What is the MVI file format?
Files with the .mvi extension belong to the miscellaneous script file category.
What do MVI files contain?
Files with the .mvi extension contain command scripts for AutoFlix, an animation add-on to AutoCAD from Autodesk. AutoFlix allowed users to design presentations of complex 3D objects and installations by scripting camera movements, viewpoint changes, layer toggles, and rendering directives within the AutoCAD drawing environment.
Files with the .mvi extension store sequential sets of commands executed by AutoFlix. As a result, the designed 3D model is animated and typically exported as an Autodesk .flc or .fli animation file.
What are MVI files used for?
Files with the .mvi extension were used to create automated animated presentations of AutoCAD models in 3D space. AutoFlix was an add-on for AutoCAD Release 10 (circa 1988-1990) and was discontinued in the early 1990s as AutoCAD developed its own animation tools.
MVI files in the AutoFlix sense are entirely obsolete - no current version of AutoCAD or any modern application can execute them. They are plain ASCII text and can be opened in any text editor for historical reference. Note that the .mvi extension is also seen in Canon PowerShot camera file naming (for example MVI_0001.AVI), where the actual file extension is .avi or .mov, not .mvi.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWPlain text script file; no executable code. No security risk from the file itself.
Format details
in a nutshell- Canon PowerShot Video (filename prefix, not extension) - Canon cameras name video files MVI_XXXX.AVI or MVI_XXXX.MOV - the MVI prefix is part of the filename, not the extension; actual extension is .avi or .mov.
- Motion Pixels MVI1/MVI2 Video - 1990s proprietary compressed video codec by Motion Pixels; MVI1 (low quality) and MVI2 (MovieCD, 1996) stored in .avi container; both codecs are obsolete.
Programs that open MVI files
Windows2 apps
Notepad / any text editor
Built-in Right-click → Open with → Notepad to view the script content. No software can execute it.
AutoCAD (historical note only)
Paid No current version of AutoCAD supports AutoFlix MVI scripts. For reference only. Technical details
deep spec| Format | Plain ASCII text script |
| Encoding | ASCII |
| Typical size | 1 KB - 50 KB |
| Content | Sequential AutoFlix commands: viewpoint, layer, camera, and render directives |
| Output format produced | Autodesk FLI/FLC animation files |
| Associated OS | MS-DOS, Windows 3.x |
| Host application | AutoFlix add-on for AutoCAD Release 10 (circa 1988-1990) |
| Status | Obsolete - discontinued early 1990s; no modern software executes .mvi scripts |
| Common confusion | Canon PowerShot MVI_XXXX files use .AVI or .MOV extension, not .mvi |
| Released | ~1988-1990 (AutoFlix for AutoCAD Release 10) |
| Latest version | N/A - obsolete format; AutoFlix discontinued in the early 1990s |
Community Q&A
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