CFM File

What are CFM files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a CFM 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 CFM files.

What is a CFM file?

CFM files have multiple uses, and ColdFusion Webpage Template is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

ColdFusion Webpage Template File

CFM is an acronym for ColdFusion Markup. Files that contain the .cfm file extension contain webpage files that consist of the ColdFusion Markup Language.

The ColdFusion software, which creates the ColdFusion Markup files, was initially created by the Allaire company. However, it was later sold to Macromedia, and then in 2005, the ColdFusion software was bought by Adobe.

Webpage files that contain the ColdFusion Markup Language are used to create a variety of different online applications. CFML is a server-side language, much like PHP, but unlike PHP, CFML is not an open-source code. It is a commercially-sold programming language.

How to open CFM files

We have identified two CFM openers that are compatible with this specific type of CFM file.

Programs that open ColdFusion Webpage Template files

Last updated: August 31, 2026

All known file formats using extension .CFM

While ColdFusion Webpage Template File is a popular type of CFM-file, we know of 3 different uses of the .CFM file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Color Font Maker Pattern File

We know that one CFM format is Color Font Maker Pattern File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

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

The Need For Speed Car Exterior File

The Need For Speed Car Exterior File stores the 3D model and textures that define how a vehicle looks on the outside in the original Need for Speed series (including The Need For Speed Special Edition). It is used by the game engine to draw each car's body, wheels, lights, and paint, at multiple levels of detail, so that distant cars use simpler models and nearby cars use more complex ones.

Such files are authored by the game developer and are part of the game data; modding tools have been made to extract ("unpack") or rebuild ("pack") these files, especially for editing textures or replacing car paint. After editing, the modified versions are inserted back into the game's asset folders in place of the originals.

Internally, the file begins with a 24-byte header, including the ASCII signature "wwww" and a chunk table for four major data sections. Three of those data chunks cover different levels of detail, each composed of two subchunks: one defines how parts are arranged (orientation/position), the other provides bitmap graphics for surfaces. The fourth chunk includes data that affects special behaviour (such as crash dynamics). Textures are stored in a section marked "SHPM" alongside identifiers like "SURFACE", "INSIDE", "FRNT", "WRAP", etc., and internal headers like "ORIP".

The file format is officially identified by its magic number "0x777777770400000018000000" at offset 0, contains "ORIP" at offset 24, uses big-endian encoding, and includes strings such as "SURFACE", "NON-SORT", "INSIDE", "FRNT", "SHPI", "WRAP". It is specific to exterior car models in Need for Speed and distinct from other uses of the same file extension.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of CFM files. Remember, different programs may use CFM 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

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