What Does Cardfile Mean?
Cardfile is a utility included in early versions of
Microsoft Windows that allows users to store information in a series of
simulated “index cards.” It was included in Windows versions from 1.0 to
Windows 95. Cardfile was intended to allow users to store contact information
similar to a Rolodex, but has been largely superseded by email clients that
also store contact information.
Techopedia Explains Cardfile
Cardfile was included on early versions of Windows, starting
with Windows 1.0, to simulate a Rolodex, which holds index cards. The primary
use, as with the Rolodex, is storing contact information, such as names, phone
numbers and email addresses. Cardfile uses the .CRD file extension. The increasing
use of email was what led to Cardfile’s demise. The last versions of Cardfile for
Windows 95, ME and NT appeared at the same time that email was becoming common
in offices. Email clients such as
Outlook also stored contact information; that seems to be why the later
versions of Cardfile were only available as an optional installation instead of included in
Windows by default. Even then, the program still has some nostalgia, and some
users have developed free replacements.
