SFV Files: How to Open, Edit and Convert SFV Files

Are you wondering how to open SFV Files as well edit and convert them? Well, you are at the right place. This article is designed to answer just that and give you the information you need to properly handle your next SFV files.

What is SFV File?

SFV file is an acronym for Simple File Verification, it is basically a program used to verify data, through calculating the checksum of a folder, file or disk used to produce the SFV File.

Also, an SFV file has an ultimate purpose to verify a particular piece of data and truly figure out what the data is expected to be.

SFV File Format

Simple file verification (SFV) is a format for file storage that uses CRC32 checksums of files to verify the true state of files.

It aids in verifying that a file has not been corrupted, but does not verify the file’s authenticity. The . sfv file extension is usually used for SFV files.

Also, these SFV files occupy files that are transferred via CDs, DVDs, USBs, etc.

A CRC32 checksum value is stored in a file that has the .SFV File extension attached to it.

This checksum changes with each and every character added or removed from a file, the same is applicable to files and file names within folders of disks.

This means that the checksum is outstanding for every single piece of data, even if a character is off, or the size is slightly different or in any other case.

This is also the same if you are calculating the checksum against a file you have downloaded from the internet.

Check the calculated checksum shown on the website and ensure to recheck after you have downloaded the file.

Both files will match showing that what you downloaded equates to what you now have displayed on your system, and the file was not corrupted or modified during the download process.

How to run SFV files

Checksum tools allow users to create checksums for a group of files at the same time.

The files names and checksums are then saved in an SFV File so that when the files are transferred via CD, DVD, USB drive or any other storage device.

Users who receive the files can easily verify that none of the files on the device were corrupted during the transmission process.

Also Read: SFv Files -What are they?

Tools for SFV Files

There are several types of tools for running SFV File format.

They include: MooSFV, TractionSFV, SFVChecker, TeraCopy, RapidCRC, etc. All of which are free tools that can generate the checksum of a file or group of files and place it into an SFV File.

RapidCRC for example, enables you to create an SFV File for possibly every single file in your list, or directory. You can even create a singular SFV File for all the files.

TeraCopy is a program used to copy data. It can also verify that they were all copied and none of the data dropped along the way. It supports CRC32 hash function, as well as MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, Whirlpool, Panama, RipeMD and others.

Create an SFV File on MacOs with SuperSFV or Checksum+. Use CheckSFV if you use Linux.QuickSFV works on Windows and Linux. But it works through the command line. E g in Windows with command prompt, enter the following to provide the SFV File;

quicksfv.exe-c test.sfv file.txt

-c makes the file identify the Checksum value of file txt and places it into test.sfv. These commands assume that the QuickSFV program and TXT file are in the same folder.

How to open SFV files

SFV Files are simply plain texts you can view with any text editor like Notepad in Windows, Leafpad for Linux, Geany for MacOs.

Other free text editors also support the format too eg Notepad++. Some programs that calculate the Checksum can also open SFV Files eg TeraCopy.

But instead of letting you view the plain text information held within as a text editor does, they will open the .SFV File and then compare a new Checksum text against the one you have. The file is created like this;

;Generated by WIN-SFV32 v1 (compatible; RapidCRC http://rapidcrc.sourceforge.net );uninstall.exe C31F39B6.

The file name is listed on one line followed by a space, followed by the Checksum. You can add a list of Checksum below using semicolons.

In an SFV checker you can add your files to the program’s file list

Open your SFV file and compare the file’s checksum to those listed in the .SFV File, this will enable you verify it’s the files you received/downloaded are identical with the files you used to produce the checksums listed on your SFV file.

You just open in a text editor to view the list of filenames and checksum contained in them.

How to convert SFV files

An SFV File is just a text file, you can convert one to another text-based formats: eg TXT, RTF, HTML, HTM. They will remain with their SFV file extension because they store the checksum. You cannot save SFV files to formats like MP4, AVI, ISO, ZIP, RAR, etc.

If you still find it difficult to access after trying these methods, try opening the program with the use of the open menu to browse for the files if you do want your text editor to recognize and automatically.

Open SFV Files in Windows you can change file association.

Some files look like SFV Files but are not them. Example SFZ, SFM, SIF, SVFIDCAP.SRT files are similar to SFV Files.

SRT files for example are subtitle files so don’t mistake it for SFV file.

FAQs

This article was first published on November 4, 2022 1:25 p.m. WAT