AFW File

What are AFW files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an AFW 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 AFW files.

What is an AFW file?

An .AFW file is an ABC FlowCharter Workspace file.

ABC FlowCharter Workspace files store the workspace configuration for the flowcharting application ABC FlowCharter (later known as Micrografx FlowCharter, and now iGrafx FlowCharter). They do not contain flowchart diagrams themselves, but remember how the application's interface was arranged when you last used it - things like toolbar positions, open windows, and the current layout of tool palettes.

These workspace files are written by ABC FlowCharter when you customize the program's workspace (for example by moving windows, resizing panes, showing or hiding toolbars) so that those settings can be restored in later sessions. Users rarely need to share .AFW files; they are mostly useful for preserving a familiar interface layout across uses of the same installation of the software.

Antivirus or system cleanup tools may misidentify these files if they're unfamiliar, because the data inside isn't readable like a document or chart - it's binary configuration data. Internally, these files can be recognized by specific byte signatures, including the sequence "18 00 4A 46 4F 00 00 01 BD E2 D" at offset zero. They also contain the literal strings ".AF3" and ".AFW".

Recommended to open with: iGrafx FlowCharter or any copy of ABC/Micrografx FlowCharter that still supports workspace configuration files.

How to open AFW files

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

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

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of AFW files. Remember, different programs may use AFW 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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File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about AFW file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.