HFT File

What are HFT files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a HFT 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 HFT files.

What is a HFT file?

A .HFT file is a HotDocs Template file.

A HotDocs Template File with extension .HFT is a form template used in HotDocs, a document-automation system that creates fillable forms over static background content. It is crafted with HotDocs Automator (part of the HotDocs Developer suite) when you want users to respond to questions (an interview) and have those answers overlay a fixed layout rather than modify the underlying text.

Form templates of this kind use a static background - often a PDF or pre-existing layout - and define "variable fields" on top so that when users supply information, HotDocs merges those responses to produce completed form documents. These templates must be paired with a component file (.CMP) which holds the fields, logic, and variables required at assembly time. HotDocs Server or Desktop takes your .HFT plus its .CMP, collects answers via an interview, and assembles a final document (.HFD) by filling in those fields.

The .HFT format is based on the Envoy page layout format, an older competitor of PDF. Envoy-based form templates can be automated and assembled by HotDocs. However, HotDocs no longer includes tools to create new Envoy documents from scratch under recent operating system versions. Existing Envoy-based files (.HFT, .HFD, .EVY) remain supported.

How to open HFT files

We have identified one HFT opener that is compatible with this specific type of HFT file.

Programs that open HotDocs Template files

Last updated: August 7, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

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