AutoCAD DWG
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| AutoCAD DWG | |
|---|---|
| File extension: | .dwg |
| Developed by: | Autodesk |
| Type of format: | CAD |
DWG is the proprietary file format of AutoCAD. Developed by Autodesk over 25 years ago, and comprising the core file format for AutoCAD software and AutoCAD-based products, DWG technology is the format used for storing design data created using AutoCAD and AutoCAD-based products. Autodesk owns, develops, and iterates the DWG file format. The DWG usually changes about every few years, as Autodesk adds new features to AutoCAD.
The DWG format, along with its ASCII variant, DXF, has since become the de facto standard file format for CAD drawing exchange; it has been estimated that there are over one billion DWG files in existence.[citation needed] Several companies exist that reverse-engineer the DWG file format, in an attempt to provide DWG read and write capabilities from other design programs. Autodesk also offers its DWG read/write technology for license, in a developer toolkit called "RealDWG."
New versions of AutoCAD will open many older variants of DWG - AutoCAD 2007 will open versions of DWG back to 2.0; and will save back to version r14. Autodesk also offers a free DWG viewer, "DWG TrueView," to view DWG files of any version. On the other hand some CAD companies felt the need for an open library to access the data stored in the closed DWG format; for that reason they constituted a consortium (OpenDWG) to reverse engineer Autodesk's technology and access DWG data. On 22nd November 2006 Autodesk sued the Open Design Alliance alleging that their DWGdirect libraries infringe the Autodesk trademark.[1] On December 29, 2006 the Open Design Alliance responded to the lawsuit by denying all allegations and filing nine counter claims.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Software which supports DWG
[edit] Free Viewers
[edit] By Autodesk
- Autodesk Design Review 2007 (24.8MB Mb)
- DWG TrueView (120 Mb)
- Volo View Express 1.14 (discontinued and superseded by Design Review) - 26 Mb
Note: DWG TrueView and Autodesk Design Review 2007 by Autodesk requires a questionnaire to be filled before downloading.
[edit] By other vendors
- Free DWG Viewer by Infograph, 14 Mb.
- DWG Gateway v3 by SolidWorks, 9 Mb.
- Bentley View by Bentley, 58.2 Mb.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
| AutoCAD related articles |
| AutoCAD | AutoCAD DXF | AutoLISP | DWG |
