Open and Save DWG Data vs. Import and Export

The following options are available when you are working with DWG files:

• You can directly open a DWG file, and the AutoCAD data remains AutoCAD data in Autodesk Inventor LT.
• You can save a file as an Autodesk Inventor LT drawing (.dwg) and the AutoCAD data is saved as AutoCAD data.
• You can import a .dwg file. The AutoCAD data is translated into Autodesk Inventor LT data.
• You can export a .dwg file. The Autodesk Inventor LT data is translated into AutoCAD data.

Open/Save as	Use the Open command to open AutoCAD (.dwg) data directly in Autodesk Inventor LT. When you open an AutoCAD DWG (.dwg) file in Autodesk Inventor LT, AutoCAD data remains as AutoCAD data. You can then view, plot, and measure the file contents. Objects display exactly as they do in AutoCAD. In addition, all the AutoCAD data is selectable for copy and paste. You can open an AutoCAD DWG file in Autodesk Inventor LT, and then copy and paste AutoCAD entities into any Autodesk Inventor LT sketch.
	You can save an Autodesk Inventor LT drawings natively in DWG format without translation. Autodesk Inventor LT drawing data remains associative to the model. When opening the file in AutoCAD the Autodesk Inventor LT drawing data looks just like it does in Autodesk Inventor LT. You can view, plot, measure and minimally edit the Autodesk Inventor LT drawing data in AutoCAD. Portions of the Autodesk Inventor LT data are reusable in AutoCAD as blocks. Open AutoCAD DWG files directly to view, plot, or measure native AutoCAD data in Autodesk Inventor LT or when you want to translate (copy/paste) AutoCAD data selectively into an Autodesk Inventor LT sketch. Use Autodesk Inventor LT's native DWG format if you must have Autodesk Inventor LT drawing files that can be viewed, plotted, or measured in AutoCAD and remain associative to the Autodesk Inventor LT model data.
Import/Export	When you import an AutoCAD DWG file into Autodesk Inventor LT the AutoCAD data is translated into an Autodesk Inventor LT part or drawing file, based on your import settings. The original AutoCAD file is left intact and unchanged. When you export an Autodesk Inventor LT file into AutoCAD DWG, the Autodesk Inventor LT data is translated into AutoCAD objects in a new DWG file. Translated AutoCAD data is not associative back to the Autodesk Inventor LT model, but the AutoCAD data is fully editable in AutoCAD. Use import or export if you need fully editable data in AutoCAD or Autodesk Inventor LT.