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What is the CDF File Extension?

By:   |   Edited: December 05, 2018

Microsoft Silver

CDF File Summary

There are eleven file types associated with the CDF File Extension, with the most widely-observed being the Computable Document Format File format. According to our database, sixteen distinct software programs (conventionally, Wolfram Research CDF Player developed by Wolfram Research) will enable you to view these files. Generally, these files are considered Page Layout Files, but they can also be Developer Files or Data Files.

Windows, Mac, and iOS operating systems can be used to view CDF files. Both desktop and mobile devices enable you to view and (sometimes) edit these files, depending on the software used. These files have a Popularity Rating of "Low", meaning they are not very commonly observed on your average hard disk.

Although there is a lot more to know about CDF files, those are the most important details of these types of files. If you are having trouble opening these files, or would like more detailed information, please see our comprehensive information below.

Low
Prevalence
2701
Ranking

/ 11690

Active

Importance

5

December

2018

Page Last Updated

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Types of CDF Files

  11 known file types use this extension

Leading CDF Type

.CDF
File Ext:.cdf
File Type:Computable Document Format File

A CDF file is an interactive document created in the Computable Document Format (CDF) developed by Wolfram Research. It may contain interactive graphs as well as other visual materials in addition to static text and page formatting. The purpose of CDF files is for business presentations, journal articles, and textbooks. Thus, the format is most often used by teachers and publishers.

Company: Wolfram Research
Group:Page Layout Files
Subkey: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.cdf

Software Programs That Open The Computable Document Format File:


Wolfram Research CDF Player by Wolfram Research

Windows
Mac
iOS
Linux
Web

Alternative CDF Types

.CDF
File Ext:.cdf
File Type:CryENGINE Character Definition File

A CDF file may also be a file created by the PC and console games builder CryEngine SDK. It saves a reference to a character file as well as specific attachments that are used to construct virtual characters in the specific game.

Company: Crytek
Group:Developer Files

Software Programs That Open CryENGINE Character Definition File Files:


CRYENGINE by Crytek

Compatible with:

Windows
.CDF
File Ext:.cdf
File Type:GSFC Common Data Format

A CDF file may also be a file created in the Common Data Format (CDF), a format developed by Goddard Space Flight Center of NASA. It is used for storing scalar and multidimensional data in an independent manner and is often used as an interchange format among researchers and organizations.

Company: NASA
Group:Data Files

Software Programs That Open GSFC Common Data Format Files:


The MathWorks MATLAB by MathWorks

Compatible with:

Windows
Mac
Linux

GSFC CDF Software by NASA

Compatible with:

Windows
Mac
Linux
Solaris
SunOS

Weisang FlexPro by Weisang GmbH

Compatible with:

Windows

ISTP CDF Skeleton Editor by NASA

Compatible with:

Linux
.CDF
File Ext:.cdf
File Type:Content Definition File

A CDF file is a content definition file, that is, an XML-based format designed specifically for storing and sharing abstract Enterprise Content Management (ECM) content and metadata. The CDF file can also be

Company: ECMG
Group:Data Files

Software Programs That Open Content Definition File Files:


ECMG Filematica by ECMG

Compatible with:

Windows
.CDF
File Ext:.cdf
File Type:Nominal Small Business Accounting Company Data File

The CDF file extension is associated with the Nominal Small Business Accounting Software. A CDF file is a data file created by the program and may contain accounts, exchange terms, tax codes, payment methods, and more.

Company: bsMart Consulting
Group:Data Files

Software Programs That Open Nominal Small Business Accounting Company Data File Files:


Nominal Accounting Software by bsMart Consulting

Compatible with:

Windows
.CDF
File Ext:.cdf
File Type:InstallShield Components Definition File

The CDF file extension can also be related to InstallShield, an installation package suite and used to store components definition.

Company: Flexera Software
Group:Settings Files

Software Programs That Open InstallShield Components Definition File Files:


InstallShield by Flexera Software

Compatible with:

Windows
.CDF
File Ext:.cdf
File Type:Microsoft Channel Definition Format

The CDF file extension can be related to the Channel Definition Format, an open specification that allows a web publisher to offer frequently updated collections of information, or channels, from any web server for automatic delivery to compatible receiver programs on PCs and other means.

