Tips to open AFM file

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

AFM file extension

File Name Adobe Font Metrics Format
File Category Font Files

The AFM file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the AFM files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the AFM file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 3
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is AFM file?

The AFM file has been categorized as Font Files. Additionally, the Font Files category contains 109 of other files. Adobe Font Metrics Format is supported by 2 operating systems. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Mac OS, Windows. Alternatively, you can use 3 other programs. The Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Creative Cloud programs will also handle the file when the Referenced by programs that use system fonts program does not fulfill its role.

How to open AFM file?

An often recurring problem with Adobe Font Metrics Format is that AFM is not associated with the correct program file. This is manifested by the fact that AFM files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the AFM 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 Referenced by programs that use system fonts

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that Referenced by programs that use system fonts is installed on the computer. This can be achieved by typing Referenced by programs that use system fonts into the operating system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Below you will find a list of applications that support AFM files.

Step 2. Create association of Referenced by programs that use system fonts with AFM files

If, despite the installed application, the AFM file does not start in the Referenced by programs that use system fonts application, you must create a file association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the AFM file with the Referenced by programs that use system fonts program.

Step 3. Update Referenced by programs that use system fonts to the latest version

If, despite the association of the Referenced by programs that use system fonts program with the Adobe Font Metrics Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version.

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

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. The most common file problems are:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. Usually this applies to AFM files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file AFM or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected AFM files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the AFM file. 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 AFM files.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file AFM 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.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. If possible, you can try to move the AFM file to another location.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. In this case, the AFM file is blocked by the first application to open it. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If the problem persists, restart the machine.