AEF File

What are AEF files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an AEF 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 AEF files.

What is an AEF file?

AEF files have multiple uses, and CA Visual Objects Application Export is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

CA Visual Objects Application Export File

These AEF files contain the CA-Visual Objects library files created in Visual Object, a fully object-oriented app development system. You can create a sophisticated app that runs under Microsoft Windows and Windows NT. You need to import the AEF file into your CA-Visual Object repository if you want to access the library. You get access to an environment with tools that you can use to generate, test, and debug unique code combinations.

How to open AEF files

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

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

Last updated: August 17, 2026

All known file formats using extension .AEF

While CA Visual Objects Application Export File is a popular type of AEF-file, we know of 2 different uses of the .AEF file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Cisco Unity Express Script

A Cisco Unity Express Script file with extension .AEF encodes a call-flow or auto-attendant workflow used on Cisco Unity Express voice-mail and auto-attendant modules. These scripts define how incoming calls are handled, including menus, prompts, transfers, business-hours checking, alternate greetings, and branching logic. System-default AEF scripts implement built-in behavior; custom AEF scripts let administrators modify call flows using a visual editor.

These files are created and edited on a PC using the Cisco Unity Express Script Editor or via the simplified Editor Express GUI. Once saved as an .AEF script file, the file is uploaded to the Unity Express system using a GUI or CLI command (for example, "ccn copy url … script script-filename.aef …"). On the Unity Express module the script becomes part of a configured application (auto attendant or IVR), where script parameters can be adjusted without editing the AEF file directly.

Internally the .AEF format uses a binary serialized workflow object layout tied to Cisco's WFFramework and includes keywords like AUTHOR, VALUES, TYPES, LOCAL, NAMES, and strings such as compiledJ…LastUsedIDL. The file begins with the bytes AC ED 00 05 73 72 00 24 63 6F 6D … ("…sr.$com.cisco.wfframework.obj.WFWorkflows…") confirming its identification.

Various apps that use files with this extension

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

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