ADL File

What are ADL files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an ADL file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your ADL files.

What is an ADL file?

ADL files have multiple uses, and Micro-Channel Architecture Adapter Description Library is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Micro-Channel Architecture Adapter Description Library

We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

How to open ADL files

Important: Different programs may use files with the ADL file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your ADL file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested ten different ADL openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 17, 2026

All known file formats using extension .ADL

While Micro-Channel Architecture Adapter Description Library is a popular type of ADL-file, we know of 2 different uses of the .ADL file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

OpenEHR Archetype Definition Language

OpenEHR Archetype Definition Language files store formal, shareable models (archetypes) used in health record systems to define structures, constraints, and semantics of clinical data (for example "blood pressure," "lab result," or "discharge summary"). An archetype is a reusable specification that says what data is allowed, how it's structured, and how terminology is bound - all outside of code or database schema. These ADL files let domain experts (such as clinicians) define and publish such models.

The OpenEHR ADL format is written and edited by people using archetype-authoring tools, or even basic text editors. Once created, archetypes in ADL form are used by electronic health record systems to validate structured clinical data, to bind terms (to controlled vocabularies or ontologies), and to allow templates to combine archetypes into forms or GUI screen layouts. ADL serves as the canonical serialised version of an archetype - meaning tools can generate or consume ADL, and convert it to operational forms for runtime use.

Internally an ADL file includes sections for meta-data (author, version), a concept section that identifies what real-world thing the archetype represents, a language section to handle translations, a definition section that uses constraint syntax (cADL) to describe structure and allowable values, invariant rules, and an ontology or terminology section. Keywords like "archetype", "concept", "definition", "ontology" and "language" appear. Nodes in definitions are identified by codes like [at0000] etc. Signatures include the ASCII header starting with "archetype", and strings such as "TERM_DEFINITIONS", "ARCHETYPE", "OPENEHR-EHR-" that help tools recognise ADL files.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of ADL files. Remember, different programs may use ADL files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about ADL file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.