# ActiveReports File Converter

The ActiveReports file converter allows you to upgrade your existing reports from previous versions of ActiveReports (ActiveReports 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 3, 2, and 1) to the latest version.

## Content

The ActiveReports file converter allows you to upgrade your existing reports from previous versions of ActiveReports to the latest version.

### To use the file converter

1. In Visual Studio, open an existing ActiveReports project.

> **Caution**: If you are migrating a project from a different version of Visual Studio, a Visual Studio conversion wizard will run automatically to convert the project.

2. From the Visual Studio **Tools** menu, select **Convert to ActiveReports 20**. In the ActiveReports 20 Upgrade tool window that appears, you can see a list of report files to be converted.
    ![Convert to ActiveReport 20 Tool](https://cdn.mescius.io/document-site-files/images/19d442d0-3c6c-4bb1-b916-7197bf606006/convert-to-20-20260703.0a1505.png)
    ![Upgrade in Action](https://cdn.mescius.io/document-site-files/images/19d442d0-3c6c-4bb1-b916-7197bf606006/upgrade-tool-20260703.a33845.png)

    | File Type | Extension |
    | --------- | --------- |
    | Report file | \*.rpx, \*.vb, \*.cs |
    | Form with a viewer | \*.vb, \*.cs, \*.xaml |
    | ASP.NET Web Form with a WebViewer | \*.aspx, \*.aspx.vb, \*.aspx.cs |
    | Project file | \*.vbproj, \*.csproj, Web.confg |
    | License file | licenses.licx |
    | Package.json file | package.json |
    | Packages.config file | packages.config |
3. Click **OK** to convert the files. After the files are successfully converted, all of the reference files are updated and the reports are converted to C# or Visual Basic class files. The old files are copied to **ARConverterBackup** folder generated under the root folder of the project. You can delete these files from the project if you do not need them.

>type=warning
> **Caution**: When converting from version 6 or below, you may observe the following warnings on migrating a form with the viewer control. These warnings are due to API modifications in ActiveReports 7 or above. You can ignore these warnings or delete them manually.
>
> * 'Public Property Text() As String' is an old format: 'Not used anymore'
> * 'Public Property TabTitleLength() As Integer' is an old format: 'Not used anymore'

>type=note
> **Note**: In addition to the above conversions, you may also observe some formatting changes, such as code breaks, while using this converter tool.

4. After running the converter, you need to manually update all the project references. For more details, see [Upgrade Reports and References](/activereportsnet/docs/v20.1/developers/activereports-version-compatibility-migration/upgrade-reports-references).