You have direct access to drawing files created by AutoCAD-based products.
Using DWG TrueView, you can:
- Open and view DWG and DXF files
- Obtain geometric information from drawings such as distance, mass, and volume
- Plot DWG files to a plotter
- Create DWF, DWFx, PDF, JPG, and PNG files from DWG files
- Publish sets of drawings or sheets to a plotter, or DWF, DWFx, and PDF files
- Convert DWG files forward and backward with versions as early as AutoCAD Release 14
You do not need to know AutoCAD to use DWG TrueView, but it is helpful to understand how AutoCAD
Layers work, and how to use the page setup, plotting, and publishing dialog boxes.
Supported File Formats
Drawing information created in AutoCAD-based products can be saved or exported to the following file formats.
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DWG drawing file format is the native file format for AutoCAD-based products. With DWG TrueView, you can open all drawing files regardless of version, and you can save to DWG file formats as early as AutoCAD Release 14.
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DXF (Drawing Interchange Format) is a published file format used for interoperability between Autodesk products, third-party applications, and non-Autodesk products.
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DWF (Design Web Format) and
DWFx (DWF for Windows XPS Viewer) are ideal for sharing drawing file information with team members, vendors, clients, subcontractors, and customers that do not have access to an AutoCAD-based application.
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PDF (Adobe’s Portable Document Format) is one of the most commonly-used formats for sharing drawings with team member and clients.
Note: Saving DWG files to earlier file formats can result in the loss of features and functionality introduced in later versions of AutoCAD-based products. There are also factors to consider when working with custom objects. See
View Custom and Proxy Objects.
Product Limitations
DWG TrueView is limited to viewing, publishing, and converting DWGs. You cannot use it to change or save drawing files. Other free products available from the Autodesk website that might be of interest to you include the following:
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Autodesk Design Review. Using the DWF, DWFx, and PDF formats, you can review, mark up, save, and print drawing files created with AutoCAD-based products.
- Autodesk AutoCAD mobile app. You can open, view, and work with CAD drawings and DWG files on the go from your smartphone or tablet—anytime, anywhere.
- AutoCAD web app. You can open, view, and work with DWG files in AutoCAD anytime, anywhere.
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Autodesk A360 Mobile App. You can open, view, and work with 3D and 2D DWG/DWF files, and Autodesk Revit and Autodesk Navisworks software files on a mobile device.