Convert anything, at global scale.
200+ formats and automation APIs that feels instant.
CONVERT
From
To
Drop files or choose a source
Upload multiple files at once, mix formats, and fine-tune every conversion with format-aware settings.
Max 2GB per file · Drag & drop ready · Mixed file types welcome
Xfig at a glance
Xfig
Xfig began in 1985 and accumulated decades of maintenance and export tooling, which made the .fig format a durable bridge between interactive diagram editing on Unix systems and downstream conversion to PostScript, PDF, and other outputs.
VML at a glance
VML
VML emerged as a 1998 W3C submission backed by Microsoft and partners such as Autodesk, Hewlett-Packard, Macromedia, and Visio, reflecting the moment when web graphics standards were still unsettled.
Format comparison
| Feature | Xfig | VML |
|---|---|---|
| File type | Vector | Vector |
| Extensions |
|
|
| MIME type |
|
|
| Compression / quality | scalable | scalable |
| File size characteristics | small | small |
| Compatibility | moderate | moderate |
| Editability | high | high |
| Created year | 1985 | 1998 |
| Inventor | Supoj Sutanthavibul | Microsoft, Macromedia, Autodesk, Hewlett-Packard, Visio |
| Status | legacy | legacy |
| Transparency | Not supported | Not supported |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary use cases |
|
|
| Common software |
|
|
| Archival suitability | good | good |
| Metadata handling | moderate | moderate |
| Delivery profile | strong | strong |
| Workflow fit | design | design |
| Layer support | Not supported | Not supported |
| Vector scaling | Supported | Supported |
| Structured data | Supported | Supported |
When to use each format
When to use Xfig
- illustration
- diagramming
- brand asset delivery
- Preserves object-level editability for technical diagrams.
When to use VML
- illustration
- diagramming
- brand asset delivery
- Designed to preserve editable vector and text semantics.
FAQs
Why convert Xfig to VML?
Choose VML as target when convert to or from VML when migrating legacy Office drawings, cleaning up IE-era web content, or translating Microsoft-specific vector markup into SVG, PNG, or modern document formats.
What changes when converting Xfig to VML?
Convert to or from VML when migrating legacy Office drawings, cleaning up IE-era web content, or translating Microsoft-specific vector markup into SVG, PNG, or modern document formats. It is mainly a bridge format for archival recovery and standards migration.
What should I review after converting Xfig to VML?
After conversion, review these destination checks: Open converted output in Microsoft Office legacy stack and verify behavior on real samples; Compare output against the expected scalable quality profile; Never became the durable open web vector standard.
How can I keep quality stable in Xfig to VML conversion?
Run representative samples, keep settings deterministic, and monitor these risks: Primarily a compatibility and migration concern today; Never became the durable open web vector standard; Validate destination compatibility before large-batch conversion.