What is the XAR file format?
.xar files are used by Xara, a family of software for creating and editing vector graphics. .xar files can contain images created or edited using Xara, for example:
- pictures
- web graphics (buttons, banners)
- utility graphics (ads, logos)
- technical drawings
- illustrations, graphs, and comic book images
.xar stores graphics in vector format, using simple geometric shapes described mathematically. .xar files contain descriptions of those shapes and their attributes - for example, line thickness, fill colour and transparency. This allows the images to be scaled to any size without losing image quality. The ease of working with Xara vector graphics makes it an ideal format for creating images for print, carving, engraving, burning or other forms of putting images on physical surfaces.
Internally, .xar uses a binary tagged-record structure beginning with an 8-byte XARA signature (58 41 52 41 A3 A3 0D 0A), with per-record ZLIB compression. Raster bitmaps can be embedded directly within the file. Xara published the format specification on a royalty-free basis to encourage third-party support; despite this, .xar is primarily read and written by Xara products. SVG is a more portable alternative for web use. The Linux port, Xara Xtreme, has been effectively unmaintained since approximately 2012.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWXAR vector files are drawing documents and are not executable. They pose no direct security risk when opened in Xara Designer. Embedded scripts are not a documented feature of the format. Exercise normal caution with files received from unknown sources: verify the source before opening with Xara or Inkscape. Avoid 'XAR converter' download portals that may bundle adware - use the official Xara free trial or Inkscape instead.
Format details
in a nutshell- Microsoft Excel AutoRecover Backup - Excel on Windows creates .xar files as AutoRecover backups of .xls/.xlsx workbooks; these are binary Excel files with no relation to Xara graphics.
- macOS XAR Archive (xar) - Apple's Extensible Archive format (.xar / .pkg) used by macOS installers; different binary format, same extension.
Programs that open XAR files
Windows2 apps
Xara Designer Pro / Xara Photo & Graphic Designer
Paid The native application - double-click to open. Free trial available. Also exports to SVG, PDF, PNG, EPS.
Inkscape (with XAR import plugin)
Open-source Inkscape has partial XAR import support via built-in or community extensions. Open via File > Import > choose .xar. Fidelity may be incomplete for complex files. 
macOS2 apps
Inkscape
Open-source Partial XAR import via File > Import. Best free option on macOS for inspecting Xara files.
Xara Designer (web/cloud)
Freemium Xara Cloud (browser-based) can open some XAR files; Xara Designer Pro is Windows-only desktop. 
Linux2 apps
Inkscape
Open-source Better maintained than Xara Xtreme for modern Linux; partial XAR import via extension.
Xara Xtreme
Open-source Open-source Linux port; opens .xar natively but development stalled ~2012 and it is no longer maintained. May not install on modern distros without effort. Technical details
deep spec| File signature | 8-byte header: ASCII XARA (58 41 52 41) + 0xA3 0xA3 + CRLF (0D 0A) |
| Encoding | Binary, little-endian |
| Container | Proprietary tagged-record binary stream (tag ID + length + data) |
| Compression | ZLIB/DEFLATE applied per record within the binary stream |
| MIME type | image/x-xar |
| Color depth | Vector; embedded raster bitmaps up to 32 bpp including alpha channel |
| Typical file size | 50 KB - 50 MB (vector drawings with embedded bitmaps can be large) |
| Dimensions | Vector - resolution-independent; arbitrary canvas size |
| Specification | Publicly documented and royalty-free (published by Xara Group) |
| Platform | Windows (primary); Linux via Xara Xtreme (unmaintained since ~2012) |
| Format history | CorelXARA 1.0 (1994); opened as Flare format (1997); renamed XAR (2004) |
| Developer | Xara Group Limited (owned by MAGIX since 2007) |
| Bitmap support | Raster images embedded as binary records within the file structure |
| Released | 1994 (original CorelXARA / Xara X); Flare open format 1997; renamed XAR 2004 |
| Latest version | Open specification published by Xara; format version evolves with Xara Designer Pro |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | site.xara.com |
XAR conversions
Community Q&A
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