Guide
OXS cross-stitch files explained
.oxs is an open file format for cross-stitch patterns. It lets a pattern move between apps without being redrawn or losing its thread colours.
Import or design a pattern DMC charts and exports
What's in an .oxs file
An .oxs file is plain XML, a structured text format, that describes a cross-stitch pattern:
- the chart's width and height in stitches
- the thread palette, with each colour's brand and number
- every full stitch and where it goes
- backstitch lines and French knots, where the pattern has them
Because it stores the stitches themselves rather than a picture of them, the pattern stays exact: nothing is blurred or guessed.
Why it's useful
A PDF chart is for printing and reading. An .oxs file is for apps. With .oxs you can design in one program and track in another, pass a pattern to a friend who uses different software, or keep an editable copy of your work that isn't tied to one app.
.oxs in Tatreez
- Import: from your designs page, choose an .oxs file to open it as a design. Edit it, recolour it, or track it stitch by stitch. Free designs can be up to 150 × 150 stitches with up to 30 colours.
- Export (Pro): save any design as .oxs, alongside printable PDF charts and Tatreez's own .tatreez files.
Good to know
Apps support different stitch types, so a pattern full of specialty stitches may not carry every detail between programs. Full cross-stitches and thread colours always come through. If a pattern was sold to you, check its licence before sharing the file.