You can also use the DWFOUT command to open the Plot dialog box pre-set to DWF setting. This type of file contains features that allow users to view drawings on the Web without having AutoCAD on their computer. This is used when you want to create a drawing that is for use on the Internet or otherwise not editable. They are essentially the same as a DWG file.ĭWF – This is also a fairly new format. Templates are the same as prototype drawings in that they contain all the setup parameters for certain types of drawings. You can set the interval for backing up your file in the Options > Open and Save tab set for as short as possible with interrupting your workflow.ĭWT – This is a newer format (R14) that is used for drawing templates. If your original file becomes corrupt, or unusable for any reason, you can rename the BAK file to a DWG file and open it as you would any other drawing file. This file has all the same information as the original, but a different extension. Whenever you save a drawing, AutoCAD will automatically create a duplicate backup file.

Some co-workers will also have older or newer versions than the one on your computer.īAK – This is AutoCAD’s backup file format. If you are exchanging files with other companies, do not assume that they are using the same version you are. The newest version can read any of the older files. The thing to remember is that older versions of AutoCAD cannot read files created on newer versions. There are many other ways to save your drawing, but these are the common ones.ĭWG – This is the standard AutoCAD drawing file format. Those listed above deal with various forms of drawing files. There are many others that would be considered support files. These are only a few of the file types that AutoCAD uses. Here are some of the common filetypes you will come across:ĭWG – BAK – DWT – DWF -SV$ – DXF – WMF – 3DS – JPG While working with AutoCAD, it is important to know that there are several types of drawing files. Windows is even set up to hide these extensions from you in its default configuration, so you’ll want to turn them on to make things easier for you. The extension was a 3-letter ‘code’ indicating the type of file.Īfter the introduction of Windows 95, you may have more than 8 characters in a name (up to 256), but the 3-letter extension remains. In the ‘olden’ days when DOS was the common operating system, all files had a maximum of 8 characters in their name, followed by a period, followed by the extension. Each file type also has a distinct structure so that the program that created it can read it correctly. The difference is the way that the application program recognizes the file. A standard AutoCAD drawing is created as a DWG file.

For example, a Corel WordPerfect letter file is created as a WPD file. Every file in a computer is created as a particular type or format.

Autocad file types