Why convert DWG to DXF?

DWG is the native binary format of AutoCAD. It’s powerful, but proprietary. When you need to share drawings with partners who use SolidWorks, BricsCAD, FreeCAD, LibreCAD, or any non-Autodesk CAD tool, the proprietary DWG container becomes a bottleneck. DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) was designed specifically to solve this: it’s an open, documented interchange format that virtually every CAD program can read and write.

Common real-world scenarios where DWG → DXF conversion is essential:

• Cross-platform collaboration with partners who use SolidWorks, BricsCAD, FreeCAD, or other non-Autodesk CAD tools.
• CNC and laser cutter pipelines that accept only DXF input.
• Archival and compliance requirements where an open format avoids vendor lock-in.
• Automated production workflows where DWG files must be converted before entering a review or manufacturing system.

If you’re converting one or two files, an online tool might do. But when the job involves hundreds of drawings on a recurring basis, you need batch automation that runs offline, keeps your intellectual property on your hardware, and doesn’t require an expensive AutoCAD seat.

That’s where reaConverter comes in.

DWG vs DXF — quick reference

What you’ll need

• reaConverter Standard edition is enough for GUI batch conversion. For Watch Folders and command-line automation, you’ll need Pro. See the DWG to DXF conversion page for a quick overview of what’s supported.
• Your .dwg files. reaConverter supports all AutoCAD versions from R12 through the latest releases.
• No AutoCAD installation is required at any point.

Method 1 — Batch conversion in the GUI

This is the fastest way to convert a folder of DWG files interactively.

Step 1. Add your DWG files

Launch reaConverter and load your drawings. You can:

• Drag-and-drop files or entire folders from Windows Explorer.
• Use the Add Files or Add Folder buttons on the toolbar.
• Right-click DWG files in Explorer and choose Convert with reaConverter from the context menu.

reaConverter reads DWG natively, no CAD software needed. The file list shows previews, page count, and size for every drawing.

Step 2. (Optional) Configure DWG loading settings

Before converting, you can fine-tune how drawings are read:

• Layout selection: convert Model Space only, all Paper Spaces, or all layouts. Look for the DXF/DWG/DGN loading settings in the Settings panel on the left side of the main window.
• Grayscale: render the drawing in grayscale if color is not needed downstream.
• Layer extraction: split each layer into a separate output file.

These settings are especially useful when your DWG files contain multiple layouts and you only need the Model Space geometry.

Step 3. Choose DXF as the output format

In the bottom panel, set Save as → DXF. Click the gear icon next to DXF to open format-specific settings:

• DXF version: choose from AutoCAD 12, 13, 14, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010, or 2013. If unsure, AutoCAD 2000 offers the best balance of compatibility and feature support.
• Units: millimeters or inches.
• Text handling: save as text or convert to polygons (useful when downstream tools have font substitution problems).
• Splines: enable or disable spline output.

Step 4. Set the destination folder

Choose where converted DXF files should be saved. You can keep the same folder structure as the source, save everything to a flat folder, or use reaConverter’s subfolder naming options.

Step 5. Click Convert

Hit Convert and reaConverter processes every file in the queue. The conversion log shows the status of each drawing. When done, click Show converted files to jump straight to the output folder.

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Method 2 — Watch Folders (fully automated, zero clicks)

Watch Folders turn any Windows directory into a self-converting hot folder. Drop a DWG file in → a DXF file appears in the output directory. No interaction needed.

This is the ideal setup for:

• Engineering offices where designers save DWG files to a shared network folder and downstream teams need DXF.
• CNC / fabrication pipelines where an operator drops files for cutting.
• Any recurring workflow where manual conversion is a bottleneck.

How to set it up

1. Open reaConverter and go to Menu → Watch Folders → Add new folder…
2. Set the Source folder — this is the directory reaConverter will monitor, for example C:\CAD\DWG_inbox\.
3. Set the Output folder — for example C:\CAD\DXF_ready\.
4. Choose DXF as the output format and configure version, units, and other settings as described in Method 1.
5. Click Start Watching.

