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I have been hunting high and low for a tool to convert an SVG file into VML which is readable by internet explorer.

I have found several 'on the fly' solutions but these are unnecessary as we only wish to use vector graphics on a few simple, non changing, but scaleable drawings.

Is there any tool out there, offline or online that will accept an SVG file and output VML code?

Kind regards.

gordyr
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    Even if you use vector graphics just in a few cases, be aware that VML isn't a standard nor will it display in any software beside a few Microsoft products (and as of IE 10 they won't support VML any longer). In other words: VML is dead – so why the heck store any data in a format no one could open three years later? – feeela Jun 28 '12 at 11:41
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    @feeela - I actually had this problem when I needed to display an interactive handwriting assistant doohickey I'd written (originally in SVG) in IE7. I work in a school system that cannot afford to update its computers, and because of the IT policy, we weren't allowed to install another browser... *[sigh]* public education = government = red tape. So anyway it was either do it in VML or don't do it at all. I agree VML should die, but it can still be useful sometimes. – David John Welsh Jun 28 '12 at 11:48
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    @feeela, we use SVG for all modern browsers but the intention is to fallback to VML for IE < 9. Raphael.js is fantastic for normalising these crossbrowser issues but since it is for only several (non changing) images, the overhead of Raphael itself would be a severe waste. – gordyr Jun 28 '12 at 11:54
  • @gordyr Well, Raphaël wasn't designed to convert SVG to VML but rather create SVG (or VML) through JavaScript. But now I understood your needs… – feeela Jun 28 '12 at 12:21
  • @David John Welsh I never said that VML should die – I said it is already dead ;-) – feeela Jun 28 '12 at 12:23

1 Answers1

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I've never used it, but my understanding is that this can take an SVG file and output VML (or vice versa).

http://vectorconverter.sourceforge.net/

Looking at the documentation, it seems you just need to install it on your server and upload your SVG file. There is a command-line tool you can use to specify an output file. You can then download that newly-created VML file (and tweak a little by hand it if it's not survived the conversion process perfectly).

David John Welsh
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  • Hmm... I just tried to install it on my localhost and I got a PHP error while converting. I think it was written for PHP4... I'll keep looking at it though. Might come in handy for me, too. – David John Welsh Jun 28 '12 at 12:04
  • Yep i'm having troubles too.... I may have to just use svg2web to support old IE. Again seems a waste for just a few images, but at least I can load it conditionally with Modernizr. Such a shame that there doesn't appear to be a simple offline method. :( – gordyr Jun 28 '12 at 12:10
  • oh wait, it works on a live server. I needed to download the original version, and then download the 1.2 version and overwrite the original's files. check it out: http://www.altastic.com/~vector/ – David John Welsh Jun 28 '12 at 12:21
  • You sir... are a god... :-) Works perfectly! I truly can't thank you enough! – gordyr Jun 28 '12 at 12:31
  • well... a hundred million dollars would be, if not thanks enough, then at least a nice gesture ;-) – David John Welsh Jun 28 '12 at 13:27
  • Haha, i'll come back when I sell my company in a year or two then. :-) – gordyr Jun 28 '12 at 14:04