Problem transferring to new AutoCAD

[ryanbunch3482]

I recently began work in a tire shop. Within the tire shop is a die shop that creates the dies for the tire treads and sidewalls. All of these dies are created using AutoCAD 2002. The reason for this being that this specific computer with AutoCAD 2002 has specialized premade drawings built in to the AutoCAD code (As in there is a drop down window where you can choose which die you need). I am needing to find a way to take these premade drawings from the old AutoCAD and transfer them to a newer version. Is there a possible way for this to happen?

[cadffm]

OPEN the files like other new files,

should work.

[rkmcswain]

In general, any NEWer version of AutoCAD can open, edit, and save a DWG made in any OLDer version.

Doing this backwards generally only works if the older version uses the same DWG format.

Re: https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/AutoCAD-drawing-fi...

[paullimapa]

if the drop down window where these dwg parts are selected come from an addin app then you’ll have to find out if that addin can be loaded in current version of autocad

[jayhar · Accepted solution]

Yes, it is possible to transfer the premade drawings from AutoCAD 2002 to a newer version of AutoCAD. Here are a few methods you can try:

1. Save the drawings in a compatible format: In AutoCAD 2002, save the premade drawings in a format that is compatible with the newer version of AutoCAD. You can try saving them as DWG or DXF files, which are widely supported across different versions of AutoCAD.

2. Export as a drawing template (DWT) file: If the premade drawings contain specific settings, layers, or other attributes that you want to preserve, you can export them as drawing template (DWT) files. Drawing templates act as a starting point for new drawings and can be used in different versions of AutoCAD.

3. Use the Autodesk TrueConvert tool: Autodesk provides a free tool called "TrueConvert" that allows you to convert DWG files from older versions to newer versions. You can download this tool from the Autodesk website and use it to convert your AutoCAD 2002 drawings to a more recent version.

4. Open and save in the newer version: Install the newer version of AutoCAD on your computer and simply open the AutoCAD 2002 drawings in the newer version. AutoCAD should automatically convert the drawings to the newer format. Once opened, you can save the drawings in the newer version's native format.

It's important to note that while these methods should help you transfer the premade drawings to a newer version of AutoCAD, there might be some compatibility issues or slight differences in the way certain features are handled between versions. Therefore, it's always a good idea to carefully review the converted drawings in the newer version and make any necessary adjustments or updates.

If you encounter any specific issues or errors during the conversion process, it's recommended to consult the Autodesk support documentation or contact their support team for further assistance.

[paullimapa]

FYI, there's no need to do any drawing conversion from the AutoCAD 2002 dwgs (which is actually 2000 format) to the current version (which is really 2018 format) because AutoCAD has always been able to with the latest version (automatically) convert older drawing formats at time of opening or inserting or referencing. But as I mentioned in my first reply, perhaps it's an Autolisp (.lsp) or .arx program, or customized menu add-on that provides the graphic window user interface on that older AutoCAD 2002 machine that assists in the drawing part placement. This is what really needs investigation to see if this add-on or plugin can be installed to work on the latest AutoCAD version.