have old .CDR files - only have new CorelDraw programs
John Kuzio
I am trying to open old CorelDraw files. Currently I have v8 and v10.
I'll buy v12. I'm sticking with even #'s :-)
So far, I've only tested with v8: " ... has invalid file format "
I have only ever used CorelDraw, but the only thing I have left of
old CorelDraw programs is a v4 manual with Alain's (?) tech
support number on it (ext 242)
the .CDR files were created around 1991/92
the files are binary
the first few characters are common in these .CDR files are:
0 W
1 L
2 m
3 <NULL>
4 %
5 <x05>
6 <NULL>
7 <NULL>
8 8
9 <x06>
did I compress them? not likely. I would've zip'd and stored
with a .ZIP extension. the .ZIP binary's I've looked at start with "PK"
and not "WLm"
are these, in fact, CorelDraw files? if so, how can I rescue these files?
k
Graeme Standage
On Sat, 23 Oct 2004 17:24:09 -0400, "John Kuzio" <ku...@email.msn.com>
wrote:
>
>
>the first few characters are common in these .CDR files are:
>
>0 W
>1 L
>2 m<
If they were version 2 files the start would be WLE, not WLM.
If they were version 4 files the start would be RIFF and then it would
go on a few characters later to say 'CDR4vrsn'.
I think version 3 would be similar to version 4 to start with.
Which version did you jump on board to CorelDraw?
You'd need version 5 to open version 2, and I think version 1 is only
openable by version 2. Of course, these early versions only used the
WFN fonts etc, so much upgrade work might be required.
--
Graeme
{Please reply to newsgroup}
John Kuzio
"Graeme Standage" <gst...@compuserve.com> wrote in message news:ffhpn0l61f9gd08nj...@4ax.com...
>
> If they were version 2 files the start would be WLE, not WLM.
>
> I think version 3 would be similar to version 4 to start with.
>
some files and date stamps are:
WLm ... 1991-92
RIFF<>CDR vrsn<> 1993 [readable in v8] (I suspect v3)
RIFF<>CDR4vrsn<> 1996 [readable] (v4)
RIFF<>CDR8vrsn<> 1998 [readable] (v8)
> Which version did you jump on board to CorelDraw?
>
I would've jumped in around v3. when I could "afford" a 386!
that would've been '90's
the other files would've been created on the lab's DELL-ephants.
I suspect I would've been reading all the early files and only updating
some of them as needed on my machine. In hindsight, I should've
"Read and ReWrote" all of the files.
LO and BEHOLD ... I looked thru my personal CD archives and I
have found a single CD jewel box with CorelDraw v3.0A (c) 1991.
{after v4 I went "evens" only}
Ya think this will load under WinXP? You know I'm going to try but I won't
get around to it until at least this evening. If you read this msg before
then, feel free to kibitz.
in-a-bit
k
"Graeme Standage" <gst...@compuserve.com> wrote in message news:ffhpn0l61f9gd08nj...@4ax.com...
Graeme Standage
On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 13:09:27 -0400, in
corel.graphic_apps.draw-old_version you wrote:
>>
>1st 3 chars are definitely "WLm" ... "m" NOT "E" or "M"<
I was not being case sensitive, just letter. maybe one gets different
caharcters based on which revision of version 2 used....that is if
yours were to be version 2 anyway.
>
>some files and date stamps are:
>
>WLm ... 1991-92
>RIFF<>CDR vrsn<> 1993 [readable in v8] (I suspect v3)
>RIFF<>CDR4vrsn<> 1996 [readable] (v4)
>RIFF<>CDR8vrsn<> 1998 [readable] (v8)<
Which to me makes your CDR files version 2 or 1.
>
>>
>I would've jumped in around v3. when I could "afford" a 386!
>that would've been '90's<
Given the start of your files does indicate earlier version (if they
are cdr files ;-) )
Wonder if they were 'save as' earlier version?
>
>
>Ya think this will load under WinXP? <
It might well, just a couple of things spring to mind:-
When you save files you will have to go for no preview (or a lower
spec one).
Version 5 saw a last revision/patch to see that some things worked
properly with NT (V5 was so much 16bit) XP (NT) being so '32bit' some
of these issues might raise there heads. Thing is, I can't remember
what they were.......might have just been the 'Preview' issue, might
have been a 'printer over network' issue.
V3 will not see Type 1 fonts with XP's native support.
SORRY - for sending message to email address, hit the wrong reply
button.
John Kuzio
> SORRY - for sending message to email address, hit the wrong reply
> button.
>
well ... finishing ...
I've been busy with other things and "porting" the old Corel files in my
spare time. Not to worry about the errant msg ... you were spam filter'd. :-)
I took the time to gently fish you out of the "amazing offers" folder. :-)
> When you save files you will have to go for no preview (or a lower
> spec one).
