What is an OXS file, and why is it easier than a PDF chart?
Cross stitch charts are most often sold as PDFs. But many charting programs have another way to
save a chart: a file ending in .oxs. Here's what the format is and why it matters to a stitcher.
What's inside
OXS stands for Open Cross Stitch. It's a text file in XML, which means the data is written as labelled blocks rather than drawn. It holds:
- chart size — how many squares wide and high;
- the palette — a list of threads with maker, number and name, each with its own symbol and colour; the first palette entry usually stands for the fabric itself;
- full crosses — which square is stitched in which thread;
- part stitches — half and three-quarter crosses;
- backstitch — lines along the grid;
- ornaments — French knots and beads.
How it differs from a PDF
A PDF is pages for printing. A program that opens a PDF chart first has to work out where the grid is on the page, which symbols are in the squares and how they match the key. With a chart exported from charting software that usually works; with a scan it's harder — see "How to read a chart".
With OXS there's nothing to guess: every square and every thread is written down directly. No page breaks, no overlap between sheets, no need to work out a thread number from a symbol.
Where to get an OXS
- Ask the designer. Many charting programs can save OXS, and some designers include it with the PDF or send it when a buyer asks.
- Save your own chart. If you design charts yourself, look for OXS in the program's export menu.
When you buy a chart, check what the designer allows: a file for your own stitching doesn't give you the right to share it.
Downsides
- Not every designer or shop offers OXS.
- Programs write unusual things differently — blended threads or rare stitches, for example. If something looks odd, compare it with the PDF from the same designer.
- The file has none of the extras a PDF often has: a photo of the finished piece, the designer's notes, page layout. Keep the PDF alongside.
OXS in Crossette
Crossette opens OXS files with thread codes as they are written in the file. Then you can mark every stitch type, highlight one thread, and see how much is stitched and what's left for each thread. For working from such a chart on a tablet, see "Stitching from a digital chart".