CMATE File

What are CMATE files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a CMATE 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 CMATE files.

What is a CMATE file?

A .CMATE file is a ControllerMate Programming file.

ControllerMate Programming files are settings files used by ControllerMate, a macOS application developed by OrderedBytes for customizing the behavior of human interface devices such as keyboards, mice, joysticks, trackballs, and gamepads. These files store configurations that define how input signals are interpreted, transformed, and routed to outputs including keyboard actions, mouse motions, MIDI signals, AppleScripts, logic operations, timers, and other programmable building blocks.

These files are generated and consumed by the ControllerMate application. The user creates a configuration by arranging building blocks - each block performing a specific function - and linking them to form custom workflows. ControllerMate also detects connected input devices and captures their properties; a ControllerMate file can be imported to override or augment these device characteristics for better compatibility.

A ControllerMate Programming file begins with the ASCII signature bplist00 at offset zero, indicating it uses Apple's binary property-list (bplist) format. The internal contents include many identifiers and keywords such as USEINCORRECTMODIFIERVALUE, HIDELEMENTRELATIVEVALUE, HIDDEVICEVENDORID, DEVICEATTRIBUTES, CONNECTIONS, and other metadata and control definitions that map inputs to outputs, handle usage pages, cookies, element types, value bounds, and visibility settings.

How to open CMATE files

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

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: August 31, 2026

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