Mixing Visio versions and SharePoint versions…what works and what does not?

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Following up on an article I wrote earlier about handling Visio 2013 files in SharePoint 2010, I wanted to break down the capabilities that are available when mixing Visio client and SharePoint versions.

Visio 2013 client + SharePoint 2010

Coauthoring - Yes

For co-authoring to work, each user must be using Visio 2013 Professional and the Visio diagram must be saved in the new VSDX file format. In addition to these client requirements, you also need a cobalt enabled server. This includes SkyDrive, SharePoint 2010, and SharePoint 2013.

Diagram rendering in the browser - No

The default file format for Visio 2013 is VSDX. This file format is not compatible with Visio Services in SharePoint 2010. Any VSDX files saved to SharePoint 2010 would be treated as unknown files for download.  For users of Visio 2013, you would need to follow the same procedure when using Visio 2010 and specifically choose to save your files using the Visio Web Drawing ( VDW ) file format.  This is the only file format that Visio Services in SharePoint 2010 can render.

Search - No

The default file format for Visio 2013 is VSDX. This file format is not compatible with the crawler in SharePoint 2010.  I suggest saving to VSD or VDW if you want to participate in Search.

Visio 2010 client + SharePoint 2013

Coauthoring - No

Co-authoring requires Visio 2013 Professional and the new the new VSDX file format. SharePoint 2013 supports co-authoring but in this scenario the client requirements are not met.

Diagram rendering in the browser - Yes

Visio Services in SharePoint 2013 recognize both the VDW file format ( 2010 ) and the new VSDX file format ( 2013 ).

Search - Yes

Search in SharePoint 2013 can crawl and index the content from all the supported Visio 2010 file formats.