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VCF File - What is a .vcf file and how do I open it?
Learn about .VCF files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is a VCF file? A VCF file is a standard file format for storing contact information for one or more persons or a business. It typically includes a name, address, phone number, email address, and other contact information. VCF files also support custom fields, images, and other types of media.
More Information VCF file open in Microsoft Outlook 365 The VCF format is widely used for exchanging contact information between applications and devices. For example, you may export a person's contact information as a VCF file, then import it into a contact-organizing program on your computer. Since VCF files are relatively small in size, you can attach a file to an email message and send it to yourself or other contacts. They can then import the contact information in the VCF into their own contact-organizing software, often by simply double-clicking the file. How to create a VCF file You may create VCF files from scratch by creating a new contact and exporting it. For example, in Microsoft Outlook, you can create a contact, then select File → Save As to create a VCF file. Or, you can convert other file formats to the VCF format. For example, you can save .XLS or .XLSX files as .CSV files with Microsoft Excel, then convert them to VCF files with a simple converter program, such as "CSV to vCard." Example of the vCard format (version 3.0) in plain text BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 PRODID:-//Apple Inc.//macOS 11.5.2//EN N:Doe;John;;; FN:John Doe ORG:Sharpened Productions; EMAIL;type=INTERNET;type=HOME;type=pref: [email protected] EMAIL;type=INTERNET;type=WORK: [email protected] TEL;type=CELL;type=VOICE;type=pref:123-456-7890 ADR;type=HOME;type=pref:;;12345 First Avenue;Hometown;NY;12345;United States ADR;type=WORK:;;67890 Second Avenue;Businesstown;NY;67890;United States NOTE:The man I met at the company networking event. He mentioned that he had some potential leads. item1.URL;type=pref:https://fileinfo.com/ item1.X-ABLabel:_$!<HomePage>!$_ BDAY:2000-01-01 END:VCARD
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Developer1000 Genomes Project
Popularity2.9 | 107 Votes
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In-Depth
.VCF File Extension
2 file types use the .vcf file extension.
vCard File
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
3.4 | 1324 Votes |
What is a VCF file?
A VCF file is a standard file format for storing contact information for one or more persons or a business. It typically includes a name, address, phone number, email address, and other contact information. VCF files also support custom fields, images, and other types of media.
More Information
VCF file open in Microsoft Outlook 365
The VCF format is widely used for exchanging contact information between applications and devices. For example, you may export a person's contact information as a VCF file, then import it into a contact-organizing program on your computer.
Since VCF files are relatively small in size, you can attach a file to an email message and send it to yourself or other contacts. They can then import the contact information in the VCF into their own contact-organizing software, often by simply double-clicking the file.
How to create a VCF file
You may create VCF files from scratch by creating a new contact and exporting it. For example, in Microsoft Outlook, you can create a contact, then select File → Save As to create a VCF file.
Or, you can convert other file formats to the VCF format. For example, you can save .XLS or .XLSX files as .CSV files with Microsoft Excel, then convert them to VCF files with a simple converter program, such as "CSV to vCard."
Example of the vCard format (version 3.0) in plain text
BEGIN:VCARD VERSION:3.0 PRODID:-//Apple Inc.//macOS 11.5.2//EN N:Doe;John;;; FN:John Doe ORG:Sharpened Productions; EMAIL;type=INTERNET;type=HOME;type=pref: [email protected] EMAIL;type=INTERNET;type=WORK: [email protected] TEL;type=CELL;type=VOICE;type=pref:123-456-7890 ADR;type=HOME;type=pref:;;12345 First Avenue;Hometown;NY;12345;United States ADR;type=WORK:;;67890 Second Avenue;Businesstown;NY;67890;United States NOTE:The man I met at the company networking event. He mentioned that he had some potential leads. item1.URL;type=pref:https://fileinfo.com/ item1.X-ABLabel:_$!<HomePage>!$_ BDAY:2000-01-01 END:VCARD
How to open a VCF file
You can open VCF files with various applications. Windows users can open vCards with Windows Contacts and Microsoft People (bundled with Windows) and Microsoft Outlook (an email client included with Microsoft Office ). Mac users can open vCards with the Contacts application included with macOS or the third-party Flexibits Cardhop app. Android and iOS users can also load vCards directly into the Contacts apps bundled with their respective operating systems.
Since vCards are saved in a text format, you can also open them with a plain text editor. However, the files may also include a block of binary data, which is often used to store a photo. Also, the information in the file will not be displayed the same as if it was opened in a contacts program.
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Programs that open VCF files
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Pricing
Program Name
Platform
Reset
X
Windows
Microsoft Windows Contacts
Included with OS
Microsoft People
Included with OS
Microsoft Outlook 365
Free
Palm Desktop
Free
Beiley Handy Address Book
Free Trial
Fonlow IT Open Contacts
Free
vCardOrganizer
Free Trial
Nokia PC Suite
Free
Mac
Apple Contacts
Included with OS
Microsoft Outlook 365
Free +
Palm Desktop
Free
vCardExplorer
Free
Flexibits Cardhop
Free Trial
Web
Google Contacts
Free
FreshBooks
Free Trial
Android
Google Contacts
Free
AndroLd Contacts VCF
Free +
Chrome OS
Google Contacts
Free
Category: Data Files
Updated: January 5, 2023
Variant Call Format File
| Developer | 1000 Genomes Project |
| Popularity |
2.9 | 107 Votes |
A VCF file may also be a text file used in bioinformatics to store information about variant genetic sequences. It contains metadata that describes the file's format, source, created on date, and reference genome, and it contains column-formatted genetic sequencing data. VCF files are used as part of large-scale genotyping and DNA sequencing projects, such as the 1000 Genomes Project.
More Information
VCF file open in GitHub Atom
To streamline the storage of variant genetic information, the 1000 Genomes Project created the Variant Call Format (VCF). This format allows bioinformaticians to catalog variants of a genome without recording those variants' genetic data in their entirety. Instead, bioinformaticians save one default reference copy of the genome in a .FASTA or another file, and then they describe the genome's variants in a VCF file. This allows bioinformaticians to quickly review and analyze genetic variants, without sifting through redundant data.
In its header, the VCF file describes its own file format, created on date, source, and other relevant metadata. The most important piece of metadata is the VCF file's ##reference , which describes where the VCF file's reference genome is stored.
In its body, the VCF file contains variant genetic sequencing data that is separated into eight mandatory columns, including:
Some VCF files may contain additional columns of data, including FORMAT and SAMPLE.
How to open a VCF file
Because VCF files are plain text files, you can open and examine them using any text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad (Windows), Apple TextEdit (Mac), or GitHub Atom (cross-platform).
However, VCF files are meant to be used as part of genotyping and DNA sequencing catalogs. Those working with these catalogs can use the open-source VCFtools library (cross-platform) to edit and manipulate VCF files.
Programs that open or reference VCF files
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Pricing
Program Name
Platform
Reset
X
Windows
VCFtools
Free
Microsoft Notepad
Included with OS
GitHub Atom
—
Discontinued
Free
Any text editor
Mac
VCFtools
Free
Apple TextEdit
Included with OS
GitHub Atom
—
Discontinued
Free
Any text editor
Linux
VCFtools
Free
Vim
Free
GitHub Atom
—
Discontinued
Free
Any text editor
Chrome OS
Google Chrome Text
Included with OS
Category: Text Files
Updated: February 22, 2021