Understanding and using rich text format.

Learn what RTF files are and why they might come in handy someday.

Computers use a number of different file formats. Each has its own features and benefits, with its own strengths and weaknesses. The default file format that comes with your word processing software will often be the best option. But sometimes, it's useful to know how to use other file formats as well.

What is rich text format?

Rich text format (RTF) is a file format that enables exchanging text files between different word processing programs. You can identify RTF files by their .rtf extension, and most word processors can open them.

RTF files contain both configuration information and the actual text of the document. The formatting includes bold, italics, font size, and margin settings. This means that when you open an RTF file in a word processing program, the text will retain its original design.

How to use RTF files.

While RTF is most often used when exchanging documents between different word processing programs or operating systems, you can also use it to transfer documents between different versions of the same word processor.

If you create a document in Word on a Windows computer, you can save it as an RTF file and open it in Pages on a Mac. The file will retain its formatting information, and the document will look the same on both computers.

If you have a document created in an older version of Word, you can save it as an RTF file and open it in the most recent version. Again, the text will retain the formatting information, and the document will look the same.

There are some limits to what RTF files can do. For example, they cannot retain certain types of formatting, like track changes or comments. They also cannot include certain kinds of images or objects. But for the most part, RTF files are an excellent way to transfer documents between different word processing programs or operating systems.

You can easily convert RTF files to PDF files online with Acrobat online services. The resulting PDF will retain the original RTF file's formatting.