Autodesk AutoCAD File Versions
Sometimes older AutoCAD software is unable to open files created in newer versions. If you want to find the version of a DWG file you can right click on it and open it in notepad (it might take some time to open if the file is large) the first few characters that are displayed are the version number. You can then use the table below to determine what version the DWG file was saved in.
| AC1024 | AutoCAD 2010 |
| 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 |
File conversions
Newer versions of the software can open older versions of the files but what do you do if you have an older version of AutoCAD?
You can always go back to the person that sent you the file and ask them to save it to an earlier version for you (although an easier method is to use DWG Trueview!). In AutoCAD if you go to Save As in the Files of type drop down you can select the DWG version.
To set the default file version, open up the AutoCAD options and under the Open and Save tab you can set the DWG version that you want to save all files in.
DWG Trueview
DWG Trueview allows you to batch convert DWG files to a different version its also available from Autodesk for free! You can download it here http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?id=6703438&siteID=123112
Open DWG Trueview and select DWG Convert.
You can then select the files that you want to convert and the DWG version that you want to convert to.
DWG Trueview allows you to add your own conversion setups as well so you could save down as low as AutoCAD LT97. There is also an option to Purge and Audit each drawing!
