Microsoft KB Archive/870571

= Error message when you try to open a Visio drawing: &quot;This file cannot be opened because it was created with a newer or unrecognized version of Visio&quot; =

Article ID: 870571

Article Last Modified on 2/28/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 Enterprise Architect
 * Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2002 Enterprise Architect
 * Microsoft Visio 2002 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Visio 2002 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Visio 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Visio 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Visio 2000 Technical Edition
 * Microsoft Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition

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SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Visio 2002 or in Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect Edition, when you try to open a drawing that you created in Microsoft Office Visio 2003, you may receive the following error message:

\filename.vsd

This file cannot be opened because it was created with a newer or unrecognized version of Visio. For Visio upgrade information, visit http://www.microsoft.com/office/visio.

In Microsoft Visio 2000, when you try to open a Visio drawing that was created in Visio 2003, you may receive the following error message:

\filename.vsd

This file cannot be opened because it was created with a newer or unrecognized version of Visio. For Visio upgrade information, contact Visio Customer Service at 1-800-24-Visio (1-800-248-4746).



CAUSE
Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect Edition uses Visio 2002. The file format that Visio 2003 uses for drawings is different from the file format that Visio 2002 or Visio 2000 uses for drawings. You cannot use Visio 2002 or Visio 2000 to open a drawing that you created in Visio 2003.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, you must save the drawing in Visio 2003 by using the Visio 2002 Drawing file format. Then, you can open the drawing in Visio 2000, in Visio 2002, or in Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect Edition. To do this, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open the drawing in Office Visio 2003.
 * 2) On the File menu, click Save As.
 * 3) In the Save as type box, select Visio 2002 Drawing (*.vsd).
 * 4) Type a file name in the File name box, and then click Save.
 * 5) Quit Visio 2003.
 * 6) In Visio 2000, in Visio 2002, or in Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect Edition, try to open the drawing that you saved in step 4.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



Steps to reproduce the behavior

 * 1) Create a blank drawing in Visio 2003.
 * 2) On the File menu, click Save.
 * 3) Type Drawing1 in the File name box, and then click Save.
 * 4) Quit Visio 2003.
 * 5) In Visio 2000, in Visio 2002, or in Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect Edition, try to open the Drawing1.vsd Visio drawing that you created in step 3. The behavior that is mentioned in the &quot;Symptoms&quot; section occurs.

