Opening a previous version of AutoCAD can be a useful skill to have, especially if you need to access and work on files created with an older version of the software. In this tutorial, we will explore different methods to open a previous version of AutoCAD.
Method 1: Using the “Open” command in AutoCAD
1. Launch AutoCAD by double-clicking on its icon. 2. Once AutoCAD is open, click on the “Open” button located at the top-left corner of the screen, or navigate to “File” > “Open” from the menu bar. 3. In the “Open” dialog box that appears, locate and select the file you want to open.
4. By default, AutoCAD displays only files with supported formats in the dialog box. To see files from previous versions, change the file type filter by selecting “All Files (*. *)” from the dropdown menu. 5. After selecting your desired file, click on the “Open” button to open it in AutoCAD.
Tip: If you frequently work with files from multiple versions of AutoCAD, consider changing your default file type filter to display all file types.
Method 2: Converting a Previous Version File
1. If you have an older version of AutoCAD installed on your computer, launch that version. Once opened, navigate to “File” > “Save As” or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S.
3. In the “Save Drawing As” dialog box that appears, choose a location to save your converted file and provide a name for it. 4.
From the “Save as type” dropdown menu, select an appropriate format based on your needs and compatibility requirements (e.g., DWG for 2D drawings or DXF for drawing exchange). Click on the “Save” button to convert and save the file in the selected format. 6. You can now open the converted file in the latest version of AutoCAD using Method 1.
Method 3: Using Autodesk Viewer
1. If you don’t have access to an older version of AutoCAD, you can use Autodesk Viewer to open previous version files without installing any software. Open a web browser and navigate to the Autodesk Viewer website (viewer.autodesk.com).
Click on the “Upload” button and select the file you want to open. Once uploaded, Autodesk Viewer will display your drawing in a web-based environment, allowing you to view, measure, and annotate it. Although you won’t be able to edit or modify the drawing directly in Autodesk Viewer, this method is useful for quickly accessing and sharing previous version files.
- Summary: Opening a previous version of AutoCAD is essential for working with files created using older versions of the software.
- Method 1: Use the “Open” command in AutoCAD and change the file type filter to display all files.
- Method 2: Convert a previous version file by opening it in an older version of AutoCAD and saving it in a compatible format.
- Method 3: Utilize Autodesk Viewer to access and view previous version files without installing any software.
Note:
Remember that while these methods allow you to open previous versions of AutoCAD, compatibility issues may arise due to differences in features and functionality between different versions. It’s always recommended to save your work in a format compatible with your intended audience or consult with colleagues or clients regarding their preferred file formats.
So whether you’re collaborating on an older project or simply need to access files from a previous version, these methods will help you open and work with them in AutoCAD. Happy designing!