Hardware and software setup

How to open dwg files other than autocad. How to open a dwg file online without autocad? What is DWG: purpose, analogues, versions

Used to store data for 3d models or 2d drawings (currently most commonly used for drawings). The dwg format stores data about the model frame, its textures and the frame. It is used in CAD programs, both paid and free. Available in DWS and DWT variants, DWX is an ASCII encoded version. Files with this extension can either be CAD programs or freeware viewers.

How to open a dwg file

  1. is a free application for viewing dwg files. The interface is similar to that of AutoCAD. In new versions, the application has learned how to convert files. Supports printing and layers.

  2. - dwg file viewer from a domestic developer. The application interface is thoughtful, pleasant and simple. The application supports the main formats, and not only from the KOMPAS application package. Among the main functions are scaling, dragging, printing documents.

  3. - a small but powerful program with which you can view 3d models and drawings. It is used in enterprises, schools, universities due to its simplicity, accessibility and free of charge. Supports selection of elements, rotation, scaling and printing.

  4. is a free professional application for creating three-dimensional models. The functionality can be extended with plugins. Allows you to create, view and edit files with the extension dwg, skp, dwx, psd and many others. Export to other formats is supported.

As you know, many of the CAD programs (automatic design systems) use the dwg file format in their work. The latter is a binary file format for storing 2D and 3D design data. In this case, situations may arise when you urgently need to open a dwg file, and there is not a single program on a handy computer that can do this. Then special online services will come to the rescue that will help you easily open a dwg file without having to install unnecessary software on your computer. In this article I will tell you how to open a dwg file online, what resources exist for this and how to use them.

There are several services on the web that will help you open the dwg file online. They differ in quite simple and convenient functionality, and even a user inexperienced in AutoCAD can work with them.

Program-Pro.ru - dwg extension viewer

The first service that will help us answer the question of opening a dwg document online is the Program-Pro service. To use its functionality, do the following:

  • Sign in to this resource;
  • Click on the "Browse" button and specify the path to the desired file in dwg format (maximum size is 50 megabytes);
  • Then click on the "Download" button;
  • After downloading, you will go into view mode, where you can zoom in and out of the image, work with layers, expand the image to full screen, and so on.

ShareCAD.org - View dwg files

If you are thinking about how to view dwg online, then the following resource called ShareCAD.org will come to your aid. Its functionality is similar in simplicity and accessibility to the previous service, and it is also easy and convenient to use.

  1. Go to this site, click on the "File" icon at the top left, and download the file you need from your PC's hard drive.
  2. After downloading, a standard set of tools will become available to you (enlargement-reduction, layers, printing on a printer, different types of angles, and so on).

A360 Viewer - open DWG online

On the question of how to open the dwg format online, the following resource called A360 Viewer will be of invaluable help.

  1. To use its functionality, just go to the resource;
  2. Click on the "Upload your design" button;
  3. Then click on "Select file" (or specify a link to Dropbox, Box or Google Drive) and point to the desired file on the hard drive.

If this will be the only document to view, then click on "No more files" and enjoy viewing your file (the toolkit for viewing is also standard).

Special programs for PC

I can not ignore the computer programs that can help you open an online dwg file. In addition to classic AutoCAD, I recommend such software products as:


Conclusion

In this article, I considered the answer to the question “How to open a dwg file online?”, What services exist for this and how to use them. To view a dwg file, any of the listed services will be enough, each of them is easy to use and will not cause any problems in operation. If you are not satisfied with the simplified functionality of these online services, then you can always download one of the specialized programs listed above to your computer and work with them.

In contact with

As a rule, engineering drawings, architectural projects and other complex design graphics are performed in it. There are situations when the main software is not installed or there are problems with it, but access to the project is needed, and the question arises of how to open the saved dwg file without AutoCAD. There are several ways to view files in this format:

  • through similar software (Compass, NanoCAD, ArchiCAD);
  • using special programs - image viewers.

Ways to read a .dwg file without AutoCAD.

ATTENTION. But remember that objects integrated from one program into another can be grouped. To access each element individually, select the shape and click Allow.

ArchiCAD

Archikad is a tool for architects and furniture designers, closely related in nature to AutoCAD and supports the dwg extension. It is enough just to drag the necessary file from the folder to the working field. Before opening access to editing elements, you need to execute the "decompose" command. In ArchiCAD, it is possible to save the source document separately, for this you need to check the box next to the corresponding sentence in the decomposition parameters box.

Nanocad is a domestic development in the field of design. It also helps when you need to open or print a dwg file with something in the absence of AutoCAD. This can be done either through the program menu ("File" - "Open"), or by simple drag and drop. The output file is also freely saved to dwg if needed. It is worth noting the good integration between AutoCAD and NanoCAD, which eliminates the loss of data when transferring a drawing.

