OK I googled but I am no wiser - what sort of file is .dwg and how do I view it?

[KatyMac]

Thanks

It might be something to do with plans or buildings?

[RustyBear]

It seems to be a redundant type of CAD (computer aided design) file - not sure any program exists that can read it now.

[Nursejo]

.dwg is an Auto cad file,and you can get a dwg viewer from Autocad.Try www.autocad.com

[Nursejo]

DH also says dwg is up to date not "redundant", they use it all the time at work.

[KatyMac]

OK I'm on Autocad.com

& I'm looking for a viewer

[RustyBear]

Sorry - misread the bit that said there are no open source* viewers as 'there are no viewers' -that'll teach me to skim-read

[VacantlyPretty]

Message withdrawn

[Nursejo]

Just repeating what DH says,no offence meant.I havent got a clue!

[RustyBear]

That's OK, didn't take offence, I should have read the page I found more carefully!

[KatyMac]

I'm still lost but downloading thanks VacantlyPretty

this should help me decide if I need an architect or not

[Gingerbear]

It is an Autocad drawing - for plans, technical drawings etc. You either need autocad (£££££) or truview (cheap/free??) to view them.

[KatyMac]

It's taking ages to download

[nannynick]

I use Irfan View to view and print various graphics formats. It can view DWG files, using a Shareware Plugin from Cadsofttools. Haven't got any DWG files myself, so can't test it.

[KatyMac]

Finally finished

Ops didn't see you there Nick

I'll let you know if it works

[KatyMac]

I've opened my file

I can see lots of little pictures but nothing in detail

Can anyone help?

[KatyMac]

Not a chance of seeing anything at all

I am obviously being quite dim

[lackaDAISYcal]

Hi katy....you probably need to zoom in to see anything in detail. Is there a button with a magnifying glass on it on your viewer? that should allow you to zoom.

also, is this a drawing that has been sent to you by an architect? if so, you can ask them to resend it as a pdf and that way you can look at it using Acrobat.

the problem with dwg drawings is that they can contain lots of detail at different scales and it;s not very easy to read on a small computer screen (especially if it has been saved as say an A1 drawing sheet), even for people like me who deal with them on a daily basis.

Your best bet would be to copy it to CD or removable drive and take it to a print shop and get it printed at the size it's meant to be at (usually either A1 or A0). There should be a title block in the bottom RH corner of the drawing which will give you the scale of the drawing, and if lucky, the size it's meant to be viewed at eg 1:100 at A1.

I hope that helped.

[KatyMac]

It's from a student

It's all grey with little rectangles of colour

This won't defeat me

[KatyMac]

I can see it

God knows how

[lackaDAISYcal]

there is always the possibility that the file is corrupt, or he saved it with lots of drawing layers switched off, so now you can only see whatever layer he worked on last.....I think it also matters whether it was saved in model space or paper space, if that means anything.

Ask him/her to send as a pdf of the final drawing if you can.

[lackaDAISYcal]

x-posts. Is it making any sense?

[KatyMac]

Yes - lots of sense

I think based on these drawings (done in 2003) - it is possible that with a competent draughtsman a kindly BCO & a good builder I will be able to get away without having an architect.....maybe

Thanks for your help (unless you are an architect & want a job...)

[lackaDAISYcal]

no, structural engineer...we talked about mezzanines the other week

and, no don't want a job...am having a career break to raise babies at the moment

[KatyMac]

Just a little part-time one????? COuld you convert daddy imperial calcs into metric?

Go on you know you want to....

BTW did you see the price I got for the mezzanine?

[lackaDAISYcal]

no, I'm not even tempted....after a year of maternity leave, my technical brain is lost under a pile of mush, nappies and slobber

I didn't see the price...was it good, bad or just plain old ?

[KatyMac]

£12,000!!!

I think that's good (for 77sqm plus a staircase)

I still need a fire escape for outside tho'