Does vsdx file need to be saved if I have an svg file?

[dmurphy]

If I have created a Visio image, then saved it as svg, do I need to retain the vsdx file? Or does the vsdx file contain more information than the svg file?

[Paul Herber]

Most definitely. An SVG file is little more than a picture of the source file.

[dmurphy]

OK, thanks for the reply. It seems like since I can open the SVG file with Visio, make changes, then save it again, I could do without the VSDX file. They are also similar in size.

[Paul Herber]

Nooooooooo!

[Nikolay]

My 5cents: the "default" editor for SVG is InkScape, not Visio:
https://inkscape.org/

[dmurphy]

I created the image with Visio, and saved it as a SVG. I can then open the SVG file with Visio, make changes, and save it. No VSDX file involved. So what am I losing by not having the VSDX file?

[Paul Herber]

You've lost all the info Visio uses to create a shape. An SVG file is just a picture of the shape, an intelligent picture I'll admit, and one you can edit, but still a picture.  Use the .VSDX file as your master.

[wapperdude]

Here's an analogy....

I'm building a house...the living room is finished and I take a picture of the floor.  Then I develop and print a full sized, to scale, fully life-like picture of the floor.  I go back to the house and lay down the picture.  It looks great, except the color.  I can edit the picture and change the color to my liking. 

Do I need the actual floor in the house?  Depends upon what you ultimately want to do.  But, the differences between the actual and the photo...aside from the visual...well, need no explanation.

Hope this helps.

[Nikolay]

You've lost all the info Visio uses to create a shape. An SVG file is just a picture of the shape, an intelligent picture I'll admit, and one you can edit, but still a picture.  Use the .VSDX file as your master.

You will lose "smartness" of shapes (most of Visio functionality basically). That includes for example "yellow handles" that resize shape parts, connection points, shape behaviors on size/glue/drop (if there are any).
It may be that you didn't actually need it from the beginning though. If all you need is a vector image, SVG is okay.
There are tons of svg editors out there, including online ones; using Visio as such an editor is totally fine, but what I mean, if you want just svg editor, you can probably find a simpler tool for that.

[dmurphy]

OK, got it. Thanks for the info.