How to know a *.dwg file was created by AutoCAD? 1

[ab110]

Hi,

Does anyone know how can I understand if a *.dwg drawing file is created in AutoCAD or not? I have a *.dwg file and I want to know whether the person who has drawn that file used AutoCAD (not other spftware programs like SolidWorks). By checking the time of drawing in AutoCAD we can know the total time to create the drawing, but I think it is not a good way.

C,
A

 

[chicopee]

would solidworks have saved files with .DWG extensions?

 

[ab110]

Yes. In SolidWorks drawing you can save as a file with *.dwg extension and you can open this file in AutoCAD. My question is exactly this case. How can i find out if someone has used AutoCAD or not?

 

[CRG]

Why don't you find out the easy way. Ask the folks that generated the dwg?

 

[francesca]

If you click on the file in windows explorer it will tell you the last version of which software that saved it -- presumably if you have that software installed. When you open the file in AutoCAD if it wasn't saved by some RealDWG authoring software (i.e. Autodesk), it will let you know and ask if you want to open the file anyway. Ostensibly MicroStation saves RealDWGs, but if you open a MicroStation-saved DWG it will still give you the RealDWG warning.

 

[dik]

Check the Autodesk drawing viewers... they will typically state if a drawing was not created using AutoCAD.

Dik

 

[ab110]

Thanks All for your help.

I thought it should be an easy way in AutoCAD to find out about that. I should check Autodesk drawing viewer as Dik's suggestion.

C,
A

 

[dik]

I use Bricscad at home (really good autocad workalike) and 99$ the same, including use of autolisp, vba, etc.). I can work on drawings from the office and provide them with my own details. The message pops up when loaded into autocad and then once opened in autocad disappears.

Dik

 

[JG2828]

Not sure if this helps but..
If you open the .dwg file using a text editor like Notepad, the first 6 bytes of file will tell you which version of autocad the file was last saved as.

Here is the list:
AC1024 AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012
AC1021 AutoCAD 2007/2008/2009
AC1018 AutoCAD 2004/2005/2006
AC1015 AutoCAD 2000/2000i/2002
AC1014 Release 14
AC1012 Release 13
AC1009 Release 11/12
AC1006 Release 10
AC1004 Release 9
AC1003 Version 2.60
AC1002 Version 2.50
AC1001 Version 2.22
AC2.22 Version 2.22
AC2.21 Version 2.21
AC2.10 Version 2.10
AC1.50 Version 2.05
AC1.40 Version 1.40
AC1.2 Version 1.2
MC0.0 Version 1.0

 

[brandonbw]

The total amount of time drawing a file would rarely ever be right. If you took an existing file and started a new drawing in there, the total time worked on the drawing carries over.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil and Structural Engineering

http://bwengr.com