Embroidery Machine Guide

Embroidery file formats

.XXX embroidery files (Singer (Compucon) embroidery stitch file)

XXX is the stitch format tied to Singer embroidery machines and the Compucon software behind them. Software support is wide, but which current Singer models read it is poorly documented, so check your manual or test one file.

Extension.XXX
Comes fromCompucon, used by Singer
Native onSinger
Stores thread colours?Yes
Editable outlines?No: it is a stitch file (resizing a lot can spoil it)
Machines in our guide that read it0

About .XXX files

XXX is an older stitch format that mySewnet and several guides list as Compucon and Singer. It stores stitch moves and color-change stops, and the header keeps a color count with a color list added to the file. Compucon also uses a variant that handles needle numbers differently, so not every XXX file is identical.

It is a stitch file, not an outline file. Nothing in it lets software rebuild the original shapes, so resizing is limited and it should be made fresh from an editable file.

Which Singer models read XXX is the uncertain part. Embroidery guides list XXX as the Singer format, but Singer's product pages for the Legacy SE300 and SE340 and the SE9180 do not list file types, and one guide lists VP3 for some Singer models. Check the USB section of your manual, or test one design, before you buy a pack.

To make an XXX file, export it from software that writes the format. Embrilliance Essentials, Ink/Stitch and mySewnet all can.

How to convert .XXX files

  • Ask the design seller for XXX. Many sellers offer several machine formats for the same design.
  • Embrilliance Essentials, Ink/Stitch and mySewnet can read and write XXX.
  • Convert from an original editable file rather than from another machine format, which can damage a design.
  • Test a single design on your machine before converting a whole library.

Machines that read .XXX files

None of the machines in our guide list .XXX as a format they read. Convert it first.

Frequently asked questions

Which machines use XXX files?

XXX is described as the Singer format and is linked to Compucon. Singer's pages for the Legacy SE300 and SE340 and the SE9180 do not say which file types they read, so check your manual.

Does XXX keep thread colors?

It stores color-change stops and a color count with an appended color list, so colors usually carry through, though the format is thinly documented. Check the preview on your machine.

Can I convert PES or DST to XXX?

Yes, with software that writes XXX, such as Embrilliance Essentials, Ink/Stitch or mySewnet. Convert from an original editable file if you can, because machine-to-machine conversions can damage a design.

Can I use an XXX file on a Brother machine?

Not directly. Brother lists .pes, .phc and .dst. Convert the file to PES first.

Other formats

Sources