"Visio cannot open the file because it's not a Visio file or it has become corrupted"

Doug W 1

I know that it is a Visio file that I, myself, created back in 2012. I might say that somehow it became corrupted, but I cannot open ANY of the old .vsd files in my new Visio 365.

I've Googled for an answer, but to no avail. Please help as I spent many dozens of hours creating these and finally got the gumption to get back into it. Thanks.

Not_Important 0 Reputation points

2024-05-19T12:53:55.1966667+00:00
Hello,

I just got the same issue today, 19.5.2024.
But I think I have found an OK work-around 😎

Open the Visio-file in browser.
Let it open.

Click "Edit Diagram" drop down, and select "Edit in Desktop App".
Let it open in Visio Opp. Should work as normal.

Now edit file in Visio Desktop App as normal :-)

Save in app, and it updates/save in the sharepoint file as inteded.

Cheers :)

Screenshot (Open in Browser) first step.

Edit Diagram -> Edit in Desktop App (Second step.).
Top Right hand side AFTER you have opened the file in your browser.

2 answers

Emily Hua-MSFT 27,651 Reputation points

2021-12-03T08:09:48.47+00:00

Hi @Doug W

I suggest you open Visio first, then go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > File Block Settings > Make sure the 4 boxes are ticked as following.

Please check whether this article "How to troubleshoot damaged drawings in Visio" is helpful.
Especially refer to “Methods to try if you cannot open a drawing”, there is 8 steps you could have a try. But please remember to back your drawing files first.

Any updates, you could post back.

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Emily Hua-MSFT 27,651 Reputation points

2021-12-07T01:26:37.767+00:00

Hi @Doug W ,
I am checking this thread, if you have any updates, welcome to come back and share with us.

Doug W 1 Reputation point

2021-12-07T03:08:31.137+00:00

Emily, I don't understand. Why would I want to "block" a Visio 2003-2010 binary drawing? Isn't that what I'm trying to open?

I made sure that the boxes were ticked as you suggested (only the first one was unchecked). That didn't fix the problem, so now I'm reading the two links that you provided.

Edit: I tried everything on that page and still cannot open the file. Any other ideas?

Anonymous

2021-12-07T07:17:15.457+00:00

These check-boxes can helps when you try open very old file with format Visio 2010 or early, and if this file not corrupted !
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Doug W 1 Reputation point

2021-12-07T14:42:11.84+00:00

@Emily Hua-MSFT , I tried all of the options in your linked URL and no luck; still can't open the files. I suspect they may have somehow become damaged?

Side note: I downloaded the "Visio Reader" and got no errors during installation, but for some reason, it does not show up in my Start Menu, or under my "Program Files"/"Program Files (x86), or when I type "Visio" in my "Search box".

Any other ideas?
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Emily Hua-MSFT 27,651 Reputation points

2021-12-14T05:02:30.933+00:00

Hi @Doug W

Sorry for the delay.

Where do you store these files?
It's recommended to move them to other location to have a check.

Coud you please try to open these files on other computers with old versions of Visio installed?
If you have the conditions, you can do this test to determine whether these files are really damaged.

I also suggest you try Microsoft Visio 2016 Viewer again to check whether these files can be opened normally.
Besides, please open Word > Insert > Object > Create from file, insert one .vsd file and open it to check this issue.
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"Visio cannot open the file because it's not a Visio file or it has become corrupted"

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