The most straightforward way to open a saved drawing in AutoCAD is by locating the file on your computer and double-clicking it.
AutoCAD drawings are typically saved with specific file extensions. Knowing these extensions helps you easily identify your saved drawings.
Identifying AutoCAD Drawing Files
Saved AutoCAD drawings commonly have the following file extensions:
- .dwg: This is the standard and most common file format for AutoCAD drawings.
- .dxf: This is a Data Exchange Format often used for transferring drawing data between different CAD programs.
Both .dwg and .dxf files can be opened directly by AutoCAD.
Simple Steps to Open Your Drawing
Based on standard methods, here is how you can open your saved AutoCAD drawing:
- Find the .dwg or .dxf file on your computer. You can use your operating system's file explorer (like Windows Explorer or macOS Finder) to navigate to the folder where you saved the drawing.
- Double-click it to open it. Double-clicking the file icon will launch AutoCAD (if it's not already running) and open the selected drawing directly.
This method assumes that AutoCAD is correctly installed on your computer and is associated with the .dwg and .dxf file types.
Key File Types
Here's a quick look at the mentioned file types:
| File Extension | Description | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| .dwg | AutoCAD Drawing Database File | Standard AutoCAD format |
| .dxf | Drawing Exchange Format | Data interoperability/exchange |
By finding either of these files and double-clicking, you can quickly access your saved work in AutoCAD.
