What is MIME type "application/cdfv2"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

The MIME type application/cdfv2 identifies a binary container file format used within Windows.
It mainly stores data for Jump Lists, which the OS uses to quickly access recent or frequent items.
The format embeds metadata like file paths and identifiers in a compound structure that supports efficient data retrieval.

Main use case: Managing and displaying Windows 7 Jump Lists for faster application access.
Other uses: Facilitating internal system tasks such as maintaining usage history and aiding troubleshooting.

The file associated with this MIME type is AUTOMATICDESTINATIONS-MS.
For more details on similar compound file formats, see the Microsoft documentation.

Associated file extensions

.automaticdestinations-ms

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: application/cdfv2

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/cdfv2">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');    
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {    
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/cdfv2');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.automaticdestinations-ms

FAQs

What is the application/cdfv2 MIME type used for?

The MIME type application/cdfv2 represents the Compound Document File (CDF) V2 format. On Windows systems, this binary container is most commonly associated with Jump Lists found in files with the extension .automaticdestinations-ms. It stores metadata and history for pinned or frequently accessed items on the taskbar.

How do I open or view an automaticdestinations-ms file?

You cannot view these files with standard text editors like Notepad because they are binary compound files. To inspect their contents, you need specialized forensic software or utilities such as Structured Storage Viewer or JumpListExplorer that can parse the OLE compound structure.

Can I delete files associated with application/cdfv2?

Yes, if you are troubleshooting corrupt Jump Lists on Windows, you can safely delete the specific .automaticdestinations-ms file. Windows will automatically regenerate the file and start a fresh history log for the associated application the next time it is used.

Is application/cdfv2 related to Microsoft Office files?

Yes, technically. Older Microsoft Office formats (like .doc, .xls, .ppt from Office 97-2003) use the same underlying OLE Compound File structure as application/cdfv2. However, the .automaticdestinations-ms files use this container specifically for operating system navigation data rather than document content.

Why is this file type important for digital forensics?

Files with the application/cdfv2 type, particularly Jump Lists, are critical in forensics because they contain a history of user activity. They record which files were opened, when they were accessed, and the file paths, even if the original files have since been deleted.

How do I configure Apache to handle this MIME type?

If you need to serve these files for download, add the following line to your .htaccess or httpd.conf file: AddType application/cdfv2 .automaticdestinations-ms. This ensures the server identifies the binary stream correctly, preventing browsers from attempting to render it as text.

What happens if I rename the file extension to .doc?

Renaming a .automaticdestinations-ms file to .doc might trick Microsoft Word into attempting to open it because they share the CDF header. However, Word will likely display an error or garbage data because the internal streams do not follow the Word document structure.

General FAQ

What is a MIME type?

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.

MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.

MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.

How do I find the MIME type for a file?

You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.

Why are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.