Datasheet

 Some previous versions of AutoCAD can open files saved by the subse-
quent one or two versions. For example, AutoCAD 2007 can open DWG
files saved by AutoCAD 2008. That’s because Autodesk didn’t change
the DWG file format between the two versions. Similarly, the file format
didn’t change between AutoCAD 2004 and 2006, so the older program
(AutoCAD 2004) can open drawings created in AutoCAD 2005 and
AutoCAD 2006.
 If you’re working in AutoCAD 2007 or AutoCAD 2008, you can use the
Save As option to save the file to some older DWG formats. In fact,
AutoCAD 2008 will save as far back as AutoCAD Release 14, which was
released in 1997!
Table 1-1 shows which versions (described later in this chapter) use which
DWG file formats.
Table 1-1 AutoCAD Versions and DWG File Formats
Release
AutoCAD Version AutoCAD LT Version Year DWG File Format
AutoCAD 2008 AutoCAD LT 2008 2007 Acad 2007
AutoCAD 2007 AutoCAD LT 2007 2006 Acad 2007
AutoCAD 2006 AutoCAD LT 2006 2005 Acad 2004
AutoCAD 2005 AutoCAD LT 2005 2004 Acad 2004
AutoCAD 2004 AutoCAD LT 2004 2003 Acad 2004
AutoCAD 2002 AutoCAD LT 2002 2001 Acad 2000
AutoCAD 2000i AutoCAD LT 2000i 2000 Acad 2000
AutoCAD 2000 AutoCAD LT 2000 1999 Acad 2000
AutoCAD Release 14 AutoCAD LT 98 & 97 1997 Acad R14
AutoCAD Release 13 AutoCAD LT 95 1994 Acad R13
AutoCAD Release 12 AutoCAD LT Release 2 1992 Acad R12
Working with AutoCAD is easier when your coworkers and colleagues in
other companies all use the same version of AutoCAD and AutoCAD-related
tools. That way, your DWG files, add-on tools, and even the details of your
CAD knowledge can be mixed and matched among your workgroup and part-
ners. In the real world, you may work with people, probably from other com-
panies, who use AutoCAD versions as old as Release 14.
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Part I: AutoCAD 101
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