What is the RDT file format?
.rdt files are template files for Adobe Captivate, originally created under the product name RoboDemo by eHelp Corporation when the format debuted with RoboDemo 2.0 in May 2002. A template stores reusable slide layouts, master slide definitions, theme settings, and placeholder elements - everything needed to establish a consistent visual structure across multiple e-learning projects without rebuilding from scratch each time.
An .rdt file is not a playable course; it is a starting point. Authors open the template in Adobe Captivate Classic, which generates a new .cptx project file pre-populated with the template's slides and styles. The binary format is proprietary and Adobe has not published a specification.
The product changed hands twice: Macromedia acquired eHelp in October 2004, and Adobe acquired Macromedia in December 2005, renaming the product Adobe Captivate 2 in September 2006. The .rdt extension survived all three ownerships, though files from earlier RoboDemo versions (2-5) may be incompatible with newer Captivate Classic releases.
Adobe Captivate Classic is scheduled for end-of-support around 2026-2027. New courses should be built using the subscription-based Captivate successor, which uses different template formats; existing .rdt files should be treated as legacy assets tied to Captivate Classic.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWTemplate file; no executable content. Only risk is opening in an outdated Captivate version that may misrender the template.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open RDT files
Windows1 app
macOS1 app
Technical details
deep spec| File type | Binary e-learning template (proprietary) |
| Developer | Adobe Systems (originally eHelp Corporation; via Macromedia 2004) |
| Associated software | Adobe Captivate Classic |
| Platform | Windows, macOS |
| Encoding | Binary (internal structure undisclosed) |
| Container | Proprietary Adobe Captivate container (likely OLE2/CFBF or ZIP-based; unconfirmed) |
| Typical file size | 50 KB - 10 MB (varies with embedded assets) |
| Content stored | Slide layouts, master slide definitions, theme settings, placeholder elements |
| Version compatibility | Format tied to Captivate Classic version; RoboDemo 2-5 files may be incompatible with newer Captivate Classic |
| Related project format | .cptx (Captivate full project file) |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream |
| Product name history | RoboDemo (eHelp, 2002) → Macromedia Captivate (Oct 2004) → Adobe Captivate 2 (Sep 2006) |
| Software status | Captivate Classic approaching end-of-support (~2026-2027) |
| Template vs. project | Template only - opens in Captivate Classic to generate a new .cptx project; cannot be played directly |
| Released | 2002 (RoboDemo 2.0, eHelp Corporation) |
| Latest version | N/A - format tied to Captivate Classic; no versioning info public |
RDT conversions
Community Q&A
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