From now on, every DWG file that lands in the source folder will be automatically converted to DXF and placed in the output folder. It doesn’t matter how the file got there: copied manually, saved by a CAD tool, or synced from the network.

reaConverter keeps running in the background and can monitor multiple folder pairs simultaneously.

Tip: Use “Subfolder of source folder” output option combined with “Read subfolders” to maintain your directory structure while keeping originals separate from converted files.

For a detailed walkthrough, see the dedicated guide: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to reaConverter’s Watch Folders.

Method 3 — Command-line conversion

reaConverter Pro includes cons_rcp.exe, a full-featured command-line tool. It accepts the same parameters as the GUI and can be called from batch scripts, CI/CD pipelines, PowerShell, or Task Scheduler.

Basic single-file conversion

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\Drawings\floorplan.dwg" -o "C:\Output\floorplan.dxf"

Batch convert an entire folder

cons_rcp.exe -source_folder "C:\Drawings\" -source_ext dwg -dest_path "C:\Output\" -dest_ext dxf

This converts every .dwg file in the source folder and saves each one as .dxf in the output folder.

With subfolders

cons_rcp.exe -source_folder "C:\Drawings\" -source_ext dwg -dest_path "C:\Output\" -dest_ext dxf -read_subfolders 1

Set the output DXF version

Use -dxf_version to target a specific AutoCAD version:

Convert to AutoCAD 2000 DXF format:

cons_rcp.exe -source_folder "C:\Drawings\" -source_ext dwg -dest_path "C:\Output\" -dest_ext dxf -dxf_version 4

Control layout output

Use -dxf_dwg_layout to specify which layout to convert:

Export only Model Space:

cons_rcp.exe -source_folder "C:\Drawings\" -source_ext dwg -dest_path "C:\Output\" -dest_ext dxf -dxf_dwg_layout 1

Additional useful parameters

• -dxf_text 1 — preserve text as editable text (use 0 to convert text to polygons).
• -dxf_spline 1 — include splines in the output DXF.
• -dxf_units 1 — set output DXF units to millimeters (2 for inches).
• -dxf_dwg_gray 1 — convert the drawing to grayscale.
• -dxf_dwg_extract_layers 1 — extract each layer as a separate DXF file.
• -overwrite 1 — overwrite existing files instead of skipping them.
• /hide — run silently (no console window), ideal for scheduled tasks.

Full production example

Convert all DWG files (including subfolders) to AutoCAD 2000 DXF, Model Space only, with splines, millimeters as units, and overwrite existing output:

cons_rcp.exe -source_folder "D:\Projects\2026\CAD\" -source_ext dwg -dest_path "D:\Projects\2026\DXF\" -dest_ext dxf -read_subfolders 1 -dxf_version 4 -dxf_dwg_layout 1 -dxf_spline 1 -dxf_units 1 -dxf_text 1 -overwrite 1

Automate with Windows Task Scheduler

Save the command above as a .bat file and schedule it to run nightly, weekly, or at any interval. Add /hide to suppress the console window. Use > log.txt to capture the conversion log:

cons_rcp.exe -source_folder "D:\Projects\2026\CAD\" -source_ext dwg -dest_path "D:\Projects\2026\DXF\" -dest_ext dxf -dxf_version 4 /hide > "D:\Logs\dwg_to_dxf_log.txt"

For the full CLI reference, see: Command-line Interface for Developers.

Troubleshooting

Layers missing after conversion? Check the layout setting. If you’re exporting only Model Space (-dxf_dwg_layout 1) but your geometry lives in a Paper Space layout, switch to All Layouts (0) or All Paper Spaces (2).

Text looks wrong or is replaced by boxes? The target system may not have the fonts used in the DWG. Two options: set -dxf_text 0 to convert text to polygons (preserves appearance but loses editability), or install matching SHX / TTF fonts on the receiving machine.

