# ASiC-E file extension: .asice, .sce and their relatives

> The ASiC-E file extension is `.asice`. You may also meet `.sce`, `.bdoc`, `.edoc` and others that look related. Some are the same thing under another name, some are quite different.

Source: https://asiceviewer.com/en/blog/asice-file-extension/
Published: 2026-11-10 · Digixy

## In short

- `.asice` and `.sce` are the same format.
- `.bdoc`, `.edoc` and `.adoc` are national relatives built on the same idea.
- `.ddoc` is older and `.cdoc` is encryption, not signing.

## The family at a glance

| Extension | What it is | Country | Opens in ASiCE Viewer |
| `.asice`, `.sce` | ASiC-E container | EU-wide, default in Estonia | Yes |
| `.asics`, `.scs` | ASiC-S, one file plus signature or time stamp | EU-wide | Yes |
| `.bdoc` | Estonian profile of ASiC-E | Estonia | Yes |
| `.edoc` | Latvian signed container | Latvia | Yes |
| `.adoc` | Lithuanian signed document | Lithuania | Yes |
| `.ddoc` | Older XML-based signed file | Estonia | Yes |
| `.cdoc` | Encrypted container | Estonia | Recipients only, no decryption |

## Why your computer does not recognise it

An extension is only a label. The system keeps a table that maps labels to programs, and `.asice` is not in the table until signing software adds it. The file is fine; it just has no default program. See [ASiC-E file opener](https://asiceviewer.com/en/blog/asice-file-opener/) for ways to set one.

## Should you rename the file?

- **To `.zip`:** harmless as a way to peek inside, because the container is a ZIP archive. Rename a copy, never the original.
- **To `.pdf` or `.docx`:** pointless. Renaming does not convert anything; the program will report a damaged file.
- **Back from `.zip` to `.asice`:** correct if a mail server changed it. The content was never altered.

## Extensions that hide

Windows hides known extensions by default, so a file may show as `contract` with an unfamiliar icon. Turn on **File name extensions** in the View menu of File Explorer to see the full name. On macOS, enable **Show all filename extensions** in Finder settings.

## The MIME type behind the extension

Web servers and mail programs use a media type instead of an extension: `application/vnd.etsi.asic-e+zip` for ASiC-E and `application/vnd.etsi.asic-s+zip` for ASiC-S. The same string is stored inside the container in the `mimetype` file, so software can identify the format even when the extension has been changed.

## One viewer for the whole family

Because most of these share a structure, [ASiCE Viewer](https://asiceviewer.com/en/#tool) recognises a container by its content rather than its name. A renamed or oddly named file still opens. On Android, the [app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digixy.asiceviewer&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dasiceviewer.com%26utm_medium%3Dblog-md) handles `.asice`, `.asics`, `.bdoc`, `.edoc`, `.adoc` and `.p7s`.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is .sce the same as .asice?**

Yes. Both are extensions of the ASiC-E container. The standard allows either.

**How do I change .zip back to .asice?**

Rename the file and replace the ending. If the extension is hidden, enable file name extensions in your file manager first.

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Open your .asice file now: https://asiceviewer.com/en/
ASiC-E Viewer on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.digixy.asiceviewer