Datasheet

Part I: AutoCAD 101

✓ Some previous AutoCAD releases can open files saved by the subse-

quent one or two versions. For example, AutoCAD 2007 and AutoCAD

2008 can open DWG files saved by AutoCAD 2009. That’s because

Autodesk didn’t change the DWG file format between those releases.

However, the drawing file format did change with AutoCAD 2010, so

drawings created in the current release must be saved in an older

format to be openable in AutoCAD 2009 and earlier.

✓ You can use the Save As option in newer releases to save the file to

some older DWG formats. In fact, AutoCAD 2010 can save as far back as

AutoCAD Release 14, which dates all the way back to 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

AutoCAD Version AutoCAD LT Version Release Year DWG File

Format

AutoCAD 2010 AutoCAD LT 2010 2009 Acad 2010

AutoCAD 2009 AutoCAD LT 2009 2008 Acad 2007

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 and 97 1997 Acad R14

AutoCAD Release 13 AutoCAD LT 95 1994 Acad R13

AutoCAD Release 12 AutoCAD LT Release 2 1992 Acad R12

The new file format in AutoCAD 2010 was necessary to handle new features —

especially parametric drafting. The new format is also more efficient at saving

files and can handle much larger objects. Best of all from the user’s perspec-

tive, it’s noticeably faster to work with than AutoCAD 2009.

Working with AutoCAD is easier when your coworkers and colleagues in

other companies all use the same release of AutoCAD and AutoCAD-related

tools. That way, your DWG files, add-on tools, and even the details of your

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