Jumpstart your work in Lucidchart by importing existing files from other tools and platforms. Importing diagrams from Microsoft Visio, Gliffy, Draw.io, and OmniGraffle is available in Lucidchart.

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File format compatibility

It is important to ensure your files are in a compatible format prior to importing them into Lucidchart. This is particularly applicable for OmniGraffle and Visio files, as there are a variety of export options available in those products. If you are preparing to import files from OmniGraffle or Visio into Lucidchart, read through the applicable section below to ensure a successful file import.

OmniGraffle file format

OmniGraffle files must be exported as flat files in order to import them into Lucidchart.

If you are exporting a single file, follow these instructions:

In OmniGraffle, open the export menu.
Select “Flat file” in the export window.

To change your default export type in OmniGraffle, follow these steps:

Open the OmniGraffle editor.
Change the default save type from either “Package” or “Automatic” to “Flat file”.
- Files you export will now be compressed, allowing them to be imported to Lucidchart.

Visio file format

Lucidchart currently supports the following Visio formats:

VSDX files made with Microsoft Visio 2013 or later
VSD files made with Microsoft Visio 2007 or later
VDX files made with Microsoft Visio 2003 or later

If you have an older Visio file, re-save it with a more recent version of Microsoft Visio as a .vsdx file, and import the new file into Lucidchart.

Tip: VSDX files tend to import with greater fidelity than other Visio formats.

Import a file into Lucidchart

From the Documents page

To import your diagrams, follow these steps:

Select + New.
Click Import documents.
Select the application you are importing from.
Drag a file into the indicated area or click to browse your local device.
- If you choose to browse, click Open to import your file(s).

Once the file has successfully imported, open the new Lucidchart document in a new tab by clicking View document to the right of the file name. Your imported file can be found anytime in your Documents page. To close the import window, click Done.

From within a document

Select File from the menu bar.
Hover over “Import Diagram”.
Select Visio, OmniGraffle, Gliffy, or Draw.io.
Choose the file(s) to upload.
Click Import.

Note: Imported files will be saved to the Documents page as new documents.

Troubleshoot import issues

If you experience issues importing a diagram into Lucidchart, check out our Troubleshooting: Import diagrams into Lucidchart article.

Note: Importing a PDF into Lucidchart as an editable diagram is not supported functionality. To give feedback to our Product team and request this feature, let us know in the Lucid Community.

FAQ

Can I add Visio stencils to Lucidchart?
Yes, you can add Visio stencils to a custom shape library, as explained in our Shape libraries in Lucidchart article. If the file you've uploaded is a Visio stencil file that has been renamed, you will need to change the file extension back to .vssx, .vss, or .vsx. See these guidelines for renaming your file:

If your filename ends in ".vsdx", replace the ".vsdx" with ".vssx". For example, if the filename was "myfile.vsdx", rename the file to "myfile.vssx".
If your filename ends in ".vsd", replace the ".vsd" with ".vss". For example, if the filename was "myfile.vsd", rename the file to "myfile.vss".
If your filename ends in ".vdx", replace the ".vdx" with ".vsx". For example, if the filename was "myfile.vdx", rename the file to "myfile.vsx".

How can I customize my document after importing my file?
You can use shapes to continue customizing your document after importing a file into Lucidchart. To learn more about accessing and using shape libraries in Lucidchart, refer to our Shape libraries in Lucidchart article.

Why can't I edit a diagram I imported into Lucidchart?
Any Lucidchart user can import an external diagram, but editing an imported diagram is a premium feature available only to Individual, Team, and Enterprise accounts.

Resources

To learn more about this feature, explore the additional resources below. These resources are available in English only.

Course

Transitioning to Lucidchart

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