Drawing (DWG) files are the native data files that are created when using AutoCAD-based products.
Each AutoCAD-based product uses a specific file format when saving to a file, which is important when sharing files with clients and other users in your company.
The following table outlines which file format should be used when sharing files with other users of AutoCAD or AutoCAD-based products.
| Drawing File Format | AutoCAD Release |
|---|---|
| AutoCAD 2018 | AutoCAD 2018 |
| AutoCAD 2013 | AutoCAD 2013 through AutoCAD 2017 |
| AutoCAD 2010 | AutoCAD 2010 through AutoCAD 2012 |
| AutoCAD 2007 | AutoCAD 2007 through AutoCAD 2009 |
| AutoCAD 2004 | AutoCAD 2004 through AutoCAD 2006 |
| AutoCAD 2000 | AutoCAD 2000 through AutoCAD 2002 |
| AutoCAD R14 | AutoCAD R14 |
| AutoCAD R12 DXF | AutoCAD R13 |
| AutoCAD R12 DXF | AutoCAD R12 |
When working in an office that uses multiple AutoCAD-based product releases, you can set the default file format to use when saving to a file. The option to set the default file format can be found on the Open and Save tab of the Options dialog box under the File Save section. Selecting a file format from the Save As drop-down list affects the following commands:
Setting the default file format does not affect the following commands:
If you need objects to be made available in an earlier release, as a workaround, do the following:
While the SAVEAS command can be used to save a drawing from one file format to another, it is not efficient when exchanging multiple drawings that need to be saved to a different format. Instead, use any of the following methods to save multiple drawings to a different drawing file format: