.CDF File Extension

Computable Document Format File (Legacy)

Developer Wolfram Research
Popularity
3.9  |  55 Votes
 

What is a CDF file?

A CDF file is an interactive document saved in the Computable Document Format (CDF), a document standard developed by Wolfram Research. It may contain text, visual elements, such as interactive graphs or images, Wolfram Language input or output, and page formatting information. Wolfram discontinued the CDF format in 2021 in favor of the interactive Mathematica Notebook (.NB) format.

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Screenshot of a .cdf file in Wolfram Research Mathematica 14
CDF file open in Wolfram Research Mathematica 14

Various types of Wolfram software users, such as teachers, scientists, and publishers, may save documents as CDF files. Typically, they open the files with Wolfram Research Player or Mathematica when displaying business presentations, reading journal articles, or interacting with e-learning materials such as textbooks and tutorials. The format also allows users to load visualization data on-demand from within the CDF file.

How to open a CDF file

You can open CDF files with Wolfram Research Player and Wolfram Research Mathematica in Windows, macOS, and Linux. To open a CDF file with either application, select File → Open.

How to convert a CDF file

Wolfram Research Mathematica can convert CDF files to various file types, including the following formats:

  • .NB - Mathematica Notebook
  • .TXT - Plain Text File
  • .TEX - LaTeX Source Document
  • .PS - PostScript File
  • .RTF - Rich Text Format File
  • .M - Wolfram Language Package
  • .PDF - Portable Document Format
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Programs that open CDF files

CryENGINE Character Definition File

Developer Crytek
Popularity
3.3  |  15 Votes
 

A CDF file may also be a CryENGINE Character Definition file used by the CryENGINE game development platform. It stores references to character assets, such as .CHR (character) or .CGF (geometry) files, along with attachments like clothing, weapons, or other equipment. CDF files organize these elements so that the game engine can correctly load and display the character in the game environment.

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Game designers, 3D artists, and developers working on PC and console games built with CryENGINE are most likely to encounter CDF files. By defining a character’s components and attachments in a CDF file, the engine can assemble and render the character dynamically during gameplay. This allows designers to manage multiple variations of a character, including different outfits, gear, or accessories, without modifying the core character model.

How to open a CDF file

You can open CDF files with CryENGINE SDK in Windows. The software provides tools for game asset management, character creation, and game testing.

Programs that open CDF files

Windows

Common Data Format

Developer GSFC
Popularity
3.2  |  15 Votes
 

A CDF file may also be a data file saved in the Common Data Format (CDF), a platform-independent format designed to store and share scientific data. It stores simple numbers and complex datasets in a binary format that enables researchers and government agencies to share and use the data on any computer or software.

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Some examples of who uses the format:

  • NASA scientists might use the format to store data from satellites that measure solar wind and magnetic fields in space.
  • Climate researchers may use the format to share atmospheric data, such as temperature and pressure readings, across different labs and institutions.
  • Space weather centers may use CDF files to distribute real-time alerts about solar storms that could affect satellites and power grids.
  • Physicists might use CDF files to save results from particle simulations and make them available to other researchers for verification.

One of the most common ways users create CDF files is with NASA’s GSFC CDF software toolkit. The toolkit supports multiple operating systems and includes tools for writing, reading, and visualizing data, enabling users to reliably access the same information across platforms.

How to open a CDF file

You can open CDF files with several programs, including GSFC CDF software, Weisang FlexPro, and The MathWorks MATLAB (with CDF Patch). ISTP CDF Skeleton Editor can also open CDF files.

Programs that open CDF files

Nominal Small Business Accounting Company Data File

Developer bsmArt Consulting
Popularity
3.2  |  6 Votes
 

A CDF file may also be a company data file created by bsmArt Consulting Nominal Small Business Accounting, a discontinued software program designed to help small businesses manage their finances. It contains all of a company's accounting information, including account balances, sales and purchase items, payment terms, tax codes, and payroll data for employees.

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Businesses used CDF files to keep an organized record of their financial activity. By loading a CDF file into the software, users could view and update their accounts, generate invoices, track expenses, and prepare basic financial reports. This made it easier for business owners to monitor cash flow and meet tax obligations.