Company: Microsoft Corporation
Group:Web Files

Software Programs That Open Microsoft Channel Definition Format Files:


Internet Explorer by Microsoft Corporation

Compatible with:

Windows
Mac

Microsoft Edge by Microsoft Corporation

Compatible with:

Windows

Microsoft Windows by Microsoft Corporation

Compatible with:

Windows
.CDF
File Ext:.cdf
File Type:Unidata Network Common Data Form File

The CDF file extension was formerly used by Unidata for the Network Common Data Form. They eventually replaced with the NC file extension to avoid confusion with NASA's Common Data Format and Microsoft's Channel Definition Format.

Company: Unidata
Group:Graphic Files

Software Programs That Open Unidata Network Common Data Form File Files:


NetCDF by Unidata

Compatible with:

Windows
.CDF
File Ext:.cdf
File Type:MicroSim PCBoard Component Description File

CDF files are related to MicroSim PCBoard program and may contain saved component description file for a bill of materials. Cadence has acquired the program and renamed it OrCAD PCB Designer.

Company: Cadence Design Systems
Group:CAD Files

Software Programs That Open MicroSim PCBoard Component Description File Files:


OrCAD PCB Designer by Cadence Design Systems

Compatible with:

Windows
.CDF
File Ext:.cdf
File Type:Xilinx Integrated Software Environment Chain Description File

A CDF file could also be a chain description file used by Integrated Software Environment like ISE Classics.

Company: Xilinx, Inc.
Group:Data Files

Software Programs That Open Xilinx Integrated Software Environment Chain Description File Files:


Xilinx ISE WebPACK by Xilinx, Inc.

Compatible with:

Windows
Linux
.CDF
File Ext:.cdf
File Type:Affymetrix Chip Definition File

A CDF file may also be a chip definition file associated with Tiling Analysis Software and other DNA analysis software developed by Affymetrix, Inc.

Company: Affymetrix
Group:Settings Files

Software Programs That Open Affymetrix Chip Definition File Files:


Tiling Analysis Software by Affymetrix

Compatible with:

Windows

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CDF Popularity


OS Rank

Windows (97.14%)
Macintosh (2.06%)
Linux (0.73%)
Chrome (0.05%)
Other (0.01%)

OS Hierarchy

7 (45.73%)
10 (44.56%)
8.1 (5.41%)
XP (2.79%)
8 (0.97%)


CDF Troubleshooting


Common Problems Opening CDF Files

Wolfram Research CDF Player Removed

Double-clicking your CDF file prompts the message "%%os%% Can't Open CDF File". Customarily, this means that Wolfram Research CDF Player is not installed on %%os%%. This will prevent you from double-clicking to open the CDF file because the OS doesn’t know how to handle it.


Tip: Another CDF-related program can be selected to open the file by clicking "Show Apps" and finding the application.


Wrong Version of Wolfram Research CDF Player is Installed

In other instances, your Computable Document Format File file version may not be supported by your version of Wolfram Research CDF Player. Visit the Wolfram Research website to download (or purchase) the latest version of Wolfram Research CDF Player. The primary cause of this problem is that your Computable Document Format File file was created by a different (newer) version of Wolfram Research CDF Player than what's installed.


Tip: Find clues on the correct software version by right-clicking your CDF file and clicking "Properties".


Conclusion: The majority of CDF file opening issues are due to not having the correct Wolfram Research CDF Player version installed.


Other CDF File Issues

Assuming you have the right Wolfram Research CDF Player version installed, other problems can prevent you from opening CDF files. Other CDF opening errors can be created by other system problems inside of %%os%%. Problems unrelated to software:

  • CDF file references in the Windows Registry are broken
  • The CDF file description within the Windows Registry was removed
  • Invalid installation of a CDF-associated program (eg. Wolfram Research CDF Player)
  • CDF file corruption
  • CDF file integrity has been compromised by malware
  • CDF-related hardware has device drivers that obsolete
  • Windows cannot load your Computable Document Format File file due to insufficient resources (eg. RAM)

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How to Fix Problems Opening CDF Files

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