.DWG File Extension
AutoCAD Drawing
| Developer | Autodesk |
| Popularity |
3.5 | 770 Votes |
What is a DWG file?
A DWG file is a 2D or 3D drawing created by Autodesk AutoCAD or exported by another CAD program. It contains vector image data, which defines the shapes and lines in a drawing, and metadata, which includes details like layer information, dimensions, and additional drawing properties.
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AutoCAD, a widely used CAD application by architects, engineers, and designers, saves drawings in the DWG format by default. Since AutoCAD is a leading CAD program, many other CAD programs also support the DWG format for importing and exporting technical drawings.
Variations of the DWG format
Over time, Autodesk has introduced several versions of the DWG file format, such as DWG 2000, DWG 2004, DWG 2007, DWG 2010, DWG 2013, and DWG 2018, each with slight structural differences. While these versions all use the .dwg file extension, compatibility with third-party CAD software may vary, as some programs may only support specific DWG versions.
NOTE: DWG files are closely related to .DXF files, which are text-based (ASCII) versions of DWG files designed for easier sharing and compatibility across different CAD applications.
How to open a DWG file
You can open DWG files with many CAD programs and viewers. For example, you can open a DWG file with Autodesk AutoCAD (cross-platform), CorelCAD (Windows, Mac), Dassault Systemes SolidWorks eDrawings Viewer (Windows, Mac), and Adobe Illustrator (Windows, Mac).
How to convert a DWG file
Various applications, including Autodesk AutoCAD, CorelCAD, and Adobe Illustrator, can convert DWG files to other formats.
For example, AutoCAD can convert DWG files to many file types, including the following formats: