What is the PRD file format?
.prd is a multimedia presentation file associated with the Presentations application developed by SoftMaker Software GmbH. Each presentation document comprises slides with added transition effects. Each slide can be composed of text data, images, audio or video files, or other visual data. A finished presentation can be saved as:
- a document file (.PDF,
.HTML), - an image (
.JPG,.PNG,.BMP,.TIF), - a video (
.MP4,.WMV).
The Presentations application closely resembles Microsoft PowerPoint, both visually and functionally. PowerPoint uses the .PPT format for saving presentations, while Presentations uses .PRD. Both formats evolved into more modern versions - .PPTX for PowerPoint and .PRS for SoftMaker Presentations, respectively. The older .prd format remains supported for opening existing files. SoftMaker Office is also licensed to Ashampoo as Ashampoo Office, which opens .prd files using the same Presentations engine.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA SoftMaker .prd is a document, not an executable, so it is low risk to open in SoftMaker/FreeOffice. As with any office document it could embed images or objects, so keep the software updated and obtain files from trusted sources. Download SoftMaker FreeOffice only from softmaker.com/freeoffice.com - avoid third-party "PRD opener" portals that bundle adware. If your .prd is actually an old printer-driver or a generic document, don't run it through a presentation app blindly.
Format details
in a nutshell- Microsoft Word for DOS printer driver - Old MS Word for DOS stored printer-driver/description data in .prd files; unrelated to presentations.
- Lode Runner game data - The .prd extension also appears as a data file in versions of the Lode Runner game.
- Product Requirements Document (generic) - Sometimes a plain .prd is just a renamed text/Word 'Product Requirements Document'; open it with a text editor or Word.
Programs that open PRD files
Windows3 apps
SoftMaker Office (Presentations)
Paid Open SoftMaker Presentations, File > Open and select the .prd to view/edit the slides.
SoftMaker FreeOffice (Presentations)
Free Free edition of SoftMaker Office; open the .prd in FreeOffice Presentations to view/edit and export to PPTX/PDF.
Ashampoo Office (Presentations)
Paid Ashampoo Office is a SoftMaker-based suite that opens the same Presentations files; File > Open the .prd. 
macOS1 app
SoftMaker Office / FreeOffice
Freemium Install SoftMaker Office or the free FreeOffice for macOS and open the .prd in Presentations. 
Linux1 app
SoftMaker Office / FreeOffice
Freemium SoftMaker offers native Linux builds (incl. free FreeOffice); open the .prd in Presentations. Technical details
deep spec| Format type | Binary slide presentation document |
| Developer | SoftMaker Software GmbH |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream |
| Internal structure | Proprietary record-based; stores slides, text, tables, graphics, and layout/master settings |
| Typical file size | Tens of KB to several MB, depending on embedded images and media |
| Password protection | Optional document-level password in SoftMaker Office |
| Platform support | Windows, Linux, macOS |
| Superseded by | .prs (SoftMaker native format) and .pptx (open format) in current SoftMaker Presentations |
| Compatible third-party suite | Ashampoo Office (Presentations), which is SoftMaker Office licensed to Ashampoo |
| Export formats | PDF, HTML, JPG, PNG, BMP, TIF, MP4, WMV |
| Slide content support | Text, tables, images, graphics, embedded audio and video, slide transition effects |
| Binary signature | No publicly documented constant magic bytes; identified by SoftMaker Presentations association |
| Related format | Functionally parallel to Microsoft PowerPoint's legacy .ppt binary format |
| Released | SoftMaker Office / Presentations (1990s-2000s era) |
| Latest version | Legacy SoftMaker Presentations format (newer versions default to .pptx and .prs) |
| Specification | www.softmaker.com |
PRD conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about PRD files.