>
the above is *VERY* *important*
a couple of nights ago, I installed CorelDraw only on my XP machine.
the installation went smoothly and shortly thereafter I opened up a "WLm" file.
BUT ... when I tried to save it I got a "... could not save file" dialog.
I tried a few other things but the same msg kept appearing. I assumed
I ran up against an obsolete function in a system .DLL.
I have 3 other machines ...
WinNT ... running CDv8
Win98 ... running no CD version
Win2000 ... running CDv10
I network copied the C:\CorelDrw directory from the XP machine to the 98 machine.
To the Win98 C:\Windows\Win.INI I added:
[CorelDraw3]
DrawDir=C:\CORELDRW\DRAW
and typed
C:\CorelDrw\Draw\CorelDrw
to nicely launch CD on the Win98 box. And this read the WLm files and wrote
them back as version 3 files (RIFF...ver ...) [no number after 'ver']
I thought my obsolete .DLL interpretation was correct. :-)
I was about to write this all up when I (finally) read Graeme's posting.
I'm finally replying for completeness.
> V3 will not see Type 1 fonts with XP's native support.
>
I loaded the V3 fonts onto the WinXP machine. They went into the
Systems rather than the Fonts folder ... but ... what the heck. They
work with CDv3 and XP native progs. And it's a big hard drive. :-)
so now I'm using the XP machine to read CDv1/v2 files and write
back CDv3 files.
Since I can see the fonts on the XP machine, I'll use another machine
to read and update the CDv3 files to CDv8/v10 files and "match"
to updated fonts. It's the drawings and the context of the text that are
important ... the fonts, not so much. :-)
> When you save files you will have to go for no preview (or a lower
> spec one).
>
so ... to review ... the above is VERY IMPORTANT. [2K mono] worked
on all files so far but one ... that one needed [1K mono]. you get the
nice thumbnails back when you move on up from CDv3 to CDv8/v10.
thanks
k
"Graeme Standage" <gst...@compuserve.com> wrote in message news:bk7sn05mekfhapql9...@4ax.com...
cnelson
I agree, your files are from version 1 or 2. If this will help, here
is some information I put together on CorelDRAW file compatibility.
As you can see, versions 3 and 5 are the best for converting to and
from different CorelDRAW versions.
CorelDRAW uses the *.CDR filename extension for files saved in its
native
format. However, the format used by *.CDR files is different for
every version
of CorelDRAW. The table below shows the read/write compatibility of
the *.CDR
format used by different versions of CorelDRAW.
...read files ...write files CorelDRAW was
CorelDRAW saved in the in the native designed for
version X native format format for use with
can... of version X version X Windows X
--------- --------------- --------------- --------------
1 1 1 2.1 (1.2 also for Win30)
2 1,2 1,2 3.0
3 1,2,3 2,3 3.0, 3.1 (preferred)
4 1,2,3,4 3,4 3.1
5 1,2,3,4,5 3,4,5 3.1
6 3,4,5,6 5,6 95
7 3,4,5,6,7 5,6,7 95, NT4.0
8 3,4,5,6,7,8 5,6,7,8 95, NT4.0
9 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 5,6,7,8,9 95, 98, NT4.0
10 ?
11 ?
CorelDRAW! 1.x and 2.x use WFN fonts, not TrueType fonts
CorelDRAW! 3.x and later use Windows TrueType fonts
The change in font formats may lead to the appearance of warning
messages like
Bad or Missing Font File(s). Text Object May Be Incomplete.
when reading 1.x or 2.x files into version 3.x or later. This
happens
if there is not a TrueType font with the same name as the WFN font
used
in the 1.x or 2.x file
------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to tell the version of a CorelDRAW! *.CDR file
CorelDRAW Open the file in Notepad (or Wordpad),
version the *.CDR file starts with
--------- ---------------
1 WL<10 bytes> 10 bytes are 0x65 00 1C 00 00 00 2F 01 00 00
2 WL<10 bytes> 10 bytes are 0x65 00 1C 00 00 00 2F 01 00 00
3 RIFF<4 bytes>CDR vrsn
4 RIFF<4 bytes>CDR4vrsn
5 RIFF<4 bytes>CDR5vrsn
6 RIFF<4 bytes>CDR6vrsn
7 RIFF<4 bytes>CDR7vrsn
8 RIFF<4 bytes>CDR8vrsn
9 RIFF<4 bytes>CDR9vrsn
10 RIFF<4 bytes>CDRAvrsn
11 ?
If you open the file in CorelDRAW! version 8 or above, the File | Open
dialog
will display the version.
I hope this helps... Any updates or corrections to this information
would be welcome.
Curt