rdf 

RDF File Extension

Have a problem opening a .RDF file? We collect information about file formats and can explain what RDF files are. Additionally we recommend software suitable for opening or converting such files.

What is the .RDF file type?

The primary association of the .rdf extension relates to the Resource Description Framework (RDF) data format, with this extension denoting files whose contents are RDF-based. RDF refers to the model developed and suggested by W3C to semantically describe data, especially metadata (the semantic web concept). RDF specification is published as a W3C standard.

The RDF model is implemented in several file formats and syntaxes, including RDF/XML, RDF/JSON, N3 (N-Triples), and used in such widespread Internet technologies as RSS and FOAF (Friend-Of-A-Friend). The purpose of RDF is to provide rich and semantically meaningful metadata about various web resources in a uniform manner.



To avoid confusion, the .rdf extension itself is normally assigned only to text-based RDF files in the RDF/XML syntax/format, the standard RDF syntax optimized for processing by a machine. Such an .rdf file is an XML-based serialized representation of the RDF model. Any RDF file can be opened, viewed, and edited with a text editor.


Alternatively, CyberLink PowerProducer uses the .rdf extension to identify its PowerProducer Disk Image (RDF) format and file type. PowerProducer is a commercial digital-movie authoring solution by CyberLink with the optical disk burning capability. RDF is the proprietary format used to store entire disk images as compressed .rdf files. RDF is supported by PowerProducer only. Besides RDF, PowerProducer allows to create standard ISO images.


Apart from that, the .rdf extension also comes associated with the ReluxCAD Project (RDF) file type and format used with the Relux series of lighting-system design and simulation tools by Relux Informatik. A Relux .rdf file is a project file in the proprietary RDF format that contains data for all light sources, their placement and specifications, design layout, etc. RDF projects are usually used together with AutoCAD .dwg and .dxf project files.


The .rdf extension is also associated with the ArcGIS Report Document File (RDF) format and file type. ArcGIS is the collective name of a series of established GIS tools developed and marketed by Esri. An ArcGIS .rdf file is a static report in the native RDF format, containing organized tabular data. ArcGIS reports are designed with the Report Designer tool and viewed with Report Viewer. Static reports (.rdf) are often created along with Report Layout Files (.rlf) that allow to re-create/modify corresponding static reports.


Additionally, the .rdf extension acts as a label for the internal Report Document Format (RDF) used to save report files (.rdf) in ActiveResports Developer, one of the tools making up the ActiveReports report-generating toolkit by ComponentOne (GrapeCity) for the Microsoft .NET framework. RDF is the native proprietary format employed by ActiveReports internally.


Besides, the .rdf extension has another association with the Oracle Report Definition File (RDF) format used in Oracle Report Builder (part of Oracle Reports) to save Oracle database report definition files (.rdf). A binary RDF file contains the rules and SQL queries to generate the actual report output in one of the supported formats (PDF, HTML, XML, RTF, etc.).


Lastly, the .rdf extension serves to distinguish template files (.rdf) in the Concept PLC control-system programming and management application by Schneider Electric. An RDF file is a Reference Data Editor template. In earlier Concept versions (<e;2.2), templates were saved in a different format (RDE); such older .rde files can be auto-converted to .rdf in Concept 2.5.



Software to open or convert RDF files

You can open RDF files with the following programs: 

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