All drawings created with AutoCAD:

1. are saved in named folders as a file

2. have a drive, folder name, file name and extension, e.g. C:\MYCAD\ACT1.dwg.

The file types used so far have had extensions:

1. .dwg

   1. the standard file format for saving vector graphics

   2. all AutoCAD drawings are saved with this extension.

2. .dwt

   1. a drawing template file

   2. has settings customised to user requirements

   3. any drawing can be saved as a template file.

3. .dws

   1. drawings standards file format

   2. is used to define common properties and to compare inconsistencies between drawings.

Other file formats are available with AutoCAD and several of these will now be investigated.

Backup files have the extension .bak.

They are:

1. automatically created by AutoCAD when an opened drawing is saved with the same file name

2. are stored in the current folder with the drawing files

3. can be renamed (and then opened) as drawing (.dwg) files.

To rename a backup file:

1. open Windows Explorer (or similar) and navigate to your named folder

2. view the displayed icons as a detailed list

3. arrange the icons by type

4. scroll until the .bak files are displayed similar to Figure 36.1(a)

   
   Figure 36.1: Renaming a backup file as a drawing file.

5. right-click any backup file name and:

   prompt	Shortcut menu
   respond	pick Rename
   prompt	text box placed around the selected file name
   respond	enter the required name, e.g. MYNEW1.dwg then
   and	file is renamed as Figure 36.1(b) preview of renamed file is displayed
   respond	a double left-click on the renamed...