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.DWG file extension What are and how to open such files?

.DWG file extension What are and how to open such files?

After programming, the digital drawing is possibly the one with the most formats like the video. There are many types of files that contain graphic elements. The best known are JPG and PNG, but the world is much bigger than these .

Among the many digital drawing computer files, the DraWinG or .DWG is one of the most important , especially for the AutoCAD users who love the two and three dimensional design.

In this article we are going to show you everything you need to know about what the .DWG files are used for and what they are used for, as well as their importance and importance in digital drawing.

What is it and what files with extension are used for. DWG?

Extensión de archivo .DWG

The DWG is a computer file that is used to store graphic information from a digital design. This stores vector information, which will allow you to increase or reduce its dimensions without affecting the quality of the image, as with other files of this type. In addition, unlike others, it can store 3D vector information .

This last feature has made the format chosen by Autodesk for most files exported from your AutoCAD, the most used 3-dimensional digital design software of the world. However, this was not the direct creator of the format.

To know the origins of the DWG you have to go to the beginning of the 80’s, when the developers of IBM launched one of the many versions of the operating system MS-DOS. It contained this new type of file for your basic drawing software, which instead of exporting in PNG or JPGE, I did it in DWG.

The utility of DWG and its convenience to be used as a default format for digital design in 2 and 3 dimensions made Autodesk choose it as the cherry of your cake AutoCAD, whose first edition would be released in 1986.

However, not everything is perfect with the DWG, since with each release of a new version of the AutoCAD a new DWG was created and this was not always compatible with the previous one. That is, version 1 was not compatible with 2 or 3. This led to the creation of another format that would allow data sharing between versions other than DraWinG called DXF or Drawing eXchange File .

How to open and view .DWG files on smartphones or computers?

Opening a DWG file and visualizing what’s inside is an extremely simple process that will not take you more than a few minutes to do. Of course, to streamline everything it will be necessary for you to have AutoCAD of Autodesk , since this program will allow you to open the format with just a few clicks on it.

On Windows PC

The AutoCAD program has native support for vector files of DWG format, so that if you have this installed, you can view all the elements in this format you want.

What you have to do in this case is simply to right click on the file in question and then follow the path “Open with”> »AutoCAD».

After that, the software will open and you will see what is inside the element, as well as you can edit it and make the changes you want with the program tools.

On Mac computers

On computers MacOS the process is basically the same. You just have to have the AutoCAD program installed and when you click on the file you want to see it will run and you can view the content or edit it according to what you want.

On Android mobile phones

To view DWG files on Android you will need to download and install the mobile version of AutoCAD that Autodesk has developed for you.

While this is much less powerful than the desktop , the most important thing is that with it you can see DWG files without any problem.

What you should do is simply enter the app, tap “Open” and find the file you want to see. After that you can make changes with the tools that this app makes available to you .

On iPhone devices with iOS

On Apple devices it is also possible to install the Mobile version of the AutoCAD to do this task. Once everything is ready, you just have to start it and tap “Open” to view or edit the content within the vector drawing file.

extension .Dwg without using AutoCad

While AutoCAD is the default software for editing and viewing this type of image format , it’s not the only option you have. Here is a list of programs and applications alternatives to the Autodesk program to view and edit DWG documents without problems.

MicroStation

Microstation

This is one of the most powerful competitors that AutoCAD has in the market and it is not for less. It has just as good tools for engineering and architecture professionals. As you would expect from editing and drawing software in 2 and 3 dimensions, you can read any DWG file perfectly thanks to its DXF support. However, it is paid, so you will have to pay a license to use it.

VectorWorks

VectorWorks
Un programa utilizado incluso por profesionales de la industria cinemátográfica para crear la base estructural de ciudades hechas completamente con efectos especiales ¿Recuerdas esos mundos maravillosos de Los Guardianes de la Galaxia o cambios realistas como los de El Origen? Pues cosas así pueden hacerse con este software que tiene un nivel de detalle único. En este podrás abrir cualquier archivo DWG gracias al soporte nativo que tiene integrado para documentos de tal formato.

SketchUp

SketchUp

A fairly cheap alternative that will allow you to create all kinds of 3D wonders, although with more limited tools than the previous two. However, for the task of opening DWG files it works perfectly, so it will be good for you.