TGF File

What are TGF files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a TGF 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 TGF files.

What is a TGF file?

TGF files have multiple uses, and MDL Transportable Graphics Format is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

MDL Transportable Graphics Format File

The MDL Transportable Graphics Format File is a 2D graphics file format used for vector‐based chemical structure drawings produced by MDL's ISIS/Draw application (also handled by ChemDoodle). It is used when you save or export chemical drawings as ASCII text so that they can be transferred between different computers, platforms, or chemical‐drawing programs without losing layout or annotation. This format includes chemical structure information (atoms, bonds, bond types, atom labels, stereochemical bonds) along with drawing objects such as arrows, text labels, geometric graphics and often other annotation details.

This format is written (created) by the MDL ISIS/Draw (and compatible programs) when exporting or saving sketches as an ASCII "transportable graphics file." When another program supports the format, it can open the file to reconstruct both the chemical structure and its drawing layout, allowing the drawing to be edited, re‐displayed or printed with faithful layout and annotation. It does not carry raw 3D modeling data but focuses on 2D depictions, queries, and graphics for chemical structures.

The file is plain text, not binary, with the TGF format being the ASCII equivalent of MDL's sketch format (SKC). The data include listings of atoms with coordinates, bond connections with bond types, atom labels, graphical elements (lines, rectangles, arrows), text annotations and other drawing primitives. The format is part of the ISIS Sketch File Formats in MDL's CTfile specification. It is identified on chemical MIME types as chemical/mdl-tgf or chemical/x-mdl-tgf.

How to open TGF files

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

Programs that open MDL Transportable Graphics Format files

Last updated: August 13, 2026

All known file formats using extension .TGF

While MDL Transportable Graphics Format File is a popular type of TGF-file, we know of 3 different uses of the .TGF file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

TGF Chemical Test

We know that one TGF format is TGF Chemical Test. 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 seven different TGF openers which you will find listed below.

Tree Generator 3D Tree

We know that one TGF format is Tree Generator 3D Tree. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Various apps that use files with this extension

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