---
name: "gv2gxl"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "graphviz"
version: "16.1.0-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gxl2gv"
---

# gv2gxl(1)

GXL-GV converters

Part of [gxl2gv(1)](/gxl2gv/1.md).

## NAME

gxl2gv,gv2gxl - GXL-GV converters

## SYNOPSIS

**gxl2gv** \[ **-gd?** \] \[ **-o***outfile* \] \[  *files* \]\
 **gv2gxl** \[ **-gd?** \] \[ **-o***outfile* \] \[  *files* \]

## DESCRIPTION

**gxl2gv** converts between graphs represented in GXL and in the GV language. Unless a conversion type is specified using a flag, **gxl2gv** will deduce the type of conversion from the suffix of the input file, a ".gv" suffix causing a conversion from GV to GXL, and a ".gxl" suffix causing a conversion from GXL to GV. If no suffix is available, e.g. when the input is from a pipe, and no flags are used then **gxl2gv** assumes the type of the input file from its executable name so that **gxl2gv** converts from GXL to GV, and **gv2gxl** converts from GV to GXL.

GXL supports a much richer graph model than GV. **gxl2gv** will attempt to map GXL constructs into the analogous GV construct when this is possible. If not, the GXL information is stored as an attribute. The intention is that applying **gxl2gv\|gv2gxl** is semantically equivalent to the identity operator.

## OPTIONS

The following options are supported:

- **-g**

  The command name and input file extensions are ignored, the input is taken as a GV file and a GXL file is generated.

- **-d**

  The command name and input file extensions are ignored, the input is taken as a GXL file and a GV file is generated.

- **-?**

  Prints usage information and exits.

- **-o** *outfile*

  If specified, the output will be written into the file *outfile*. Otherwise, output is written to standard out.

## OPERANDS

The following operand is supported:

- *files*

  Names of files containing 1 or more graphs in GXL or GV. If no *files* operand is specified, the standard input will be used.

## RETURN CODES

Both **gxl2gv** and **gv2gxl** return **0** if there were no problems during conversion; and non-zero if any error occurred.

## BUGS

**gxl2gv** will only convert in one direction even if given multiple files with varying suffixes.

The conversion can only handle one graph per GXL file.

There are some GXL constructs which **gxl2gv** cannot handle.

## AUTHORS

Krishnam Pericherla \<kp@research.att.com\>\
 Emden R. Gansner \<erg@research.att.com\>

## SEE ALSO

[dot(1)](/dot/1.md), [neato(1)](/neato/1.md), [twopi(1)](/twopi/1.md)