.aft — AFT File
Autodesk · 1987
An AFT file is a plain ASCII text file primarily used for storing textual data related to AutoCAD drawings or similar CAD applications.
Key Features
- Plain ASCII text format for human readability.
- Simple structure, easily editable with text editors.
- Supports textual data related to CAD drawings.
- High compatibility across various software due to plain text nature.
Best For
- Storing and sharing simple, human-readable text data.
- Accompanied notes or labels for CAD projects.
- Text-based data that needs broad software compatibility.
Less Ideal For
- Storing complex graphical data or drawings.
- Maintaining formatting or rich text elements.
- Large datasets requiring efficient compression.
- Applications that strictly require binary input/output.
Common Use Cases
- Storing textual annotations for CAD drawings.
- Exporting simple text-based data from CAD software.
- Creating simple configuration or note files for related applications.
- Sharing basic textual information that doesn't require complex formatting.
How to Open It
- Open with any standard text editor like Notepad (Windows), TextEdit (macOS), or Gedit (Linux).
- Some CAD software, including AutoCAD, can open these files directly.
- If double-clicking doesn't work, right-click the file, choose 'Open With', and select a text editor.
What is a .aft file?
An AFT file is essentially a plain text file that contains ASCII characters, often used to store drawing information or text data related to AutoCAD drawings. These files are not complex binary formats; instead, they are designed to be human-readable and easily editable with standard text editors. While not a primary drawing format itself, AFT files can serve as a supplementary data store, potentially holding notes, labels, or specific textual components associated with CAD projects. Their simplicity makes them compatible with a wide range of software.
Programs That Open .aft Files
| Platform | Program | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Notepad | Free | Official |
| WordPad | Free | Official | |
| AutoCAD | Paid | Official | |
| macOS | TextEdit | Free | Official |
| Pages | Paid | ||
| AutoCAD for Mac | Paid | Official | |
| Linux | Gedit | Free | Official |
| Vim | Free | ||
| Emacs | Free | ||
| Android | QuickEdit Text Editor | Free | |
| Google Docs | Free | ||
| iOS | Notes | Free | Official |
| Pages | Paid | ||
| Web Browser | Google Drive (Docs) | Free | |
| Online Text Editors (e.g., codeanywhere.com) | Free |
How to Convert .aft Files
| Format | Method |
|---|---|
| .TXT | Save As in text editor, Copy/Paste into new .txt file |
| .DXF | Export from AutoCAD if structure allows |
Common Problems with .aft Files
Frequently Asked Questions
No, an AFT file is a plain text file that can contain information related to drawings, but it is not a drawing format itself. It's for textual data.
Yes, because it's a plain ASCII text file, you can use any standard text editor like Notepad, TextEdit, or Gedit to view and edit its contents.
Functionally, they are very similar as both are plain text. AFT files are often specifically associated with CAD applications (like AutoCAD) for storing related textual data, while TXT is a general-purpose text file.
Technical Details
AFT files are structured as plain ASCII text, meaning they consist solely of characters that can be represented in the 7-bit ASCII encoding. They do not employ any specific compression algorithms or complex binary structures. AutoCAD itself, and other compatible CAD software, can interpret the content within these files, which typically relates to drawing elements or textual annotations.