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.oft File Extension

Developer: Microsoft Corporation

File type: Template File

You're here because you have a file that has a file extension ending in .oft. Files with the file extension .oft can only be launched by certain applications. It's possible that .oft files are data files rather than documents or media, which means they're not meant to be viewed at all.

what is a .oft file?

The OFT file extension is known as Outlook File Template which was developed by Microsoft. It is a file format used for e-mail template and contains a pre-formatted layout which is used for creating custom messages with a similar look and feel to help save time. More specifically it contains company email and personal information management application. To create an OFT file, first open and edit a new message. Then select "Save As" from the File menu. Click "Save as Type:" and select "Outlook Template (*.oft)." In older versions of the program, .oft files are opened via the "Tools" menu, but in Outlook 2010 message templates are opened in the "Developer" tab. Microsoft Outlook has three message formats: the plain text, HTML and the Rich text format (RTF). Among the three formats, the plain text format is the only format that doesn’t allow text format and direct display of pictures. While HTML and RTF may include colored fonts, bullet points, images and signatures.

how to open a .oft file?

Launch a .oft file, or any other file on your PC, by double-clicking it. If your file associations are set up correctly, the application that's meant to open your .oft file will open it. It's possible you may need to download or purchase the correct application. It's also possible that you have the correct application on your PC, but .oft files aren't yet associated with it. In this case, when you try to open a .oft file, you can tell Windows which application is the correct one for that file. From then on, opening a .oft file will open the correct application. Click here to fix .oft file association errors

applications that open a .oft file

Microsoft Office Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is available as a part of the Microsoft Office suite, and a personal information manager from Microsoft. The present version is Microsoft Office Outlook 2010 for Windows and Microsoft Office Outlook 2011 for Mac. Although frequently used primarily as an email application, it also includes a calendar, task manager, contact manager, note taking, a journal and Web browsing. It can be utilized as a stand-alone application, or can work with Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft SharePoint Server for many users in an organization, such as shared mailboxes and calendars, exchange public folders, SharePoint lists and meeting schedules. There are third-party add-on applications that integrate Outlook with electronic devices such as BlackBerry mobile phones and with other software like Office & Skype Internet communication. Developers can also make their own conventional software that works with Outlook and Office components using Microsoft Visual Studio. Moreover, Windows Mobile devices can synchronize almost all Outlook data to Outlook Mobile.

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Microsoft Outlook Express

Outlook Express is an email and news client that is integrated with Internet Explorer versions 4.0 through 6.0. It is also bundled with a number of versions of Microsoft Windows, from Windows 98 to Windows Server 2003, and is available for Windows 3.x, Windows NT 3.51, Windows 95 and Mac OS 9. In Windows Vista, Outlook Express was outdated by Windows Mail, then again by Windows Live Mail as separate software in Windows 7. Microsoft Entourage, sold as part of Microsoft Office for Macintosh, has changed the Macintosh version. Outlook Express is a diverse application from Microsoft Office Outlook. The two programs do not share a common codebase, but do share a common architectural philosophy. The similar names lead many people to incorrectly conclusion that Outlook Express is a stripped-down version of Microsoft Office Outlook. Outlook Express utilizes the Windows Address Book to store contact information and incorporates tightly with it. On Windows XP, it also joins together with Windows Messenger.

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a word of warning

Be careful not to rename the extension on .oft files, or any other files. This will not change the file type. Only special conversion software can change a file from one file type to another.

what is a file extension?

A file extension is the set of three or four characters at the end of a filename; in this case, .oft. File extensions tell you what type of file it is, and tell Windows what programs can open it. Windows often associates a default program to each file extension, so that when you double-click the file, the program launches automatically. When that program is no longer on your PC, you can sometimes get an error when you try to open the associated file.