What is the ABK file format?
An .abk file is an automatic backup copy created by CorelDRAW during an active editing session. CorelDRAW writes the file at regular, user-configured intervals alongside the working .cdr file, using the same RIFF-based binary structure as the native CorelDRAW format. If the application crashes or the system loses power before the user saves, the .abk provides a recovery point.
To recover data from an .abk, rename the file from .abk to .cdr and open it in CorelDRAW. No special import step is needed because the internal structure is identical to a normal CorelDRAW document.
The auto-backup interval and the destination folder are configurable in CorelDRAW's application settings. By default, the backup is written to the same directory as the original document, though users often redirect it to a dedicated backup folder.
Ability Write (part of the Ability Office suite) also uses the .abk extension for its own automatic backups, mirroring the .aw document format. PrintMaster similarly uses .abk for project backups. These variants are not interchangeable with CorelDRAW backups - the underlying structure depends entirely on the creating application.
.abk files are not meant to be opened directly; they exist solely as a crash-recovery mechanism and are automatically deleted when the parent document is saved and closed normally.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWBackup files created by the originating application; same safety profile as the source document format. A .abk file received from an unknown source should be treated with the same caution as a .cdr or .aw file.
Format details
in a nutshell- Ability Write Document Backup - Ability Office's word processor creates .abk as an automatic backup of the current .aw document; rename to .aw to recover.
- PrintMaster Project Backup - Broderbund/Encore PrintMaster creates .abk backup files for projects during editing.
Programs that open ABK files
Windows2 apps
CorelDRAW
Paid Rename the .abk file to .cdr (e.g. backup.abk → backup.cdr), then open in CorelDRAW normally. 
Technical details
deep spec| Internal structure | Mirrors parent application format: RIFF/CDR for CorelDRAW; OLE2/CFBF for older versions |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| Created by | CorelDRAW automatically at user-configured timed intervals during editing |
| Recovery method | Rename `.abk` to `.cdr` and open in CorelDRAW; no special import needed |
| Typical file size | 50 KB - 200 MB (CorelDRAW); 10 KB - 50 MB (Ability Write) |
| Write location | Same folder as source document, or user-configured backup directory |
| Retention policy | Deleted automatically when the parent document is saved and closed normally |
| Format version dependency | Structure mirrors the CorelDRAW version that created it; CDR format changed with each major release |
| Other applications | Ability Write (`.aw` backup), PrintMaster (project backup) |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream (no registered MIME type) |
| Platform | Windows (CorelDRAW, Ability Write, PrintMaster) |
| Purpose | Crash-recovery only; not designed to be opened directly by users |
| Released | uncertain; CorelDRAW auto-backup has existed since at least CorelDRAW 9 (1999) |
| Latest version | No independent version; mirrors the CorelDRAW file format of the version that created it (CDR format evolves with each CorelDRAW release) |
ABK conversions
Community Q&A
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