BricsCAD Drawing File Format Compatibility

Quick answer: BricsCAD V26 opens and saves DWG versions back to R11/12, Binary DXF back to Release 10, and ASCII DXF back to Release 9, the full lists are below. You can check any DWG or DXF file’s internal version yourself by opening it in a plain text editor.

DWG File Versions

Binary DXF File Versions

ASCII DXF File Versions

ASCII DXF support reaches one release further back than DWG or Binary DXF, all the way to Release 9.

Opening vs Importing

• OPEN: loads a DWG or DXF file directly into a new document tab, the whole file.
• IMPORT: brings in just the geometry from an external DWG or DXF file into your current, already-open drawing, effectively an external insert rather than a full file open.

Checking a File’s Internal Version

DWG files are binary, but you can still open one in a plain text editor, like Notepad, and see its internal version code as the first six characters, for example AC1024. This is a genuinely useful way to check compatibility or figure out what you’re dealing with when a file arrives from an outside source with no other indication of its version.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the oldest DWG version BricsCAD V26 can open directly? DWG R11/12, internal version AC1009.

What’s the difference between opening and importing a DWG file? Opening loads the whole file into a new document tab. Importing brings only the geometry into your current, already-open drawing.

How do I check which internal version an unfamiliar DWG file is? Open it in a plain text editor like Notepad and look at the first six characters, that’s the internal version code, for example AC1024.

Is DXF version support the same as DWG version support? Almost, but not quite. ASCII DXF goes one release further back (Release 9) than DWG or Binary DXF support does.