Open SWF File

Open SWF File

SWF file extension is used to store Adobe Flash multimedia file format. SWF (pronounced “swiff”, short for “Shockwave Flash”) file format was developed by FutureWave Software Inc in 1995 and released as a storage format for FutureSplash Animator software on Windows and Mac OS. FutureWave Software Inc was acquired by Macromedia in 1996 and FutureSplash Animator was renamed to Macromedia Flash. Macromedia developed Flash and SWF until December 2005 when it was acquired by Adobe. Macromedia Flash was renamed to Adobe Flash and Adobe took control of the SWF file format.

SWF file format is currently released as a format with an open specification from Adobe available at SWF and AMF Technology center. Anyone can use the specification to create software which uses SWF format. Adobe removed license limitations to SWF format as part of Open Screen Project in 2008.

SWF file format provides following features:

• On-screen display
• Extensibility
• Network delivery
• Simplicity
• File independence
• Scalability
• Speed
• Scriptability

SWF is a binary file format with a structure defined by SWF specification. SWF files are also compressed to reduce load when transferred over the internet. SWF files could be downloaded from the internet online or using SWF file downloader.

You can open SWF file online or offline from your machine in Firefox or Internet Explorer. Chrome and Safari browsers can also play SWF files but due to recent changes it may be more complex. If you cannot open SWF file in your browser you can try downloading the Flash Player Projector from Adobe Flash Player Support Center.

Do not open SWF file online from untrusted source. It is possible for SWF file to contain malicious script code which can harm your computer. Attacks are frequently performed using remote buffer overruns in Flash player software to give hacker access to user computer.

Open SWF File on Windows OS

• Try double clicking on a SWF file in Windows File Explorer.
• If the SWF reading software is associated correctly then the file will open
• If the file did not open you should install VLC media player software
• To open SWF file in VLC media player you need to launch it and then select File->Open in the main menu
• In the File Open dialog select SWFfile and click "Open"

Files similar to SWF:

• FLV – Flash Video
• MXML – ActionScript files for Apache Flex