Extract text from Debugger visualization files (NATVIS)
To convert NATVIS Visualization files to another format, you need Microsoft Visual Studio or other Developer software.
To convert other file formats to the "Debugger Configuration File" file type, you need software like Microsoft Visual Studio or a similar tool.
A .natvis file is an XML-based framework document used by Microsoft Visual Studio to customize how native C++ types appear in debugger windows like Watch, Locals, and Data Tips. It replaces the older legacy autoexp.dat text file by offering a structured, schema-validated approach to defining debugging display strings, expanded item views, and smart pointers.
Typically, these files are read natively by Visual Studio during a C++ debugging session. You can author and edit them using Visual Studio Code or any standard text editor.
The main disadvantage of the .natvis format is its unrecognized extension outside of the Microsoft development ecosystem. If a user receives this file without Visual Studio installed, Windows will fail to open it, prompting a frustrating search for a compatible program. Users often mistakenly believe it is a compiled binary or proprietary database.
The best conversion targets for a .natvis file are XML, TXT, or JSON. Because the underlying data is just structured text, converting to XML instantly makes it readable in any modern web browser or text editor. Converting to JSON is highly recommended if you are a developer looking to ingest these visualization rules into a custom web-based parsing tool.
While this file format is technically simple, standard online converters often fail to process it because they do not recognize the .natvis extension. If our analysis detects the supported underlying XML structure, viewing or conversion may still be possible instantly.
Convert.Guru analyzes your NATVIS file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
If you want to convert NATVIS file to , you can use Microsoft Visual Studio or similar software from the "C++ Debugger Type Visualization" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to NATVIS, try Microsoft Visual Studio or another comparable tool in the "C++ Debugger Type Visualization" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our NATVIS converter.