up to date and acquired from trusted sources.