Extract text from RFD files
To convert your RFD file to another format, you need FrameCAD Structure or other Cad software.
To convert other file formats to the "Structural Engineering Design" file type, you need software like FrameCAD Structure or a similar tool.
The .rfd file extension is primarily a proprietary engineering format used in the construction industry, most notably by FrameCAD for light steel frame design and RebarCAD for reinforcement detailing. These files store complex vector geometry, structural calculations, and material specifications required for manufacturing steel frames or reinforced concrete structures. A less common variation includes legacy URI Media video files or Recogniform form definitions.
The main challenge with .rfd files is their strict proprietary nature. They are not compatible with standard CAD viewers or web browsers. Opening a FrameCAD .rfd file requires a licensed installation of the specific software version used to create it - often costing thousands of dollars - which creates a bottleneck for contractors, clients, or architects who simply need to review a design. Similarly, RebarCAD data is often inaccessible to users running standard AutoCAD without the specific object enablers or plugins.
To make these files usable for collaboration, the best practice is to convert them based on your goal. For simple viewing and archiving, convert the design to PDF or PDF/A. For interoperability with other architectural software like Revit or SketchUp, the file should be exported or converted to DXF or DWG. If you have identified your file as a URI Media video (often found in older multimedia archives), converting it to MP4 is necessary for playback on modern devices.
Convert.Guru analyzes your RFD file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted RTF, RDF, JPG, FIG, VLM and LBK files.
If you want to convert RFD file to INDD, QXP, PUB, PMD, PM6, PM7, PM8, PM9, PM10, PM11, OMP or P65, you can use FrameCAD Structure or similar software from the "Light Steel Frame Design" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert MDI, PUB, PDP, PM4, P65, COMIC, WEBTEMPLATE, PMD, SPUB, INDD, PM5 or QXP files to RFD, try FrameCAD Structure or another comparable tool in the "Light Steel Frame Design" 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 RFD converter.