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DWG DXF Viewer
open DXF and DWG files

CATIA Siemens-NX CREO SolidWorks Solid Edge Inventor Rhino JT STEP X_T DWG-DXF IGES-SAT-VDA 3MF-STL PLY-3DS-WRL-OBJ

What are DWG and DXF files?

  • Files with the file extension DWG and DXF are native files of the CAD/CAM software Autodesk AutoCAD or Autodesk Inventor.
  • Both formats are mostly used for 2D drawings, but can also contain 3D solids. Pure 2D files, pure 3D files and mixed 2D/3D files are possible.
  • DWG is the central native Autodesk AutoCAD format. DXF is a format originally developed by Autodesk for data exchange between operating systems. Compared to DWG, DXF offers fewer functions, but can be loaded by more CAD applications.

Autodesk-Viewer für DWG und DXF

DWG and DXF Versions

The DWG and DXF functions are based on AutoCAD development. However, the version numbering is not very intuitive.

  • File version AC1027 is valid for AutoCAD 2013 to 2017.
  • The current file version is AC1032 and is valid for AutoCAD 2018 until now. (06/2025)
  • The first six bytes (characters) of a DWG file show the version.
  • In a DXF file, the version is specified in the header area. The DXF variable is $ACADVER.

DWG and DXF - Characteristics

Due to the close relationship, DWG files can be used in Autodesk AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor. However, a DWG file created with Inventor can only be modified in Inventor. A DWG file created with AutoCAD can only be modified in AutoCAD.

The DXF format is suitable for exchange between Autodesk programs and with third-party software, but does not offer any special Autodesk functions, e.g. from Autodesk Civil 3D, Revit and Inventor. DXF files are ASCII-coded and significantly larger than binary DWG files. For these reasons, DXF files are mostly used for general 2D drawings and less for complex 3D designs.

How Do I Open Autodesk DXF and DWG Files?

Both formats can be opened with Autodesk programs such as AutoCAD and Inventor. DXF files are also supported by a number of other applications.

With DWG TrueView, AutoCAD Web and the Autodesk Viewer, Autodesk offers various viewing solutions, from free without registration to with registration and for a fee.

The 3D-Tool CAD Viewer opens DWG and DXF files in 3D and 2D and offers many measurement and analysis tools in addition to simple operation. 3D-Tool can be tested free of charge for 14 days.

How Do I Convert Autodesk DWG and DXF Files?

Converting DWG to DXF is possible with DWG TrueView from Autodesk.

Converting 3D DWG to STEP or 3D DXF to STEP with converter software only works for exact geometries (BREP). Triangulated models (MESH) cannot be converted to STEP, IGES, CATIA, SolidWorks or other CAD formats.

3D Tool Premium includes the 3D NativeCAD Converter. In addition to native Autodesk models, this converts models from many common CAD systems into the 3D exchange formats STEP, IGES, SAT and Parasolid X_T supported by many CAD/CAM programs.

Test the DXF-DWG Viewer and DWG-DXF Converter

3D-Tool is a CAD viewer with many native CAD interfaces, including Inventor, and professional measurement functions, shape analysis and wall thickness analysis.

  • Open, dimension, markup and publish DWG / DXF (3D and 2D) for the 3D-Tool Free Viewer or as 3D-PDF
  • Open and save DWG / DXF (3D, BREP only) as STL, 3DS, PLY, WRL, OBJ, or PLY
  • Convert DWG / DXF (3D, BREP only) to CATIA, STEP, IGES, VDA, SAT and X_T
  • Convert 3m DWG and DXF odels into 3D product visualizations such as 3D-HTML, FBX, Collada, 3MF, and glTF.

Free and non-binding 14-day trial with all functions, the Autodesk interfaces and the 3D-Native CAD Converter. The demo key activates all 3D interfaces, such as CATIA, Siemens NX, SolidWorks, Creo, STEP, SAT.

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