File Extension Library


.TWF File Extension

  • Developer by: Esri
  • Category: GIS, GPS navigation and map Files

What are .TWF files and how to open them?

Can't open .TWF file? Are you wondering what it contains? On our site we will explain to you what this file is, what it is used for and what software opens the .TWF file.

What is a .TWF file extension?

.TWF file extension is created by Esri. .TWF has been classified as GIS, GPS navigation and map Files.

.TWF is ArcView world coordinates

The twf file extension is associated with ArcView and used for world coordinates file.

The twf files provide real world coordinate information that allows a corresponding .tif file to be correctly positioned on a map or in a mapping system.

The  twf files are in ASCII editable format that contain six numbers, one on each line. Something like this:

0.70 0 -0.9547000.216789412.471

Each line provides the following information:

  • Line 1: X-scale. This is the horizontal distance in meters represented by each pixel. So in the above example each pixel is .7 meters wide.
  • Line 2: Rotation about the Y axis.
  • Line 3: Rotation about X axis.
  • Line 4: Y-scale This is the vertical distance in meters represented by each pixel. So in the above example each pixel is .9 meters tall. Normally negative, because whilst an image has its origin in the top left corner, for Northings and Eastings the origin is normally considered to be the bottom left corner - hence why the scale is normally negative.   
  • Line 5: X-reference point. This is the horizontal coordinate (or Easting) of the center of the top left pixel.
  • Line 6: Y-reference point. This is the vertical coordinate (or Northing) of the center of the top left pixel.

Occasionally the twf files can also have two additional lines, but they are not part of the standard ArcView TWF file format.

  • Line 7: Grid zone or Coordinate System.
  • Line 8: Datum

How to open:

Use ArcView (ArcGIS for Desktop) to open *.twf world coordinates files.

How to convert:

ArcGIS can be able to export *.twf files to other file formats.

How to fix problems with .TWF files

  1. You need to update the application that you normally use to open .TWF files. Only the latest version of the software supports the current .TWF file format
  2. You need to check the .TWF file for viruses. To do this, you need to scan it with a popular antivirus (Norton, Nod32, Kaspersky, Dr.Web, etc.)