Opening DIF Files

The DIF file type is primarily associated with Excel.

DIF	File extension: DIF
	File type:	spreadsheet

What is a DIF file?

DIF files mostly belong to Excel by Microsoft. DIF filename extension is associated with the Data Interchange Format used to save and exchange workbooks across programs such as Excel, OpenOffice, and Access. A DIF file contains a single spreadsheet of delimiter-separated text that is typically rendered as a table when viewed in a spreadsheet program. DIF filename extension is also associated with Digital Interface Format, a RAW digital video format for capturing videos. Some video recording systems also save digital videos (DV) in DIF files. MAME, a family of arcade game emulators save differential data in DIF files. Such DIF files generated by MAME enable the emulator to play and modify video games without overwriting or corrupting the game disk image (CHD file). DIF filename extension is also used to store 3D game models, characters, geometry, and assets used by Torque game engine. OS/2, a discontinued operating system developed by IBM stored display information data in DIF files.

How to open a DIF file

You need a suitable software like Excel to open a DIF 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 DIF file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a DIF file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online DIF File Viewer

Choose your .dif file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

✈

Read our privacy guarantee in Filext’s terms and privacy policy

Please allow ads on our site

This helps us keep our servers running. Then re-upload your file to view it.

Click here to see how to disable the ad blocker for filext.com

How to convert a DIF file to XLS, XLSX, ODS, CSV, TXT, PDF, ...

You can convert DIF files using our online DIF file viewer (powered by Convert.Guru):

To do this, click the button "Choose your .dif file to view" on this page.
After your file is opened in browser,
click "Save as..." in the menu.
Then choose the desired spreadsheet format (e.g. XLS, XLSX, ODS, CSV, TXT, PDF, ...).
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert DIF files:

Excel by Microsoft
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. DIF files are often referred to as Excel spreadsheets because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
Calc (spreadsheet) by Apache
Calc is an open-source spreadsheet application distributed as part of OpenOffice productivity suite. In addition to providing advanced spreadsheet functions, Calc also supports Natural language formula, database access etc. Calc can open and edit workbooks and spreadsheets saved in various formats including Data Interchange Format (DIF) files. This file format is classified as Spreadsheet.
OS/2 (display information) by IBM
OS/2 is a series of operating systems designed for classic IBM and Microsoft computers. OS/2 stores some display information in DIF files. This file format is classified as System.
ProWORX 32 (data) by Schneider
ProWORX 32 is a computer software for programming Modicon PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers). The program replaced ProWORX Nxt, an older PLC programming software which stored some text-based data in DIF files saved in the /Nxt/ directory. This file format is classified as Data.
Raytheon
This file format is classified as Raster Image.
Wright Design
This file format is classified as Raster Image.

DIF file format:

Why is it important to know the file format? This is the only way to find out which program to use to open the file. The file format can be deduced from the file extension and the signature. Frequently, however, one file extension is used by different programs for different file formats, and one file format for different file extensions. So you need a detailed analysis of a file to find out the format and the associated program. Our analysis of the DIF files produces the following result:

DIF is rarely used as a file extension and includes different formats for different programs. However, the following two file formats are common:

65% of all DIF files belong to Data Interchange Format. These files are not pure binary files and are therefore readable and interpretable with a text editor. DIF files can be up to 5 MB in size, but are often around 390 bytes - 270 KB. The file type was developed 20 years ago and is still in use today. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. TABLE, DATA, TUPLES, VECTORS and "EXCEL".
8% of all DIF files start with the magic bytes DI, which are always the first bytes of this file format. These files contain neither text nor words, but only data. DIF files can be up to 58 KB in size, but are often around 1 KB - 58 KB.

The remaining 27% of all DIF files are different files with different signatures. If you want to find out which format your DIF file belongs to, just click on the button "Choose your .dif file to view".

Technical Data for DIF File Extension

File classification:

Spreadsheet

Related files:

diff, dlf, dfi, img, xl, sylk, syk

Related links:

Data Interchange Format

Mime type:

application/dif+xml, text/x-patch, video/x-dv

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: QuickTime.dif, FileType: DV, AppName: QuickTime Player
EXEFile: QuickTimePlayer.exe

ProgramID: QuickTime.dif, FileType: DV, AppName: QuickTime Player Application
EXEFile: QuickTimePlayer.exe

ProgramID: ACDSee 7.0.dif
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\7.0\ACDSee7.exe %1

ProgramID: DriverGenius
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Driver-Soft\Driver Genius Professional Edition\DriverGenius.exe %1

ProgramID: Excel.DIF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office 2003\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE /e

ProgramID: Excel.DIF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office10\EXCEL.EXE /e

ProgramID: Excel.DIF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE /e

ProgramID: Excel.DIF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office\EXCEL.EXE /e

ProgramID: Excel.DIF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office_XP\Office10\EXCEL.EXE /e

ProgramID: Excel.DIF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\office97\Office\excel.exe /e

ProgramID: Excel.DIF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\OfficeXP\Office10\EXCEL.EXE /e

ProgramID: Excel.DIF
EXEFile: F:\Microsoft Office\Office\excel.exe /e

ProgramID: Excel.DIF
EXEFile: F:\office97\Office\excel.exe /e

ProgramID: Excel.DIF
EXEFile: W:\OfficeXP\FILES\PFILES\MSOFFICE\OFFICE10\EXCEL.EXE /e

ProgramID: QuickTime.dif
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Free\QUICKT~1\QuickTimePlayer.exe %1

ProgramID: QuickTime.dif
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\QUICKT~1.0\MoviePlayer.exe %1

ProgramID: QuickTime.dif
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\QUICKT~1\QuickTimePlayer.exe %1

ProgramID: QuickTime.dif
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\QUICKT~1\QUICKT~1.EXE %1

ProgramID: QuickTime.dif
EXEFile: c:\gamez\snel\MoviePlayer.exe %1

ProgramID: QuickTime.dif
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\QUICKT~1\MoviePlayer.exe %1

ProgramID: QuickTime.dif
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\QuickTime\QuickTimePlayer.exe %1

ProgramID: QuickTime.dif
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Media\Video\QuickTime\QuickTimePlayer.exe %1

ProgramID: Excel.DIF
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office 2007\Office12\EXCEL.EXE /e

ProgramID: ACDSee 9.0.dif
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\9.0\ACDSeeQV.exe

ProgramID: DriverGenius
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\_BlueSquad\Driver-Soft\Driver Genius Professional Edition\DriverGenius.exe

ProgramID: ACDSee.dif
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\5.0\ACDSee5.exe

Show all 26 listings To Top

a dif spreadsheet is a special file format by Microsoft and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with DIF files

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