compoundfiles
Library for parsing and reading OLE Compound Documents
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No. The package is abandoned with no maintenance since 2014, making it unsuitable for new projects. High install friction (source-only), unverified Python compatibility, and no active bug fixes or security updates. Only consider if you must read CFB files in a legacy system with no alternatives and can accept the risk of unmaintained code.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Project is abandoned; no Python version guarantee beyond historical claims of Python 2.7 and 3.2 compatibility.
- Compatibility with modern Python versions is unverified.
- High install friction due to source-only distribution (no wheels).
License · maintenance · safety
MIT License (permissive) — MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions, making licensing a non-barrier for adoption.
last release 2014-09-01 (4365 days)
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 276,110 downloads/mo, #8,168 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install compoundfiles
import compoundfiles
with compoundfiles.CompoundFileReader('file.ole') as cfb:
# Read entries from the compound file- Whether the package actually works with Python versions released after 2014 or if it requires significant porting.
- Current state of the GitHub repository and whether it remains accessible or has been removed.
- Whether any forks or maintained alternatives exist for reading CFB/OLE formats in modern Python.
What it is and what it does
compoundfiles is a pure-Python library for reading Microsoft's Compound File Binary (CFB) format, historically used in OLE Compound Documents, older Microsoft Office files, and various scientific applications like tomography and microscopy systems. The library emphasizes validation and performs numerous checks on opened files, issuing warnings for non-fatal errors through Python's standard warnings mechanism.
The package was last released in 2014 and has received no maintenance since. While it claims broad platform support and Python 2.7 and 3.2 compatibility, those claims are now over a decade old and unverified against current Python versions. The source-only distribution and lack of wheels add installation friction, and the abandoned status means no bug fixes or compatibility updates are forthcoming.
Use it for
- Extract data from legacy Microsoft Office files when modern libraries are unavailable.
- Parse OLE Compound Documents in scientific imaging or tomography systems that still use the CFB format.
- Read Advanced Authoring Format (AAF) containers in media production workflows that depend on the CFB structure.
- Reverse-engineer or analyze historical binary file formats in archival or forensic contexts.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No.
The package is abandoned with no maintenance since 2014, making it unsuitable for new projects. High install friction (source-only), unverified Python compatibility, and no active bug fixes or security updates. Only consider if you must read CFB files in a legacy system with no alternatives and can accept the risk of unmaintained code.
Install
compoundfiles on PyPI
Before you install
High install friction due to source-only distribution (no wheels). Project is abandoned as of 2014, with no commits or maintenance activity for over a decade, making it unsuitable for new projects or modern Python environments.
Project is abandoned; no Python version guarantee beyond historical claims of Python 2.7 and 3.2 compatibility. Compatibility with modern Python versions is unverified.
License in practice
MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions, making licensing a non-barrier for adoption.
Quickstart
pip install compoundfiles
import compoundfiles
with compoundfiles.CompoundFileReader('file.ole') as cfb:
# Read entries from the compound fileVerify before relying
- Whether the package actually works with Python versions released after 2014 or if it requires significant porting.
- Current state of the GitHub repository and whether it remains accessible or has been removed.
- Whether any forks or maintained alternatives exist for reading CFB/OLE formats in modern Python.
Package facts
| License | MIT License permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | High. Source build required |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 4,365 days since the last release |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 276,110 / month, #8,168 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: UnixProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3 |
Evidence: compoundfiles-0.3.tar.gz
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See also olefile · pyaaf2 · oletools · docx · msoffcrypto-tool · types-olefile · docling-slim · xlrd3 · spire-doc