Importing CDR files

You can import CDR files from versions 3, 4, and 5 of CorelDRAW. If you are using CorelDRAW 6 or later use CMX to transfer your files - see Importing CMX files. If a CDR file contains a CMX file the CMX file will be loaded (to include a CMX file in a CDR file, select the "Include Presentation Data" in the Save dialog box).

As CDR is not LX's native file format, some objects may not appear how you expect them to. Note that if the file contains a CMX file, the CMX importer will be used so the following does not apply.

Fills. All fill types apart from full color pattern fills are supported. However, custom fills are imported as fills from the start color to the end color. Square fills are approximated to radial fills. Full color pattern fills which are just a bitmap (no paths or other objects) are imported as bitmap fills.

Text. Text is imported with the font name, font size, bold, italic, underline, super/subscript and line spacing attributes. Only the alignment and baseline shift options from the fit path to text roll-up are imported. Text on a path can only be imported if the path it is fitted to still exists in the file. If you delete a path in CorelDRAW after fitting text to it, the text will be imported into Xara LX as normal text in the position it was before this operation.

Special Effects. Mix, Color limit and ColorAdd Lenses are supported. Other types of Lenses are not supported. Some PowerClips may be imported incorrectly. All other effects are supported.

Envelopes. Envelopes are approximated. You will be warned about this after the file has been imported if there were any envelopes in the file.

Extrusions. Some extrusions cannot be imported correctly.

Colors. CorelDRAW has no concept of a named color
, so all objects have to be imported with local colors
applied to them. The colors on the Color Line are the default set for CorelDRAW. If you've edited these colors in your copy of CorelDRAW, you'll need to import your edited palette file into the document using the CorelDRAW Palette file filter as these colors are not stored in CDR files. See Importing colors and palettes.

Lines. If lines are imported which have arrowheads, the object will appear as a group containing two objects, a line and a shape (the arrowhead).

If Problems Occur. If any of these limitations cause problems, try saving the .CDR file from CorelDRAW as EPS and import that instead. If a file is found to load incorrectly, please send the file to Technical Support with full details. See Getting Help for further details.