What is the EDDX file format?
An .eddx file is a diagram project created by EdrawMax, a cross-platform diagramming application developed by EdrawSoft. The format stores flowcharts, network diagrams, org charts, floor plans, and hundreds of other diagram types in a single file.
The .eddx container is a standard ZIP archive - the first four bytes are the PK signature (50 4B 03 04). Renaming the file to .zip allows inspection of its contents with any archive manager. Inside, the package holds XML files encoding diagram pages, layers, shapes, connectors, text labels, and style definitions, alongside any embedded media assets such as images and icons.
The format replaced the older .edx format (plain uncompressed XML) starting with EdrawMax version 7.3 in 2013. The switch to DEFLATE compression significantly reduced file sizes, particularly for diagrams with many embedded images. This ZIP+XML approach is structurally similar to .vsdx (Microsoft Visio) and Office Open XML formats.
EdrawMax can export .eddx diagrams to PDF, SVG, PNG, PPTX, DOCX, VSDX, and other formats. The related .emmx format follows the same ZIP+XML container structure but is used specifically for EdrawMind mind-map projects.
Files are supported across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android via EdrawMax desktop and online editions. File sizes range from about 50 KB for simple diagrams up to several tens of megabytes for complex projects with many embedded images.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWZIP+XML file; no executable code. Embedded images could theoretically carry steganographic content but no known attack vector. Download EDDX files only from trusted sources.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open EDDX files
Windows2 apps
EdrawMax
Freemium File → Open → select the .eddx file. Free trial opens files; subscription required to save editable copies.
EdrawMax Online
Freemium Upload or open the EDDX file directly in the browser - no installation needed. 
macOS1 app
Linux1 app
Technical details
deep spec| File type | ZIP-compressed XML diagram container |
| MIME type | application/zip (primary); application/x-eddx (vendor-specific) |
| Byte order | little-endian (ZIP container) |
| Magic bytes | PK (50 4B 03 04) - standard ZIP local file header at offset 0 |
| Compression | DEFLATE per ZIP entry |
| Container inspection | Rename to .zip and open with any archive manager to inspect XML and embedded media |
| Diagram content | XML files encoding pages, layers, shapes, connectors, text, and style definitions; plus embedded media files |
| Multi-page support | Multiple diagram pages and layers within a single .eddx file |
| ZIP integrity | CRC-32 checksum per entry (ZIP standard) |
| Maximum ZIP entries | 65,535 (standard ZIP limit) |
| Predecessor format | .edx - older plain uncompressed XML format, replaced by .eddx in EdrawMax 7.3 (2013) |
| Export formats | PDF, SVG, PNG, PPTX, DOCX, VSDX, JPEG, and others |
| Typical file size | 50 KB - 50 MB (depends on embedded image count and diagram complexity) |
| Platform support | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Released | 2013 (EdrawMax version 7.3, replacing .edx) |
| Latest version | Current with EdrawMax 13.x (2024) |
EDDX conversions
Community Q&A
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