I have a number of vector graphics files (106 in all) created many years ago in a now defunct program called Gem Draw.  They have the file extension of .gem.  I would like to be able to work on these files as vector graphics or at least be able to see their contents, but at present I can do neither. 

I’m using Inkscape version 1.1 running under Windows 10 Home 20H2, 64 bit.  Inkscape will not import .gem files.  I’ve tried in vain to find a file converter.  The only option that seems likely to work is to acquire a full-featured version of CorelDraw (the Essentials cut-down version supports way fewer file types), which I regard as prohibitively expensive. 

Can anyone suggest a way to achieve what I want – to be able to edit or at least see the contents of these files? 

Or, if all else fails, does anyone out there have CorelDraw who would be prepared to convert these files for me to a format Inkscape supports?  Thanks. 

I have Corel at the office. I can try a sample and see if it look feasible.

Contact me via PM: click on my avatar/image and then click the envelope. 

Look like there might be some options in open source.

When Caldera bought the remaining Digital Research assets from Novell on 23 July 1996,^[45] initial plans were to revive GEM and ViewMAX technologies for a low-footprint user interface for OpenDOS in mobile applications^[46][47] as Caldera View, but these plans were abandoned by Caldera UK in favour of DR-WebSpyder and GROW. Caldera Thin Clients (later known as Lineo) released the source to GEM and GEM XM under the terms of GNU GPL-2.0-only in April 1999.^[47] The development of GEM for PC is continued as FreeGEM and OpenGEM.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEM_(desktop_environment)#Continued_development

Hello Tyler.  I can't seem to DM you. When I click on your avatar I see a profle page for you, the only envelope I can see there is at the top right, next to my name, when I try to create a new message there I get a page not found error. 

I've made a couple of attempts at running new developments of Gem under DOS Box but without success. 

I've attached a couple of my .gem files here for the time being.  Thanks.

I got the files. I'll check them out next time I get to the shop.

WRT the DM issue, it might be due to permissions. You are now vetted into the forum, having had two posts approved by moderators, so your DMs may work at this point.

If the conversions using Corel look useful, we can discuss converting the lot. I recall Corel having a batch convert function, so it may be a simple matter.

Great, thanks!

The version at my office does not support gem vector, but one of the staff has a Corel version that might open the files. I'll let you know.

Thank you.

My colleague has a version of Corel that can open the sample files and save as SVG. Try to DM me again and we can see about getting more of these converted.

Thanks. I've sent you a PM.

Hello readers in the future searching for Inkscape and .gem files!

Corel x4 cannot open .gem vector files but Corel 2017 can open the files and save as svg files. Batch conversion in Corel 2017 is a breeze to bulk convert .gem files to svg, by using an extension that is standard in full versions of Corel (but a pay add-on for student versions).

Perhaps in the future, there will be an Inkscape extension too. Clearly, Corel thought it was useful to add to their extension repository.