Extract text from Visio macro-enabled templates (VSTM)
To convert VSTM templates to another format, you need Microsoft Visio or other Vector Image software.
To convert other file formats to the "Visio Drawing Template" file type, you need software like Microsoft Visio or a similar tool.
The .VSTM file extension is a Visio Macro-Enabled Drawing Template developed by Microsoft. It is used to generate multiple diagram files (like flowcharts, org charts, or network diagrams) that share the same visual layout, stencils, and automated VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) scripts. Based on the Office Open XML standard, the file is structurally a ZIP archive containing XML data alongside a binary vbaProject.bin payload for the macros. Information about the software can be found on its Wikipedia page.
Working with .VSTM files presents significant challenges. The format is highly proprietary and requires a paid subscription to Microsoft Visio to open, edit, and execute the macros. Because it contains executable VBA code, .VSTM files are frequently flagged by email filters and corporate firewalls as potential security risks. Furthermore, standard web browsers and basic image viewers cannot open these files natively.
If you need to share a Visio template safely, you must convert it. Converting to PDF guarantees universal viewing across all devices. Exporting to SVG allows vector editing in software like Adobe Illustrator. If you just want to remove the macro risks but keep the Visio format, convert it to a standard VSDX drawing. Note that any VBA automation will be permanently lost when converting to non-macro formats.
Because of the embedded macro binary and proprietary shape rendering, standard online converters often fail or refuse to process this format.
Convert.Guru analyzes your VSTM file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
If you want to convert VSTM file to , you can use Microsoft Visio or similar software from the "Macro-Enabled Diagram Template" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to VSTM, try Microsoft Visio or another comparable tool in the "Macro-Enabled Diagram Template" 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 VSTM converter.