DWGs boast of the broadest range of features of any vector file type, supporting a selection of vector entities, including AutoCAD-specific elements such as dynamic blocks. Developers need a license to be able to use this format in their software. DWGĭWG (an abbreviation for ‘ Dra win g‘) is a proprietary vector file format created by Autodesk in 1982.

Let’s start off with AutoCAD’s most well-known file extensions: DWG and DXF. For this reason, the two terms are often used interchangeably. More often than not, an extension will only be associated with one file type, or a more ‘popular’ file type. pdf’ would be referring to this file type. Of course, the former is far more frequently used, so, in the vast majority of cases, ‘.

pdf‘, you would be dealing with either a ‘Portable Document Format’ or a ‘Printer Description File’. Typically, file extensions are used to determine the file type. So what’s the difference between file extensions and file types? docx‘ extension should be opened with Microsoft Word. docx‘ lets Windows know which program on your computer the file can be opened with. A file extension is a group of characters after a file name, e.g. This handy guide will explain what file extensions are, AutoCAD’s most common extensions, and a list of the other possible file extensions that you might come across.īefore we look at AutoCAD’s file extensions, let’s start firstly with what file extensions actually are. (If you’re truly lost, you may even need a little help figuring out what a file extension actually is.) In fact, you’ve probably come across many file extensions in AutoCAD that you’re not entirely familiar with. However, these aren’t the only file extensions and formats used with AutoCAD. If you work with CAD, you’re likely to already be familiar with some of AutoCAD’s most common file formats, such as DWG and DXF. AutoCAD is arguably the most prevalent CAD software on the market -it’s used by professionals and hobbyists alike.

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