Extract text from Definition files (SDEF)
To convert SDEF Definitions to another format, you need DCS World or other Developer software.
To convert other file formats to the "Scripting Definition File" file type, you need software like DCS World or a similar tool.
The .SDEF file extension serves two primary, distinct roles depending on the software environment. In the gaming sector, it acts as a Game Sound Definition file for DCS World (Digital Combat Simulator). In the macOS ecosystem, it functions as a Scripting Definition file (also known as an AppleScript Dictionary), structured in XML, that defines the scriptable terminology for Mac applications.
To open these files, macOS users typically rely on the built-in AppleScript Editor (also known as Script Editor). PC gamers modding DCS World use standard code editors to modify the internal sound properties. The main disadvantage of the .SDEF format is its highly specific use case. Mac dictionary files can be difficult to read outside of native Apple developer tools, while game sound files require strict syntax alignment with the proprietary Eagle Dynamics audio engine. A single typo will break the audio playback.
Users often need to convert or extract the contents of .SDEF files to read the scripting hierarchies in standard environments. The best target formats are standard XML or plain TXT. Converting to these formats makes the code readable on any device without requiring macOS or the DCS game engine. However, converting strips the file of its native software association, meaning the target application will no longer automatically compile or execute the script.
Because these files are closely tied to either Apple's proprietary scripting architecture (AppleScript) or a specific game engine, standard converters frequently fail to parse them correctly. Just drag and drop your file into convert.guru to identify the format, view it, and convert it when possible. Our platform can inspect the file, differentiate between an Apple dictionary and a DCS sound file, and extract the underlying text or XML content for immediate viewing.
Convert.Guru analyzes your SDEF file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted SCPT, MIZ, LODS and BNF files.
If you want to convert SDEF file to JS, TS, PY, JAVA, CPP, C, CS, PHP, RB, GO, RS or SWIFT, you can use DCS World or similar software from the "Scripting and Sound Definitions" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert SH, PY, KT, PS1, SWIFT, LUA, PL, JAVA, SCALA, JS, VBS or TS files to SDEF, try DCS World or another comparable tool in the "Scripting and Sound Definitions" 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 SDEF converter.