.PRF File Extension

A PRF file is a user profile referenced by Microsoft Outlook that contains user information and preferences. It includes mail account settings, signatures, references to mail folders, and other settings.

When Outlook imports a PRF file, the user profile settings are immediately updated. PRF files can also be created using Microsoft's Office Resource Kit. The files can then be deployed to multiple systems using the Custom Installation Wizard (CIW) or other maintenance wizard included with the Office Resource Kit.

Contains settings and preferences used by the Windows operating system; may also be used by other applications to store program settings; should not be opened manually.

Stores program settings for Adobe Director (formerly Macromedia Director); may also contain settings for Director Xtras, such as Media Lab's PhotoCaster.

The main Director settings file is named "Director.prf."

Web profile created in the Platform for Internet Content Selection (PICS) format; contains filtering rules that allow or block access to certain URLs; used for implementing Internet safety policies, such as parental or teacher controls, which limit access to certain websites for students and children; also used for sharing PICS profiles with others.

The PICS format was proposed in the mid 1990s, and was adopted by some Web technologies. However, it is not widely used today and has been superseded by the Protocol for Web Description Resources (POWDER).

NOTE: PRF files were supported by some Web browsers and Web servers, such as Internet Explorer and Microsoft IIS.

A PRF file may also be an application preferences file created by QuarkXPress, a page layout and publishing application. it contains saved preferences such as workspace settings and import and export options. PRF files can be used for transferring preferences between copies of QuarkXPress.

Contains user preferences for a form created with FileNet eForms electronic form design software; saved in the user's "Template Preferences" folder for each form accessed.

Stores preferences for ClarisWorks, such as toolbar positioning and Welcome screen options; should be named "CLWORKS.PRF" and placed in the CLARIS directory; can be deleted to restore the program's default preferences.

NOTE: ClarisWorks is a Macintosh productivity suite developed by Apple that was later also made available for Windows computers. It was later replaced by AppleWorks, which was then discontinued.

Form that contains plot requests for eQuorum's Plot Station, a program for managing plotting jobs; saved in an ASCII text format and includes instructions and parameters for generating the plotted output; may be created by Plot Station Client and is processed by Plot Station Server.