How to open a CDF file

You can open CDF files with bsmArt Consulting Nominal Small Business Accounting. However, the software is no longer developed.

Programs that open CDF files

Windows
bsmArt Consulting Nominal Small Business Accounting  —  Discontinued
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NetCDF Format File

Developer NetCDF
Popularity
3.2  |  6 Votes
 

Data file created in NetCDF's Common Data Form format, which is based on the standard Common Data Format (CDF) but differs in several ways and therefore is not compatible; used for storing scientific data in a manner independent of the platform and discipline for which it is used; more commonly uses the .NC file extension.

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NOTE: NcView only runs on Windows under Cygwin and if you compile from source manually.

Programs that open CDF files

Windows
Linux
Free

Affymetrix Chip Definition File

Developer Affymetrix
Popularity
2.7  |  7 Votes
 

Library file used by Affymetrix DNA microarray analysis software; specifies the layout of a "GeneChip" array and contains the definition of the data stored in an Affymetrix .CEL file; used for understanding and analyzing CEL data.

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A GeneChip is a physical chip containing DNA microarray biological data. GeneChips are manufactured by Affymetrix.

Programs that open or reference CDF files

Content Definition File

Developer ECMG
Popularity
2.5  |  6 Votes
 

XML-based data format designed for storing and sharing abstract Enterprise Content Management (ECM) content and metadata; can be used to exchange content across repositories and organizations.

More Information

The CDF format was originally defined as part of the Content Transformation Services (CTS) framework by the Enterprise Content Management Group (ECMG).

Programs that open CDF files

Windows
ECMG FileMatica

Channel Definition Format

Developer N/A
Popularity
2.6  |  5 Votes
 

A CDF file may also be a data file used to distribute frequently updated information, such as news updates, weather reports, or stock information, over the Internet. It stores the channel's title, description, URL, update frequency, and other metadata that allows browsers or news readers to access and display the content. CDF files are largely obsolete today.

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The files were primarily associated with Microsoft's Active Channel technology in Internet Explorer, which allowed automatic delivery of web content in the late 1990s and early 2000s. When a user subscribed to a channel defined by a CDF file, the software automatically checked the source for updates and downloaded new content to the user's computer, helping them to stay informed without manually visiting each website.

NOTE: Modern web technologies, such as RSS, Atom feeds, and push notifications, have replaced CDF for distributing frequently updated content.

Programs that open or reference CDF files

Windows
Netscape Navigator with Netcaster support
Mac
Netscape Navigator with Netcaster support
Category: Web Files
Updated: September 11, 2025

C.Scope Data Log

Developer C.Scope International
Popularity
2.0  |  1 Vote
 

A CDF file may also be a data log created by a C.Scope cable avoidance device. It contains a record of how and when the device was used, as well as the device's model type, serial number, and other data. CDF files can be used to analyze a device's use and view cable survey data, using the C.Scope PC Toolkit or C.Scope Relay mobile apps.

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C.Scope International produces pipe and cable location equipment that allows utility and construction professionals to locate underground pipes and cables. C.Scope's cable avoidance devices produce CDF files, which contain a record of when and how the devices were used, as well as the data the devices collected.

Devices generate a new CDF file each time they are used. Each CDF file contains the following data:

  • Device model type
  • Device serial number
  • Automatic self test result
  • User identity
  • Date and time of use
  • Device detection mode
  • Signal strength
  • Signal generator/transmitter frequency
  • Cable/pipe depth
  • Sonde depth

Each device can store roughly 12 months' worth of CDF files at one time. Device operators and auditors can transfer a device's CDF files to a PC or mobile device, to view the files' data in C.Scope PC Toolkit or C.Scope Relay.

How to open a CDF file

You can open a CDF file in C.Scope PC Toolkit (Windows) or C.Scope Relay (Android, iOS). For example, to open a CDF file in C.Scope PC Toolkit, open the program and select the Analyse tab. Then, select Open, navigate to your CDF file, and open the file.

Programs that open CDF files

Windows
iOS
Android

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