In training a new associate, I found an old Visio file from 1998 that has some flowcharts I would like to update.  However I can't open the file in Visio 2010.  How far back does compatibility go for Visio files?  
The error is Visio internal error #2142, Action 1283- Open file. 

Would you like to send me the file to try out. I have earlier versions of Visio back to 2003.

paul

at

pherber

dot

com

Hi MarjoryM,

Do you remember in which version were the files created?  Every version of Visio is capable of reading all older files.  Visio 2007 can open a Visio 1.0 document.  Generally, each version of Visio is capable of writing back one file version as well.  Thus Visio 2003 can save a file out in 6.0 format (readable by Visio 2000 and Visio 2002), but it cannot save out a 5.0 format or earlier. 

Thus, I recommend you try to use previous Visio to open them.

For more detail information, please refer to the following link:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visio/archive/2006/07/07/657375.aspx

Hope it's helpful.

Regards,

George Zhao
TechNet Community Support