Opening a CDF File

The CDF file type is primarily associated with CDF Player.

CDF	File extension: CDF
	File type:	computational interactive document

What is a CDF file?

CDF files mostly belong to CDF Player by Wolfram. CDF stands for Computable Document Format. CDF files are a type of page layout files developed by Wolfram Research.

Main Use: CDF files belong to the category of electronic document formats. CDF files are used for creating dynamic interactive content using custom made Wolfram media player. The data is stored in these files in the ASCII format using the Wolfram Language expression syntax. CDF files can store text, typeset expressions, graphics and other interface related elements and find use in business presentations, journal articles and e-learning content. CDF files can be read using Wolfram CDF player in Windows, Linux, MacOSand iOS environments.
Other Uses: CDF files can also refer to Common Data Format, a standard file format to store multidimensional information. Research organsiations use CDF files to store and transfer scientific data. CDF Software can be used to open these files. Affymetrix DNA microarray analysis software uses CDF files to store chip definition data that is needed for analyzing CEL data. CDF file format is also used by CRYENGINE SDK to store game data when developing games for PC and console platforms. These files contain links to the game character files ( saved in CHR or CGG format) and are needed by CryENGINE SDK to create virtual game characters.

How to open a CDF file

You need a suitable software like CDF Player to open a CDF file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your CDF file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a CDF file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online CDF Text Viewer

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Programs that open and convert CDF files:

CDF Player by Wolfram
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. CDF files are often referred to as CDF Player page layouts because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
ASCII
CDF Software (multi-dimensional data file) by Goddard Space Flight Center
CDF Software is a software package from the Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF), which is a part of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). It is used to create and work with CDF files. CDF (Common Data Format) is a format created by NASA for storing scalar and multi-dimensional data in a platform-independent and discipline-independent way. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Common Data Format on Wikipedia, CDF Format on GSFC Website, CDF Documentation, CDF User's Guide
Comma Delimited Format
CRYENGINE (character definition file) by Crytek
CRYENGINE is a platform for game development (game engine) from Crytek. The engine uses CDF files to store character definitions for a game. The CDF files contain references to CHR files. This file format is classified as Developer. Related links: CRYENGINE on Wikipedia, CDF Files in CRYENGINE, Creating CDF Files, CRYENGINE Tutorials
Cyberspace Description Format
InstallShield (Components Definition File) by Acresso Software Inc.
Internet Explorer (channel definition file) by Microsoft
Internet Explorer is a web browser from Microsoft. CDF, which stands for Channel Definition Format, was a file format used by the Active Channel component of Internet Explorer to deliver scheduled updates from information channels. This file format is classified as Web (source). Related links: Internet Explorer, Active Channel on Wikipedia, Channel Definition Format on Wikipedia, Channel Definition Format Specifications, How to Create a Channel Definition Format File
MicroSim PCBoard Component Description File For Bill Of Materials
NetCDF (multi-dimensional data file) by University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
NetCDF is a software package developed by the Unidata Program Center of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. The software is used to create and work with CDF files, which are used to store multi-dimensional scientific data. The format is based on NASA's Common Data Format, which also has the CDF extension. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: NetCDF on Wikipedia, NetCDF FAQs, Evolution of NetCDF, Open in Linux Using NcView, NASA's Common Data Format
Nominal Accounting (company data file) by bsmArt Consulting
Nominal Accounting is a software for small business accounting developed by bsmArt Consulting. CDF is the company data file in Nominal Accounting. It stores the details of a business. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: Nominal Accounting User Guide Mentioning CDF, Nominal Accounting Quick Start Guide Mentioning CDF
Xilinx Integrated Software Environment (Chain Description File) by Xilinx, Inc.
The Xilinx Integrated Software Environment (ISE) is an integrated design environment that allows you to design Xilinx FPGA and CPLD devices from start to finish. A Chain Description File is used to save and restore information about the composition of target chains of devices to be configured. This file format is classified as Developer.

CDF file format:

Each file has a definite file format, that is, how the stored data is arranged in the file. Often, the file format can be deduced from the file extension or the initial bytes (called the signature). Nonetheless, different programs can utilize the same file extension to represent distinct file formats. Double-clicking on the file often results in an error when opening. When there is a problem with a file, the first step to solving it is to determine the file format. Our examination of the CDF files comes to the following conclusion:

You will often come across the CDF file type. This includes different formats for the applicable programs. The two most popular formats are as follows:

30% of all CDF files are Computable Document Format files. The contents of these files can even be read by a human. CDF files can be up to 25 MB in size, but are often around 30 KB - 410 KB. The file type was developed only in the last few years. The files contain the following words: (* Content-type: application/vnd.wolfram.cdf.text *), (* http://www.wolfram.com/cdf *), (*** Wolfram CDF File ***) and (* CreatedBy='Mathematica 8.0' *). Such files are related to bccalcet, ifig and functions.
25% of all CDF files are NetCDF Network Common Data Form files. The contents of these files cannot be read by a human; only a computer program can interpret the data. The average file size is 160 KB with most files being between 10 KB and 30 MB in size. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. _32_byte_string, _64_byte_string, _4_byte_string, _16_byte_string, _2_byte_string, _8_byte_string, _128_byte_string, _255_byte_st and number. Examples of file names are SIGNAL01.cdf. Files like these are sometimes connected to blank.

All other CDF files (45%) have no consistent format, often e.g. Channel Definition Format, XML, DOC and ZIP. These files sometimes refer to data, acetone, efia, extd, oper or solo. If you want to find out which format your CDF file belongs to, just click on the button "Choose your .cdf file to analyze".

Technical Data for CDF File Extension

File classification:

Page Layout

Related files:

cfd, cdf-ms, dcf, check, cdf2, cdw, nb, aia, cdr, nc, zip, cdn, pdf, cda, txt, cmbx, dat, xls, ir, exe

Mime type:

application/x-netcdf, application/netcdf, text/x-mathematica

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: ChannelFile, FileType: Channel File, AppName: Channel Definition File Viewer

ProgramID: ChannelFile
EXEFile: explorer /root,{f39a0dc0-9cc8-11d0-a599-00c04fd64433},%L

ProgramID: cdf
EXEFile: C:\Xilinx\bin\nt\_impact.exe %1

ProgramID: impactfile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Xilinx\bin\nt\impact.exe

Show all 4 listings To Top

a cdf computational interactive document is a special file format by Wolfram and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with CDF files

Associate the CDF file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open computational interactive documents. Because only the current version supports the latest CDF file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Wolfram manufacturer website after an available CDF Player update.
To make sure that your CDF file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .CDF file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.