.fff

derrick

I have some forms saved on my computer that I filled in on my computer and have opened them since saving, some going back to 2012, however when saving some new ones today then trying to open them I am getting a "caution" window saying, "You are attempting to open a file of type 'FormFiller form data' (.fff)
These files are used by the operating system and by various programmes. Editing or modifying them could damage your system.
If you still want to open the file, click Open with. Otherwise click Cancel"

When clicking on "Open with" I get another window, "Windows can't open this file:
File: FormFiller ***** form.fff (the stars are just a replacement for the file name).

To open this file, Windows needs to know what program you want to use to open it. Windows can go online to look it up automatically, or you can manually select from a list of programmes that are installed on your computer.

I don't know if I have the correct programme on my computer, (unlikely), and when clicking on "Use the Web service to find the correct service", I get Bing search engine with pages explaining FFF Files and how to open them, but they all seem to want payment or a free trial, but I need something free that will open them "forever" on my computer

As I said I have opened these before without problems. So any ideas how to open for free?


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[Deleted User]

Just try notepad, if they're not encrypted you'll at least have access to the contents.

derrick

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Just try notepad, if they're not encrypted you'll at least have access to the contents.

Unless I am doing something wrong, (not impossible), notepad "no items match your search"


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John_Gray

Start up Notepad, then click on File then on Open, and search for one of the .fff files. Highlight it, then click on Open. You should then see how much (if any) of a text file these are!

derrick

John_Gray wrote: »

Start up Notepad, then click on File then on Open, and search for one of the .fff files. Highlight it, then click on Open. You should then see how much (if any) of a text file these are!

That is pretty much what I did as per my post #3.

Have just tried again, I get a choice to "open with", this brings up the same scenario as my OP.

The other choice is, "Open with Free File Viewer", this brings up an empty page.



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custardy

https://fileinfo.com/extension/fff

Dont know if using image based software might help?

derrick

custardy wrote: »

https://fileinfo.com/extension/fff

Don't know if using image based software might help?

I did have a look at similar software, via Google, but they all seem to offer a free trial then you have to pay, as with the one you linked to, and having tried that it won't work.

I dragged and dropped a file then got, "No native view available, the file is saved in a format File View Plus does not recognise. However you can still display the file in a plain text or hexadecimal format by opening the Text or Hex views."

When clicking "View as text" I get gobbledygook, when "view as Hex" I get similar.


I have found a way round but it is time consuming.

Open Paint > Menu> Open> highlight the file > open >, in Paint save as JPEG, I can now view the file.


I cannot see why this happened, they are form files, (HMRC), and go back to 2005, I did not save them as fff as I opened them after saving and on other dates since saving. I doubt I would know how to save as fff!

The ones from 2005 up to and including 2012 are these fff files.
2013 are JPEG
2014 are PDF
2016 are JPEG,(can't find 2015).
2017 are JPEG and PDF



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Neil_Jones

Are these from the HMRC Self Assessment tax software they used to push out?

derrick

Neil_Jones wrote: »

Are these from the HMRC Self Assessment tax software they used to push out?

No these were hard copies I scanned into the computer after filling them out by hand.


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[Deleted User]

derrick wrote: »

No these were hard copies I scanned into the computer after filling them out by hand.


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So they were saved as a graphic file rather than as a text file?

According to https://fileinfo.com/extension/fff MS Windows Photos should be able to open them.

derrick

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

So they were saved as a graphic file rather than as a text file?

According to https://fileinfo.com/extension/fff MS Windows Photos should be able to open them.

I don't know how they were saved, just that now they are fff.

MS Windows Photos from your link is for Windows 10, I am on 7 Professional, and therefore it won't work on my computer;


MS Windows Photos


Minimum
Your device must meet all requirements to run this title

OS Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile
Architecture x86, x64, ARM


Recommended
For the optimum experience, your device should meet these requirements

OS Windows 10, Windows 10 Mobile
Architecture x86, x64, ARM



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