IMPORTANT. Before opening a project made in AutoCAD using other software, make sure that the versions are compatible. An earlier release may not open a document created in an updated program.

Some users may need to open a DWG file online. The latter is usually the main file format in the work of automatic design systems (AutoCAD, DraftSigth, IntelliCAD, Open Design Appliance, etc.), often used to store various 2D and 3D drawings and other design data. In this article I will tell you how and how to view the dwg extension online, which network DWG file viewer will help us with this, and how to work with it.

When looking for a dwg viewer online, I recommend paying attention to the online services that I will list below. Almost all of them are free, have a predominantly English-language interface (alas, you don’t have to choose from domestic analogues), allowing you to open the desired dwg file in just a few seconds. In the last article, I reviewed the tools for opening .

Autodesk A360.Viewer service allows you to view and edit DWG

If you are interested in a quality dwg viewer, then use this popular online service that can help you play DWG files (as well as DWF, RVT and other formats).

  1. Go to this resource, click on the "Upload your design" button (upload your project), select the download source ("Select a file" - PC), and specify the path to your dwg file to the resource.
  2. The service will ask if your file is related to other files. If not, then click on "No more files", wait for your file to be processed, and very soon you will receive the result on your PC screen.
  3. In the window that opens with the presented drawings, you can change the scale, switch between 2D and 3D models, perform dynamic viewing, and so on.

profiCAD service to open .dwg file

The Czech resource profiCAD, which has English functionality, will also help you easily view the contents of the dwg file.

  1. Log in to the resource https://gallery.proficad.eu/tools/autocad-viewer.aspx , click on the "Browse" button at the bottom, and specify the path to your DWG file to the site.
  2. Then click on the "OK" button on the right, and wait for your file to be processed.
  3. You will have access to view your drawing.
  4. To open it in full size double click on it, it will be opened in full size.

Viewer service — DWG FastView for WEB

Another English-language service that allows you to view dwg online. Compared to the previous ones, this service is an order of magnitude slower, so processing your file may take some time.

  1. Go to this site http://dwgfastview.gstarcad.net/yun.html , and click on the "Open Drawing" button.
  2. Then click on the button "Select a Local file" (choose a local file), and specify the path to the service to the DWG file on your PC's hard drive.
  3. Then wait a minute or two while the service processes your file (the screen may just be a white screen, be a little patient).
  4. Your drawing will open, the control panel will be located on the left, and the options for working with layers will be located on the right.

Service Viewer PROGRAM-PRO

The only Russian-language viewer on my list that allows you to view the dwg format. The maximum file size that this resource works with is 50 megabytes, while viewing a variety of graphic formats is supported.


DWG Converter - CoolUtils

This service is not a classic viewer like the ones listed above, it is a converter that allows you to convert your dwg file into a more convenient format for viewing (for example, pdf or jpg).

  1. To work with this converter, go to the service https://www.coolutils.com/ru/online/DWG-to-PDF , click on "Browse", and upload your file to the resource.
  2. Then decide on the final format (pdf, jpeg, tiff, cgm, png, swf are presented), click on the "Download converted file" button, and save the result to your PC.

Often this resource saves a file with the name "BS" and no extension at all. I recommend finding this file on your hard drive and renaming it with the correct extension you chose during the conversion. After that, you will be able to correctly open this file and view its contents.

Program for viewing dwg files

In addition to these services that make it easy to open a DWG file, there are a number of programs that can view a DWG file. These programs must be downloaded and installed on your PC, and only then use their capabilities.

Imagine the scenario: A colleague has sent you a drawing and all you have to do is review it, print it, and mark it up. But there is a problem - the file is in .dwg format, and you don't have AutoCAD. You can, but it's too expensive to view a single file. Is there another way to solve the issue? The answer is yes! In this guide, we will show you several different ways to view DWG files without AutoCAD.

Scan2CAD program

Scan2CAD is an advanced image conversion, vectorization and editing software. The main feature of Scan2CAD is the conversion of image files to DWG (and DXF), but it actually has a lot more options. Free trial period of using the program is 14 days. This is more than enough to review and approve multiple documents.

A360 Viewer, DWG True View and AutoCAD 360 by AutoDesk

Convert DWG to PDF


Other major CAD software

If you are already using CAD software, you can try opening the DWG with it. Most major CAD software applications offer the ability to open, view, and share DWG files. These include such complexes as DraftSight, IntelliCAD, CorelCAD, Google Sketchup and Microsoft Visio.

Video: How to open a dwg file without AutoCAD

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