Free online FODG to PDF converter

Many recipients and print workflows do not support editable FODG diagrams, while PDF opens in standard viewers and office systems. Converting the file produces a fixed-layout copy for sharing, printing, or archiving while the original remains available for editing.

What the FODG format is

FODG means Flat OpenDocument Graphics. It is an XML-based, uncompressed form of the OpenDocument drawing format used for flowcharts, mind maps, diagrams, connectors, shapes, text, images, and page settings.

LibreOffice Draw is the main application that creates and edits FODG files; Apache OpenOffice Draw may also open compatible files. Unlike the packaged .odg format, a .fodg file stores the drawing as a single XML document. This makes its structure inspectable with XML tools, but the file is intended to be handled by compatible drawing software rather than edited manually.

What the PDF format is

PDF is a page-description format designed to reproduce a document's layout across operating systems, applications, and printers. A PDF viewer is usually sufficient to display a finished flowchart or mind map, so recipients do not need LibreOffice Draw.

PDF export normally retains page dimensions, object positions, vector lines, text placement, colors, and print settings. It is primarily a viewing and output format, not a replacement for the Draw editing model; retain the original FODG file if individual shapes, connectors, or text must be changed later.

How to convert FODG to PDF

Using LibreOffice Draw

1. Install LibreOffice and open the .fodg file in Draw.
2. Check the page size, orientation, object positions, fonts, and page breaks before exporting.
3. Choose File → Export as PDF, select the required PDF options, and click Export.
4. Enter a filename ending in .pdf, choose a destination folder, and save the file.

For a direct export using the default settings, choose File → Export Directly as PDF. Use the PDF options dialog when you need to adjust image resolution, tagged PDF output, hyperlinks, or the page range; available options depend on the LibreOffice version and document.

Using the command line

LibreOffice can convert files without opening its graphical interface:

soffice --headless --convert-to pdf --outdir output input.fodg

Replace input.fodg with the source path and output with an existing destination directory. LibreOffice normally creates input.pdf using the source file's base name. This method supports batch workflows, but the installed LibreOffice version must be able to open the source correctly.

Converting without installed software

You can convert an FODG file for free on 101convert.com without installing software. Upload only diagrams that are suitable for third-party processing, particularly when they contain confidential or personal information.

Quality and compatibility considerations

Draw usually exports lines and shapes as PDF vector content, keeping them sharp when zoomed or printed. Text can change appearance if the conversion system lacks fonts used by the FODG file; install those fonts or replace them in Draw before exporting.

Inspect the generated PDF for clipped objects, altered line wrapping, missing linked images, transparency changes, and connectors crossing page boundaries. Large diagrams can be divided across pages according to Draw's page settings, so set the intended page size and orientation before conversion.

Keep the original .fodg with the PDF when the diagram may need further editing. PDF export preserves the rendered result, but not every editable object property or the complete Draw document structure.