What is the EDX file format?
.edx is the legacy diagram file format of EdrawMax, a cross-platform diagramming application by EdrawSoft. Files are plain UTF-8 XML, encoding the full diagram structure: shapes, connectors, text, layers, pages, style attributes, and optionally base64-encoded embedded images.
The format was the default in EdrawMax versions through 7.2. In 2013, EdrawMax 7.3 replaced it with .eddx - a DEFLATE-compressed ZIP archive containing the same XML content, resulting in significantly smaller files. Current EdrawMax still reads .edx files and can export back to the format for compatibility with older installations.
Because .edx uses no compression, files are substantially larger than equivalent .eddx files. The format contains no binary sections, so any text editor can open an .edx file for inspection. Images may be referenced by external path or embedded as base64 data inline in the XML.
EdrawMax supports flowcharts, org charts, network diagrams, floor plans, UML diagrams, and many other types. For interchange with other tools, EdrawMax can export diagrams to SVG, PDF, and Visio format. Neither .edx nor .eddx has a published schema.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWPlain XML text file; no executable code. EdrawSoft's proprietary XML namespace could theoretically reference external URLs (XXE risk in a vulnerable parser), but in practice EdrawMax is the only consumer. No known malware vector.
Format details
in a nutshell- eDonkey2000 / eMule download link file - EDX can be an eDonkey link file (.ed2k shortcut); contains a plain-text eMule download URI, not a diagram. Rare.
Programs that open EDX files
Windows2 apps
EdrawMax
Freemium File → Open → select the .edx file. Current EdrawMax opens legacy EDX files; trial is free to view.
EdrawMax Online
Freemium Upload the .edx file to EdrawMax Online in the browser for no-install access. 
macOS1 app
Linux1 app
Technical details
deep spec| Encoding | Plain text, UTF-8 (XML) |
| Container | None - raw XML file with no compression wrapper |
| Compression | None (contrast: .eddx successor uses DEFLATE inside ZIP) |
| Typical file size | 50 KB - 20 MB (uncompressed XML; significantly larger than equivalent .eddx) |
| Image handling | Images may be referenced by external file path or base64-encoded inline within the XML |
| Content | Shape definitions, connectors, text objects, layers, pages, style references, embedded object metadata |
| Magic bytes | XML declaration <?xml version at file start; no binary magic bytes |
| Human-readable | Yes - any text editor can open and inspect an .edx file |
| Version scope | EdrawMax 1.x through 7.2 (pre-2013) |
| Superseded by | .eddx (EdrawMax 7.3, 2013) - DEFLATE-compressed ZIP containing the same XML structure |
| MIME type | application/xml |
| Released | pre-2013 (EdrawMax version 7.2 and earlier) |
| Latest version | Superseded by .eddx since EdrawMax 7.3 (2013); no updates to EDX format |
EDX conversions
Community Q&A
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