Extract text from Resource definition files (RDEF)
To convert RDEF Resource definitions to another format, you need Xcode or other Developer software.
To convert other file formats to the "Source Code" file type, you need software like Xcode or a similar tool.
An .RDEF file is a Macintosh Resource Definition file, a text-based source script used primarily in legacy macOS development and the Haiku operating system. These files describe user interface elements - such as menus, dialog boxes, and icons - in a structured format that the Rez compiler translates into binary RSRC resource forks. While indispensable for classic Macintosh programming, .RDEF files are largely obsolete in modern Apple development, having been replaced by Interface Builder files like XIB and STORYBOARD.
The primary difficulty for users encountering an .RDEF file today is accessibility. Because it is a specialized developer format, standard text editors often fail to recognize the extension, and double-clicking typically launches nothing or triggers an error if Xcode is not installed. Furthermore, the file itself is merely a set of instructions, not a usable resource until compiled. For archival or inspection purposes, the most practical solution is converting the file to TXT to view the source code without specialized tooling. For developers maintaining legacy systems, compiling it to RSRC remains necessary.
Convert.Guru analyzes your RDEF file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted GRDEF, EBJ and DH files.
If you want to convert RDEF file to , you can use Xcode or similar software from the "Resource Definition Script" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to RDEF, try Xcode or another comparable tool in the "Resource Definition Script" 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 RDEF converter.