How to Open XFDL Files

XFDL (Extensible Forms Description Language) files are files typically used for secure business or government legally binding documents. The open source XFDL protocol allows for a single XML document to contain a variety of information, data, and computational logic as well as allows for digital signing.

If you've ever filled out a legally binding government form online, you may have been working with an XFDL form without even knowing it. If you receive a file with the file extension XFD, it could very well be a form in the XFDL format. In order to open this file, you will need a viewer. In days gone by, the PureEdge viewer was the viewer of choice. However, it's hard to find and now, IBM Lotus Forms has taken its place.

IBM Lotus Forms is geared more toward business users who want to create and manage their own business to business electronic forms. That doesn't mean you're left in the dark when you need to view an XFDL form. The Lotus Forms Viewer will let you open and view XFDL forms.

Getting the Lotus Forms Viewer is easy - once you find the link. You'll find all kinds of links that take you from one site to the next including the IBM Passport Web site where you must "sign in" and navigate through all the features and benefits of signing up for an IBM Passport account. Ignore all of this and instead, go to the IBM Lotus Forms trial page where you'll find a link to Lotus Forms Viewer for Windows. This is a trial version with all features enabled for a full 60 days.

While Lotus Forms is geared for the corporate world, you may be able to open your XFDL file by using this trial version of Lotus Forms Viewer or the PureEdge Viewer. For those who prefer PureEdge or have been instructed to use that particular viewer, you can still download the PureEdge viewer at Grants.gov.

Dealing with strange files is frustrating because unless you have the right software, they won't open. Fortunately, if you do your research, you can usually find out what's needed for opening the file. Keep in mind that you should never attempt to open strange files unless you are expecting them as. For example, if your mortgage lender sent you an XFDL form to review and you've been expecting it, then yes, you can safely view the form using one of the above mentioned viewers. However, if a spam e-mail arrives prompting you to view the XFDL file, don't take any risks.