File size significantly larger than original? This is expected. DXF (especially ASCII DXF) is less compact than binary DWG. If size matters, check whether your downstream tool accepts binary DXF. reaConverter outputs ASCII DXF by default for maximum compatibility.

Which reaConverter edition do I need?

Conclusion

Converting DWG files to DXF doesn’t require AutoCAD, doesn’t require uploading your proprietary drawings to the cloud, and doesn’t have to be a manual file-by-file task. reaConverter handles the job in three ways: GUI batch, Watch Folders, and command line. Whether you need a one-off conversion or a fully automated 24/7 pipeline, you’re covered.

For engineering firms, architecture studios, fabrication shops, and anyone working with CAD drawings at scale, this is the workflow that eliminates the bottleneck. Already know what you need? Head straight to the DWG to DXF converter page to download or try online.

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Ready to automate your DWG → DXF workflow? Grab the free trial and convert your first batch in under a minute.

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reaConverter is one of the most powerful converter of image formats, supporting over 640 extensions. One of its main advantages is that it allows you to work with large groups of files at once, which is ideal for photographers, designers, webpage creators and other professional image handlers. But it can also work great for amateurs!

To avoid the hassle of selecting images one by one when you have to edit a large number of them, reaConverter now lets you select them automatically using file size and/or extension as criteria. The option is not only available on the software’s GUI interface, in the Advanced file select section, but it can also be operated via command-line interface.

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This is particularly useful for developers and advanced users who want to include reaConverter’s effective conversion features as part of a customized software solution.

The code lines that can be used for automatically selecting image files according to their size are:

-file_size_more = minimum file size in Kb or Mb to be converted (example: -file_size_more 10Kb or -file_size_more 1Mb)
-file_size_less = maximum file size in Kb or Mb to be converted (example: -file_size_less 10Kb or -file_size_less 1Mb)

For example, if you want to convert into JPEG all files that have the BMP extension and are larger than 1 Mb from a folder, here is what you need to write:

cons_rcp.exe -source_folder "C:\Path_to\input_folder\" -source_ext bmp -file_size_more 1Mb -dest_path "C:\Path_to\output_folder\" -dest_ext jpg

Video Tutorial

If you are a software developer who is trying to design a program that, among others, can deliver PDF conversion, reaConverter Pro is just what you need. Through its advanced feature that allows it to be operated through the command-line interface, reaConverter will easily integrate into the custom solution that meets the needs of your program’s client.

Command-line

reaConverter Pro is designed precisely for developers, professional image designers and other types of advanced users. Apart from its GUI interface, this software can be operated through command-line. Or in other words, it can receive commands written as text lines, which dictate it to undertake specific operations. This feature is mainly intended for programming, so it was developed for robots, not for humans. Compared to a GUI (graphical user) interface, where you mainly operate your computer using the mouse, the command-line is more difficult to use, because it requires users to have thorough knowledge of how to send commands to command prompt. However, this feature is a lot more effective when you need to do a complex set of tasks related, for example, with processing a large number of images. Or with converting PDFs.

PDF

The PDF or Portable Document Format is considered to be one of the “safest” and most convenient formats for multi-page text documents. However, it has the disadvantage of needing a special application or a plug-in installed on your digital device, which might not always be easy to find and might take long loading times. With reaConverter, transforming your PDFs into more accessible image formats such as JPEG, PNG or TIFF — can quickly become part of a custom programming solution used by developers. For users who have to deal with reoccurring conversions of PDFs, with documents stored on several computers or with including a series of image editing operations as part of the conversion process, reaConverter can be part of an effective custom solution.

Install reaConverter Pro

Using reaConvert through command-line will increase the speed of handling the conversion of your PDFs, generating an increase in your productivity and the chance to handle your files more securely, with less errors and less computer resources used.

