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XFT File - What is an .xft file and how do I open it?
Learn about .XFT files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is an XFT file? An XFT file is a printer font file used by ChiWriter, a scientific word processor developed for MS-DOS in the 1980s and 1990s. It contains font data formatted explicitly for 24-pin dot matrix printers, which were commonly used at the time. ChiWriter used XFT files to render mathematical and technical text accurately when printing documents that contained multiple fonts and complex symbols.
More Information ChiWriter supported both screen fonts and printer fonts. While screen fonts displayed the document on screen, XFT files ensured that the printed output matched the appearance of the on-screen content as closely as possible. Each XFT file typically contained a specific font style or symbol set and was designed to work with a certain printer resolution and dot arrangement, especially for high-resolution 24-pin matrix printers. Although ChiWriter was discontinued in 1996, researchers, engineers, and academics who used it to create technical documents might still encounter XFT files when accessing old ChiWriter documents.
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DeveloperAdobe
Popularity4.0 | 2 Votes
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.XFT File Extension
2 file types use the .xft file extension.
ChiWriter Printer Font
| Developer | Horstmann Software Design |
| Popularity |
2.8 | 6 Votes |
What is an XFT file?
An XFT file is a printer font file used by ChiWriter, a scientific word processor developed for MS-DOS in the 1980s and 1990s. It contains font data formatted explicitly for 24-pin dot matrix printers, which were commonly used at the time. ChiWriter used XFT files to render mathematical and technical text accurately when printing documents that contained multiple fonts and complex symbols.
More Information
ChiWriter supported both screen fonts and printer fonts. While screen fonts displayed the document on screen, XFT files ensured that the printed output matched the appearance of the on-screen content as closely as possible.
Each XFT file typically contained a specific font style or symbol set and was designed to work with a certain printer resolution and dot arrangement, especially for high-resolution 24-pin matrix printers. Although ChiWriter was discontinued in 1996, researchers, engineers, and academics who used it to create technical documents might still encounter XFT files when accessing old ChiWriter documents.
How to open an XFT file
You can open XFT files with Horstmann Software Design ChiWriter in Windows. However, the software is no longer developed.
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Programs that open XFT files
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Horstmann Software Design ChiWriter
—
Discontinued
Free
Category: Font Files
Updated: July 16, 2025
Adobe Form Designer 5.0 File
| Developer | Adobe |
| Popularity |
4.0 | 2 Votes |
An XFT file may also be a form created by Adobe Form Designer 5.0 or an earlier version of the software known as FormFlow Designer 99 (also called Accelio Capture FormFlow Designer). It contains layout information, form fields, and formatting data required to display and capture user input. Businesses and government agencies typically used XFT forms to create structured electronic documents, such as applications, registrations, and reports.
More Information
The software that creates XFT files has gone through several transitions. It was initially developed by JetForm Corporation, a Canadian software company focused on electronic forms and workflow solutions. JetForm became Accelio Corporation, which Adobe later acquired. Adobe rebranded and further developed the technology into Adobe LiveCycle Designer, which supports newer form formats and additional features.
Today, XFT files are considered part of a legacy workflow. Organizations that still use XFT forms may do so for compatibility with older document systems or archived business processes.
How to open an XFT file
You can open XFT files with Adobe LiveCycle ES4 in Windows. However, the software is discontinued.
Programs that open XFT files
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Adobe LiveCycle ES4
—
Discontinued
Paid
Category: Data Files
Updated: July 16, 2025