dif files in adobe after effects 5.0

I bought a DV Now AV card 3 weeks ago. I tryed to use dif files with other software that is not premiere 6, but none of them accepted those files. I'm sure that I'm doing something wrong because I can't belive that I can only use dif files with a single program. Is there any codec or similar that permits other programs use dif files? My main problem is with adobe after effects 5.0, I need to use it, but it doesn´t accept dif files, so I have to process them with premiere to build avi files, with the resultant loss of quality and time. I Called adobe and Dazzle, but none of them could give me a solution. I guess that your experience can achieve me the solution.