DWG File Format

What is a DWG file?

A DWG file is a CAD drawing file used to store precise design and drafting information. DWG files are commonly associated with AutoCAD and are used in many industries where accurate technical drawings are required.

The file extension is usually .dwg. A DWG drawing may represent a simple 2D layout, a multi-sheet technical drawing, a building plan, a mechanical part, a piping layout, a map, or a more complex drawing containing both 2D and 3D information.

Because DWG is so widely used, many companies receive DWG files even if they do not use a full CAD system themselves. In these cases, a viewer and converter can be a practical way to review, print, annotate or convert the drawings without editing the original CAD design.

What can a DWG file contain?

DWG files can store much more than simple lines. A typical drawing may contain geometry, layers, text, dimensions, blocks, hatches, line types, colors, layouts and plot settings. The exact content depends on how the drawing was created and which CAD features were used.

DWG and DXF

DWG and DXF are closely related CAD file formats, but they are normally used for different purposes. DWG is commonly used as a native drawing format, while DXF is often used as an exchange format when drawings must be transferred between different CAD applications.

ViewCompanion can also work with DXF files.

Opening and viewing DWG files

Not every user who receives a DWG file needs a full CAD application. Many users only need to inspect the drawing, check a dimension, print a sheet, add a markup, or convert the file to a more portable format such as PDF.

ViewCompanion Premium can open DWG drawings for viewing and review. This is useful for departments that need access to CAD drawings but do not need to modify the original design data.

• Review engineering and construction drawings.
• Zoom, pan and inspect details.
• Use layouts and drawing sheets for printed output.
• Check layers and visual drawing content.
• Share reviewed drawings as PDF or image files.

Converting DWG files

DWG files are often converted when drawings need to be shared with customers, suppliers, production departments or archive systems. PDF is one of the most common output formats because it is easy to distribute and can preserve the visual appearance of the drawing.

ViewCompanion Premium can convert DWG drawings to PDF and other supported output formats. Conversion can be used for single files or as part of a batch conversion workflow.

Common DWG conversion tasks

• Convert DWG drawings to PDF for review and distribution.
• Create image files from CAD drawings for documentation or web use.
• Batch convert multiple DWG files in one operation.
• Convert drawings for long-term archiving or controlled document workflows.

Printing and batch printing DWG drawings

Printing CAD drawings can be more complex than printing ordinary office documents. Drawings may contain multiple layouts, custom page sizes, line weights, colors, scale settings and title blocks. A dedicated technical drawing viewer can simplify this process for users who only need reliable print output.

ViewCompanion Premium supports printing and batch printing, making it possible to process several DWG drawings without opening each file manually.

Annotating and measuring DWG files

In many workflows, users need to review a DWG file without changing the original CAD data. ViewCompanion Premium includes annotation and measurement tools that can be used during review, quality control, estimation and takeoff work.

DWG support in ViewCompanion Premium

ViewCompanion Premium is designed for users who need more than a basic file viewer. With DWG support, Premium can handle DWG drawings together with the other supported technical drawing and document formats already available in ViewCompanion.

• Open DWG files for viewing and inspection.
• Convert DWG files to PDF and other supported formats.
• Batch convert multiple DWG drawings.
• Print and batch print DWG files.
• Add annotations and review markups.
• Measure distances and areas for drawing review and takeoff.

DWG file format FAQ