CSF File

What are CSF files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a CSF 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 CSF files.

What is a CSF file?

CSF files have multiple uses, and Adobe Color Settings is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Adobe Color Settings File

These CSF files contain the color settings used in Adobe Photoshop, an image editor software. You can synchronize all your Adobe applications' color settings. You can either use preset color settings or create your own. The color setting determines how Adobe handles the color data.

How to open CSF files

Important: Different programs may use files with the CSF file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your CSF 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 CSF openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: September 19, 2026

All known file formats using extension .CSF

While Adobe Color Settings File is a popular type of CSF-file, we know of 7 different uses of the .CSF file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Cal3D Skeleton File

These CSF files contain the skeletons of the 3D animated character created in Cal3D, a 3D animation program. The skeleton is essential when designing and exporting your character. It is also used to control the characters' movement animations.

CodeSuite Filter

These CSF files contain the filters used in CodeSuite, a collection of computer code analysis tools. This tool is used to automate a process called abstraction-filtration-comparison, a filtration system used to see if a computer program's elements have been copied from a protected program.

Content Sealed Format

These CSF files contain the encrypted and DRM-protected files created in Brava, a secure viewer that provides access to content in any format. CSF files allow users to access the documents/content, but they can not edit the source file. CSF files have password protection and expiration date.

GeoMedia Coordinate System File

These CSF files contain the geographic data used in GeoMedia, a geographic information management system. You can create hard and soft copies of maps, analyze the data in real-time, validate the data, and publish and analyze mapped information.

Makkoya CSF

We know that one CSF format is Makkoya CSF. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Quartus Compiler Setting File

Quartus Compiler Setting File holds settings used by the Altera (now Intel) Quartus software to control how a design is compiled for an FPGA or CPLD device. It captures compiler options such as which chip or device is targeted, the family of devices in use, default options for the compiler, what compilation focus or hierarchy level is used, and whether timing or logic analysis will run. These files are used during the project development cycle to define how compilation (synthesis, fitting, etc.) proceeds. Quartus writes them when creating or modifying compiler settings via the GUI or via Tcl commands.

These files are created by Quartus (formerly Quartus II) during normal use of its Compile → Settings or Scripting features. They serve both as the source of compiler option assignments when compiling, and as a record of which settings were active for a particular compilation focus point (which module or entity is treated as the root). In older Quartus versions (before version 4.0 SP1), multiple separate files such as Compiler Settings File (.csf), Entity Settings File (.esf), Simulation Settings File (.ssf), Project Settings File (.psf), and Software Build Settings File (.fsf) were used. In version 4.0 SP1, those separate files were merged into a single Quartus Settings File (.qsf), and the original files were moved to a backup directory and no longer used by default. Hence modern Quartus versions rely on .qsf instead of separate .csf files.

A Compiler Setting File uses plain ASCII text format, structured as key-value assignments grouped under headers or sections. The file includes identifiers like COMPILER_SETTINGS, _ENTITY_NAME, DEVICE, FAMILY, and entries such as CHIP(entity) and settings for logic, RAM, reset behaviour, input pins, output pins, etc. These internal labels allow Quartus to parse which options to apply for device configuration, timing analysis, synthesis options, and other compiler behaviors.

Signature detail: the file begins with ASCII header COMPILER_SETTINGS at offset zero, and contains keywords such as _ENTITY_NAME, DEVICE, FAMILY, CHIP(…), FLEX10K, RAM1 among others.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of CSF files. Remember, different programs may use CSF 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 CSF file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.