.dwg

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DWG
File name extension .dwg
Internet media type application/acad
application/x-acad
application/autocad_dwg
image/x-dwg
application/dwg
application/x-dwg
application/x-autocad
image/vnd.dwg
drawing/dwg[1]
Developed by Autodesk
Type of format CAD

DWG ("drawing") is a format used for storing two and three dimensional design data and metadata. It is the native format for the AutoCAD Computer Aided Design package, as well as Intellicad[2] (and its variants), and PowerCAD.[3] DWG is supported non-natively[4] by several hundred other software applications.

Contents

[edit] History of the DWG format

DWG (denoted by the .dwg filename extension) was the native file format for the Interact CAD package, developed by Mike Riddle in the late 1970s[5], and subsequently licensed by Autodesk in 1982 as the basis for AutoCAD[6][7][8]. From 1982 to 2007, Autodesk created versions of AutoCAD which wrote no less than 18 major variants of the DWG file format, none of which is publicly documented[9].

The DWG format, has become a de facto standard for CAD drawing interoperability. It has been estimated that there are in excess of two to four billion DWG files in existence.[10]

Autodesk designs, defines, and iterates its DWG format as the base format of its applications. In addition to its applications being based on DWG, Autodesk provides a read/write library, called RealDWG[11], under selective licensing terms, for use in non-competitive applications. Several companies have attempted to reverse engineer Autodesk's DWG format, and offer software libraries which endeavor to read and write Autodesk DWG files. The Open Design Alliance[12], a non-profit consortium created in 1998 by a number of software developers (some of which were competitors to Autodesk), released a read/write/view library called the OpenDWG Toolkit, which was based on the MarComp AUTODIRECT libraries. (ODA has since rewritten and updated that code.) There are no open-source DWG libraries currently available, and neither RealDWG nor DWGdirect are licensed on terms that are compatible with the gnu gpl, or similar free software license.

In 1998, Autodesk added file verification to AutoCAD R14.01, through a function called DWGCHECK. This function was supported by an encrypted checksum and product code (called a "watermark" by Autodesk), written into DWG files created by the program.[13][14]. In 2006, in response to Autodesk users experiencing bugs and incompatibilities in files written by reverse-engineered DWG read/write libraries, Autodesk modified AutoCAD 2007, to include "TrustedDWG technology", a function which would embed a text string within DWG files written by the program: "Autodesk DWG. This file is a Trusted DWG last saved by an Autodesk application or Autodesk licensed application."[15] This helped Autodesk software users ensure that the files they were opening were created by an Autodesk, or RealDWG application, reducing risk of incompatibilities. [16] AutoCAD would pop up a message, warning of potential stability problems, if a user opened a 2007 version DWG file which did not include this text string.

On 22nd November 2006, Autodesk sued the Open Design Alliance alleging that its DWGdirect libraries infringed Autodesk's trademark for the word "Autodesk", by writing the TrustedDWG code (including the word "AutoCAD") into DWG files it created. In April 2007, the suit was dropped, with Autodesk modifying the warning message in AutoCAD 2008 (to make it more benign), and the Open Design Alliance removing support for the TrustedDWG code from its DWGdirect libraries.[17]

In 2006, Autodesk applied for a US trademark on "DWG", as applied to software (as distinct to its application as a file format name.) [18]. In a non-final action in May, 2007, the examining attorney refused to register the mark, as it is "merely descriptive" of the use of DWG as a file format name (for which Autodesk does not claim any trademark rights.) In September, 2007, Autodesk responded, claiming that DWG has gained a "secondary meaning," separate from its use as a file format name. [19]. As early as 1996, Autodesk has disclaimed exclusive use of the DWG mark in US trademark filings. [20]

[edit] Software which supports DWG

[edit] Free viewers

There are no open source viewers for DWG files since the licensing of the libraries needed by lx-viewer[21] now restricts their use to members of the Open Design Alliance.

Note: Autodesk DWG TrueView and Autodesk Design Review 2008 by Autodesk require a questionnaire to be filled before downloading.

[edit] References

  1. ^ File Extension .DWG Details. FILExt - The File Extension Source. Computer Knowledge. Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
  2. ^ IntelliCAD Technology Consortium: The intelligent alternative for CAD developers
  3. ^ :: graebert.com - Desktop and Portable CAD Solutions ::
  4. ^ Non-natively: i.e., the file format is supported by translation from or to another file formats.
  5. ^ Mike Riddle's Prehistoric AutoCAD - Retro Thing
  6. ^ Existing products
  7. ^ The Autodesk File: Footnote
  8. ^ DigiBarn Stories: Mike Riddle & the Story of AutoCAD, EasyCAD, FastCAD & more
  9. ^ Autodesk
  10. ^ Autodesk, Inc.. DWG Unplugged. Archived from the original on 1998-01-19. “With over two billion AutoCAD® DWG files worldwide...” Brown, Adrian (2003-07-09). Digital Preservation Guidance Note 4: Graphics file formats (PDF) 11. UK National Archives. Retrieved on [[[2007|2007]]-08-31]. “according to current estimates there are in excess of 4 billion DWG files in existence worldwide.”
  11. ^ Autodesk - Developer Center - RealDWG
  12. ^ Originally, OpenDWG Alliance. Open Design Alliance.
  13. ^ Between the Lines: How to identify some problem DWG files
  14. ^ http://www.opendesign.com/dwg2007update.asp
  15. ^ This "TrustedDWG code" is encoded into DWG files in a fashion that is not humanly readable. This may be validated by using a binary editor to search a DWG file.
  16. ^ Autodesk originally used the term "Trusted DWG", with an embedded space. They modified it removing the space, prior to filing a US trademark application in September, 2006. See http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=77009317
  17. ^ ADSK v ODA > Home
  18. ^ Latest Status Info
  19. ^ United States Patent & Trademark Office
  20. ^ Latest Status Info
  21. ^ Linux Drawing Viewer - DWG and DXF support

[edit] See also

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