DXF Basics

• DXF stands for "Drawing eXchange Format." This file type is native to the CAD application in the Autodesk AutoCAD program. These files are tagged data representations of the cumulative data in AutoCAD drawing files. More specifically, it is a vector file format. The .DXF format supports a wide variety of features. These include three dimensional object support, as well as support for associative dimensioning, curves and text. It is considered an easy format to parse. It is also considered more compatible than .DWG formats because it can be opened by a wider variety of programs due to being ASCII (or text)-based.
  
  

DXF-Compatible Programs

• Due to its ASCII base, the .DXF file format is compatible with a wide variety of programs in the Mac, Windows and Linux-based operating systems. Mac OS-compatible programs for .DXF files include Autodesk AutoCAD 2100, IMSI TurboCAD Deluxe v5, Microspot DWG Viewer, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks eDrawings Viewer, Engineered Software PowerCADD, OpenOffice.org, Adobe Illustrator CS5 and Adobe Flash CS5. Windows-compatible programs include Autodesk AutoCAD 2012, Autodesk DWG TrueView, Autodesk Design Review, IMSI TurboCAR Deluxe 18, IMSI DoubleCAD XT Pro v3, Serif DrawPlus X4, Corel PaintShop Photo Pro X3, ACD Systems Canvas 12, OpenOffice.org, Adobe Illustrator CS5, Dassault Systemes SolidWorks eDrawings Viewer and CADSoftTools ABViewer. Linux-based operating systems can open DXF files with OpenOffice.org.
  
  

DWG Basics

• .DWG files are similar to .DXF files. In fact, .DXF files are simply ASCII versions of their .DWG counterparts. Where .DXF files represent the exchange file format, .DWG files represent AutoCAD Drawing Databas Files. They act as databases for both two dimensional and three dimension drawings created using AutoCAD or similar programs. They are also a vector image format, storing metadata (data that describes what is in a file) as well as design data.
  
  

DWG-Compatible Programs

• The .DWG file format is not as versatile as the .DXF, and is not compatible with as many programs as .DXF files. Both the Mac operating system and the Windows operating system have programs that can open this file type. There are no Linux-based offerings. Mac OS-compatible programs include Autodesk AutoCAD 2011, IMSI TurboCAD Deluxe v5, GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD and Microspot DWG Viewer. Windows-compatible programs include Autodesk AutoCAD 2012, Autodesk Design Review, IMSI TurboCAD Deluxe 18 and IMSI DoubleCAD XT Pro v3.