There are a number of dominant CAD file formats but generally speaking in technical CAD circles the de facto industry format, for better or for worse, is Autocad's native DWG and the more open DXF file format. This format is proprietary to Autodesk, Autocad's maker, and therefore not a true, open industry format. Regardless, many Macintosh CAD and 3D applications can work with the DWG and DXF formats, performing both read and write functions.

Relevant Articles and Resources

• Q: How do I work with DWG files on the Mac?

• OpenDWG Alliance.org

• MacCAD Info: DXF Translation Tips from Architectronica

Related Tables

Most Macintosh CAD products (found in the tables listed below) utilize API libraries from the OpenDWG Alliance's reverse-engineering efforts or their own internally developed code to acquire various compatibility with Autocad. In addition to the tables you should direct specific questions about Autocad compatibility in our Architosh Forums.

• CAD: Multidisciplinary

• CAD: Architecture & Construction