How to edit a .dwg file without opening AutoCAD

[Anonymous]

Hello All,

Is there a way to edit a .dwg file (specifically I want to gather entities based on their layer and then change them to a different layer) without opening the AutoCAD?

I guess I'm looking for some sort of way to open the file without all the graphics. I just want to access and edit the data.

I have a large amount of files that need to be processed and it would just take forever. I was hoping there was some way to open the drawing in the background for the program to work with.

[arcticad · Accepted solution]

You can open the drawing as a side database, (Autocad needs to be running, No Additional Cost).

Or you can use RealDWG to open it (Without Autocad Running, Cost Money)

[Anonymous]

I think this is not possible to edit a .dwg file without opening AutoCAD

[Anonymous]

Thank you articad. I searched how to open a .dwg as a side database and I found an article on through the interface that gives some good examples. Here it is in case anyone else runs across this topic.

http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2007/07/accessing-dwg-f.html

[dgorsman]

There is also the core console for simple GUI-less operations.

[arcticad]

http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2012/02/the-autocad-2013-core-console...

http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2012/03/commands-that-work-in-the-aut...

[27925916]

hi,have you completed reading data from dwg without openning cad? I am also working on it recently.

[Anonymous]

Its not working in Autocad 2017. Anyone have solved it for the new Autocad?

Its error : 
Error BC31091 Import of type 'IDynamicMetaObjectProvider' from assembly or module 'System.Core.dll' failed. PLTUL2 E:\Documents\Dropbox\Public\VB.Net\PLTUL\PLTUL2\Class1.vb 831 Active

[Anonymous]

Autocad has a built in feature called core console, you can use it with windows batch filing scripts to modify many files without opening them https://github.com/albisserAdrian/acadCC