Opening a MAF File

The MAF file type is primarily associated with Access.

MAF	File extension: MAF
	File type:	Microsoft Access form file

What is a MAF file?

MAF files mostly belong to Access by Microsoft. MAF extension stands for Mutation Annotation Format. It is a standard file used to store genomic data and is maintained by the National Cancer Institute.

• Main Use: MAF (Mutation Annotation Format) files are used to data related to several types such as cell mutation, cell and gene information. The format is maintained by the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) under The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The data in the MAF files are stored in a tab-delimited format. The files find extensive use in cancer studies as they somatic mutation and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) related information. The data in the MAF files are meant to be accessed for further analysis by specific research analysis programs.
• Other Uses: MAF files are also associated with Microsoft Access, a database management system offered as a part of the Microsoft Suite in Windows PCs. The MAF file contains a shortcut to a form that is used within a Microsoft Access database.

How do you open MAF files?

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

Online MAF Text Viewer

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Online File Viewer

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MAF file format:

The file format, which is the arrangement and type of data in a file, determines which program can open the file. The file format can be determined based on the file extension and the signature (the first few characters of a file). If the file extension or signature does not match the file format, errors will occur when opening or editing the file. Exact knowledge of the format is therefore important in order to solve problems occurring in files. Below you will find our evaluation of the MAF files:

MAF is seldom used as a file extension and is used by a few programs, each with its own file format. But the following two file formats are common:

• 40% of all MAF files belong to Mutation Annotation Format. These files are text files, so they contain words and text. MAF files are between 420 KB and 380 MB in size. The keywords #version gdc-1.0.0, #annotation.spec gdc-1.0.1-public, TCGA, aliquots, analyzed, samples, submitter, tumor and #filedate 20170929 are typical for these files. TCGA.LUAD.mutect.0458c57f-316c-4a7c-9294-ccd11c97c2f9.DR-10.0.somatic.maf is a typical file name. These files can be linked to somatic, mutect, luad and muse.
• 15% of all MAF files start with the bytes , which are crucial for this file format. The content consists of illegible binary data, which can only be read and interpreted by the associated programs. Most of these files are 360 bytes to 30 KB in size. Such files are related to itemweapon and pillargra.

All other MAF files (45%) have no consistent format, such as Multiple Alignment Format. These files are often connected to activation, itemweapon or pillargra. Just click the "Choose your .maf file to analyze" button on this page to find out what your MAF file is.