Through its command-line tool, cons_rcp.exe, reaConverter facilitates the processing of over 550 files formats, including conversion from and into PDF.

How does it work?

The tool can be used directly from the command-prompt, Windows batch command files or through third party applications, you use can settings from reaConverter’s .cgf (configuration) and .act (action) files.

Here is a basic usage example. To convert one PDF file to .jpg run from cmd:

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\Path_to\source_file.pdf" -o "C:\Path_to\output_file.jpg"

That’s all!

reaConverter will take source_file.pdf and convert it into output_file.jpg.

In the former type of files you can set the output format or what you wish your PDF file to be converted in, and in the latter you can set the specific processes you want to apply to your files. For a complete guide to using command-line in order to integrate reaConverter Pro as part of your custom solution, as well as a full list of required and optional parameters you can check Command Line Interface Reference Guide

RAW image conversion represents a key feature used by professional photographers, graphic artists, web designers and other types of advanced image editors. In case you are a developer who designs a program addressed to these users and which can deliver RAW conversion, together with a wide array of image editing options, reaConverter Pro is just what you need! Why? Because, as opposed to many other converters, reaConverter Pro not only supports a GUI interface, but can also be operated through command-line. Which means it can help you integrate a large variety of image conversions — including from the RAW format — in your very own custom solution.

RAW image files, also known as digital negatives, store image details with a high degree of accuracy. Most professional photographers prefer to set their cameras in the RAW shooting mode because this means the lens will capture images that are as close as they can get to what you can see with your naked one. Moreover, RAW image files are preferred by professionals because they allow a wide range of computer processing. In other words, they provide more control for the photographer on aspects such as contrast and saturation, applying color filters and correcting the white balance.

However, in addition to all these advantages, RAW images also have an important drawback: they tend to be huge! One RAW file can get up to 6 times larger than a JPEG, which means RAWs are more difficult to send by e-mail and they take a lot of space on your computer. In addition, they are not compatible with most regular image viewers and can often be opened and edited only using an advanced graphics editing program, such as Corel Draw or Adobe Photoshop.

reaConverter Pro provides a quick and easy way to convert RAW images and apply a wide-ranging set of image editing options, which you can include in your own integrated solution. A program of this kind will help its user automate the reoccurring operations related to handling their RAW files, thus spending less time repeating the same operations, and generally increasing productivity and being more effective.

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How does it work?

Through reaConverter’s command-line tool, cons_rcp.exe. Over 500 image formats can be processed and converted through this tool, including digital camera RAW images. The tool can be accessed directly from the command-line interface.

The tool allows you to set the output format of the RAW file — several accessible formats are available, such as JPG, PNG or TIF.

To convert one CR2 raw file run from cmd:

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\Path_to\input_file.cr2" -o "C:\Path_to\output_file.jpg"

You can use config.cfg and action .act files for batch raw conversion and editing:

cons_rcp.exe "C:\Path_to\cfg_file.cfg" "C:\Path_to\act_file.act" -f source_file1 source_file2 source_file3

Configuration (.cfg) and action (.act) files are useful to automate the image conversion and editing process, especially when dealing with large numbers of images.

Configuration files contain details about the output extension of the converted images and the destination folder, as well as other additional features, such as RAW Formats Loading Settings, file name modifications or other conversion options.

Action files include the actual editing actions that will be applied to images, such as resizing, cropping, rotating, adjusting white balance, watermarking, etc.

The .cfg and .act files can be created using any text editor, but it is easier to create them using directly reaConverter.

Any parameter from .cfg or .act file can be specified in a command line, for example

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\Path_to\input_file.cr2" -o "C:\Path_to\output_file.jpg" -resize 50x50% qh 1 -jpg_quality 100

You can specify the exact processes you want to apply to your files, involving image editing. A complete set of instructions on how to use reaConverter Pro to integrate RAW command-line image conversion in your own custom solution, including a list of parameters, is available in our (CLI) