Extract text from Encrypted forms or images (EWF)
To convert EWF Forms or images to another format, you need JNet or other Data software.
To convert other file formats to the "Encrypted Data Container" file type, you need software like JNet or a similar tool.
The .ewf file extension represents two distinct, high-friction file types that cannot be opened with standard office software. Most commonly (according to usage data), it is an Encrypted Web Form generated by JNet software for Dutch government agencies and municipalities. These files serve as secure containers for form submission data (like permit applications or receipts) and are strictly proprietary; they act as a digital envelope that only the specific JNet server or legacy viewer can decrypt and process. Users often encounter these when saving a copy of a submitted online form, only to find the file is unreadable on their local machine.
Alternatively, in professional IT and legal sectors, an .ewf file is an Expert Witness Format disk image created by OpenText EnCase (formerly Guidance Software). These are forensic bit-stream copies of hard drives or media, used to preserve digital evidence. Unlike standard disk images (like ISO), EnCase files contain metadata and hashes to ensure chain of custody. A minority of users may also find .ewf files associated with legacy versions of SOLIDWORKS eDrawings, though modern versions typically use EASM or EDRW.
For the Web Form variant, direct conversion is rarely possible without the original software; the best workflow is to upload the file back to the issuing portal to view and print to PDF. For EnCase forensic files, specialized tools like FTK Imager or libewf are required to mount the image or convert it to a raw format like DD or IMG for analysis.
Convert.Guru analyzes your EWF file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted E01, E02 and EDC files.
If you want to convert EWF file to CSV, JSON, XML, YAML, YML, TOML, INI, CFG, CONF, DAT, DB or SQL, you can use JNet or similar software from the "Encrypted Form Data Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert DBF, XML, SQLITE, XLSX, SQL, TSV, ACCDB, YAML, MDB, CSV, ODS or JSON files to EWF, try JNet or another comparable tool in the "Encrypted Form Data Storage" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our EWF converter.