What is the CDD file format?
Files with the .cdd extension contain diagrams and vector graphics, or scripts written in ConceptDraw Basic. .cdd is a binary file saved in a proprietary format developed by Computer Systems Odessa (CS Odessa). The format is used by ConceptDraw PRO software; ConceptDraw DIAGRAM, which replaced the PRO version, can still open .cdd files but saves new projects in the .CDDX format - a ZIP-based package that supersedes the older binary container. To open a .cdd document in a different application, the file must be converted to a format such as .VSDX (Microsoft Visio). .cdd data can also be exported to graphic formats including .SVG and .PDF.
.cdd files can store:
- Various types of diagrams, including:
- Flow diagrams
- Block diagrams
- UML, DFD, ERD diagrams
- Network topologies
- Engineering blueprints
- Infographics
- Business model and process visualizations
- Project management documentation
- Data visualizations
- Other vector-based graphics
ConceptDraw Basic code embedded in .cdd files can be used to automate tasks and processes within ConceptDraw. ConceptDraw was first developed in 1999 for Microsoft Windows and macOS. In 2008, the application was integrated into the ConceptDraw Office suite, which also includes ConceptDraw MINDMAP and ConceptDraw PROJECT - tools for business process management, project planning, and mind mapping.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA .cdd is a drawing document; the main caveat is that it can embed ConceptDraw Basic macros, so treat files from unknown sources with normal caution. The bigger practical issue is access, not malware: without ConceptDraw the file is hard to open, so request an exported PDF/PNG/VSDX. Download ConceptDraw only from conceptdraw.com.
Format details
in a nutshell- IsoBuster CD image description - IsoBuster can create .cdd files describing/managing a CD image - unrelated to diagrams.
- Chromeleon / chromatography data - Some lab software (e.g. Chromeleon-era tools) used .cdd for instrument/chromatography data - not a drawing.
Programs that open CDD files
Windows1 app
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM (formerly PRO)
Paid Open the .cdd via File > Open; edit and re-export. This is the native and most reliable opener. 
macOS1 app
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM (formerly PRO)
Paid Open the .cdd in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM for macOS; export to PDF/PNG/VSDX as needed. Technical details
deep spec| Encoding | Binary (proprietary, no publicly documented specification) |
| Container | Proprietary ConceptDraw drawing container; not an open or documented wrapper format |
| Compression | None for plain .cdd; the successor .cddx variant uses ZIP compression |
| File signature (magic bytes) | No publicly documented signature; the file must be treated as an opaque proprietary binary |
| MIME type | application/octet-stream |
| Scripting support | Embeds ConceptDraw Basic macro scripts for automating tasks and processes within the application |
| Diagram types supported | Flow diagrams, block diagrams, UML, DFD, ERD, network topologies, engineering blueprints, infographics |
| Multi-page support | Yes; a single .cdd document can contain multiple drawing pages |
| Supported platforms | Windows, macOS (ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is the only reliable opener) |
| Visio interchange | Bidirectional import and export with .vsd, .vdx, and .vsdx Microsoft Visio formats |
| Export formats | SVG, PDF, PNG, BMP, VSD, VSDX and others via ConceptDraw DIAGRAM export functions |
| Embedded metadata | Document title, page setup, layer configuration, and shape styling properties |
| Superseded by | .cddx (ZIP-based ConceptDraw DIAGRAM compressed document) in newer application releases |
| Typical file size | Tens of KB to several MB, depending on page count, shape complexity, and embedded images |
| Released | ConceptDraw (Mac/Windows business diagramming; PRO line) |
| Latest version | ConceptDraw DIAGRAM (current name of ConceptDraw PRO); newer files often use .cddx |
| Specification | www.conceptdraw.com |
CDD conversions
Community Q&A
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