Tips to open ADF file

Can't open the ADF file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open ADF files as well as a list of programs that support ADF files.

ADF file extension

File Name ArcView ARC/INFO Coverage Data Format
File Developer ESRI
File Category GIS Files

The ADF file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the ADF files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the ADF file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 5
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is ADF file?

The file in the ADF format belongs to the GIS Files category. It was designed by ESRI. In addition to this file, the GIS Files category includes 255 related files. ArcView ARC/INFO Coverage Data Format is most often found on 1 operating systems. The file will work on Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. The main program that supports this format is TatukGIS Editor. This was created by TatukGIS. Alternatively, you can use 4 other programs. ArcGIS Desktop, GDAL, ArcView, Total GIS Converter will apply when it is not possible to use TatukGIS Editor.

How to open ADF file?

The most common problem when using ArcView ARC/INFO Coverage Data Format is that a specific ADF is not associated with the program. Thus, when you open ADF, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the ADF file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install TatukGIS Editor

In this case, you should first verify that the TatukGIS Editor application is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name TatukGIS Editor in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below is a list of programs that support the file ADF.

Step 2. Create association of TatukGIS Editor with ADF files

If, despite the installed application, the ADF file does not start in the TatukGIS Editor application, you must create a file association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the ADF file with the TatukGIS Editor program.

Step 3. Update TatukGIS Editor to the latest version

If, however, after binding TatukGIS Editor with ArcView ARC/INFO Coverage Data Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. In this case, use the TatukGIS website or update the program from the application.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the ADF file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. The most common file problems are:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the ADF file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the ADF file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected ADF file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
Older version of ADF file may not always be supported by the latest software version. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged ADF files. You can restore the file from a backup or use ESRI help.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file ADF except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. Copying the ADF file to another location will fix the problem.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the ADF file is blocked by the first application to open it. Just close unnecessary programs. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. However, some background programs may block the ADF file while scanning. If nothing helps, please reset the device.