.TXT
Just plain letters and numbers. No bold words. No colors. No different fonts.
- Styles
- Images
The universal translator.
Explore the hidden code of RTF, the formatting spectrum, and its historical role in cross-platform compatibility.
RTF stands for Rich Text Format. It is a simple, old, but very powerful way to save typed words. Let us learn what makes it special and why almost every computer in the world can still read it today.
A file is just a container for information. When you type on a computer, you need to save your words. The RTF format is one way to do this.
It is a step up from a basic text file because it allows you to style your words. But, it is not as heavy or complicated as a modern Microsoft Word document. It sits perfectly in the middle.
Think of RTF as a universal language for word processors. No matter what app you use, RTF ensures your text looks the same when you open it.
To understand RTF, we must compare it to its two brothers: the plain text file and the complex document file.
Just plain letters and numbers. No bold words. No colors. No different fonts.
Supports text styling, basic formatting, and paragraph alignment. Simple but very capable.
Proprietary format. Handles everything from huge pictures to math equations and 3D models.
When we say "Rich Text", we mean the text has extra information tied to it. The RTF file remembers how you want the text to look. Here are the tools an RTF file supports:
RTF uses secret "control words" hidden in the file. When a program reads the file, it reads these secret words as instructions. The instructions tell the program how to draw the text on your screen.
{\rtf1\ansi
This is \b Bold \b0 text.
}
Because RTF is an old and open standard, almost every single piece of software ever made can read it. You never have to worry if someone else can open your file.
In the 1980s, Windows computers and Apple computers did not like each other. If you saved a file on a Windows computer, your friend with an Apple computer could not read it.
Microsoft designed the Rich Text Format. The goal was simple: make one file format that every computer operating system could understand. It was designed for compatibility.
Even though we have advanced formats like PDF and DOCX today, RTF is still used. It is reliable, lightweight, and never breaks.
If you don't know what computer the other person has, send an RTF. It will open for them.
For basic letters, notes, and essays that just need bold text and paragraphs.
Unlike old Word files, standard RTF files do not run automated "macro" code, making them less likely to carry basic viruses.
If your document needs columns, specific page breaks, and complex graphic design.
RTF can hold images, but it handles them poorly. An RTF file with photos will become massive in file size.
If you need "Track Changes" or multiple people leaving comments on the document, use a modern format.
Saving a file in this format is incredibly easy in almost any application you are currently using.
Click on "File"
Go to the top menu of your program.
Choose "Save As"
Or "Export" depending on your app.
Select "Rich Text Format"
From the dropdown format list.
People often confuse when to use an RTF and when to use a PDF. The rule is very simple: Do you want them to read it, or edit it?
Send this if you want the other person to fix typos, add their own words, or change the document.
Send this if it is a final contract, a menu, or a manual. You do not want them changing your words.
RTF files are much safer than old Microsoft Word files because they cannot run macros. Macros are tiny computer programs hidden inside documents, which hackers often use to spread viruses.
However, be careful: Hackers can still put dangerous web links inside an RTF file. If you do not know the person who sent the file, do not click on any links inside it.
You do not need to download a special app to read an RTF file on your smartphone. Your phone already knows how to handle them.
The built-in Files app and the Mail app can open and preview RTF files instantly. No extra steps needed.
The free Google Docs app or any basic text reader app on your Android will open it perfectly.
How much space does a one-page letter take up on your computer? Let us look at how the different formats compare in file size.
RTF allows you to choose different fonts (like Arial or Times New Roman). But there is a catch: The RTF file does not carry the actual font with it. It only carries the name of the font.
"Hello, this is a very fancy party invitation."
(You used a custom cursive font installed on your PC)
"Hello, this is a very fancy party invitation."
(They don't have your font, so their computer used Arial instead)
Because RTF is a universal format, turning it into a different format is completely free and requires no special software.
We mentioned earlier that adding a photo to an RTF file makes the file size huge. Why does this happen? Because RTF files only understand text.
When you paste a picture into an RTF, the computer translates the entire picture into thousands and thousands of numbers and letters (called Hex code).
A normal 1 Megabyte photo can easily turn into a 10 Megabyte RTF file! If you need pictures, use DOCX or PDF instead.
Software developers still use RTF today. Why? Because writing computer code to create a heavy Microsoft Word (DOCX) file is very difficult.
But writing code to create an RTF file is incredibly easy. A programmer can write a simple script that
spits out standard text with \b tags, and
instantly, they have generated a printable report for a business.
The Fix: You opened the RTF file using a "Plain Text Editor" (like Windows Notepad) instead of a "Word Processor" (like WordPad or Microsoft Word). Right-click the file, select "Open With", and choose WordPad or Microsoft Word.
The Fix: RTF supports tables, but not complicated ones. If you made a fancy table with colors and thick borders in Microsoft Word and saved it as an RTF, the formatting might break. Use DOCX if your document has complex tables.
Microsoft officially stopped updating the Rich Text Format in 2008. It will never get new features, new abilities, or new updates.
Because it is simple and understood by every machine, it will likely continue to exist for decades as the ultimate backup format. When all modern software fails, RTF will still work.
Master more skills with other tutorials from the Word Processing series.