Saving and file formats
Save (Ctrl+S)
File ▸ Save (Ctrl+S, SAVE) depends on where the drawing came from:
| Drawing | What Save does |
|---|---|
| Opened from DXF | Overwrites the DXF. |
| Opened from DWG, ODA File Converter installed | Writes back to the same DWG in its own version, keeping the previous file as a .bak copy. |
| Opened from DWG, no ODA | Tells you once (Save as DXF), then saves a DXF copy. |
| New drawing | Asks for a file name (DXF). |
If the file holds objects this program cannot keep, Overwrite the original file? offers Save as new file…, Overwrite original or Cancel. A drawing opened from an incomplete DXF is never saved over the original.
Save as DXF
File ▸ Save as DXF… (SAVEAS) always writes DXF. DXF keeps everything this program supports and is the reliable option.
Save as DWG
The menu item appears only when DWG can be written:
- With the ODA File Converter: Save as DWG… asks for the DWG version (AutoCAD 2018 by default; your last choice is remembered). Choose an older version for older programs.
- Without it: Save as DWG… (experimental) uses LibreDWG and is off by default. Turn it on in Edit ▸ Preferences… (Preferences). AutoCAD and DWG TrueView may not open such a file, layouts and viewports may appear empty, and text rotation and some hatch details can be lost.
After a DWG save the program re-reads the file. If it differs, The DWG does not match your drawing lets you save anyway or cancel; the drawing then stays marked as unsaved so you can still save a DXF.
Tip
Dialogs about DWG offer Get ODA File Converter, which opens its download page.
Other formats
Plot to PDF…, Publish to PDF…, Export SVG… and Export PNG image… are on the File menu. See Plot and PDF and Export SVG and PNG.