Does Visio 2013 require SharePoint 2013 to work with Visio Services?

Here is a quick answer to a common question about file format compatibility with Visio Services.

In Visio 2013 you can choose to save in a number of different file formats:

VSDX

This is the new file format for 2013 and is also the new default file format. This format is compatible with Visio Services 2013 only.  While you can save a VSDX file to SharePoint 2010, Visio Services will not be able to render it in the browser.

VDW

This format was introduced in Visio 2010 and is the format that is rendered by Visio Services in SharePoint 2010.  In Visio 2013 you can still open and save using the VDW file format, allowing you to save diagrams that can be rendered by Visio Services in SharePoint 2010.

Visio Service in SharePoint 2013 can render both VSDX and VDW file formats.

VSD

You can still open and save using the VSD file format with Visio 2013, most likely when you need to work on older drawings or others in your organization have not upgraded to Visio 2013 yet.  While you can save a VSD file to SharePoint, VSD is not compatible with any version of Visio Services.

• Anonymous
  January 17, 2013
  Really helpful, thanks.
• Anonymous
  January 17, 2013
  Really helpful, thanks
• Anonymous
  April 08, 2013
  Hi, I have users that are uploading the VSDX files to SharePoint 2010. As soon as they upload, the file extensions are being converted to .zip. Any fixes for this?
• Anonymous
  February 02, 2015
  Christopher, do you have to have Visio Service Application running in your central admin to just render the .vsdx in browser in SharePoint 2013. We have SharePoint Server standard license for our Farm, is Visio services compatible for standard license.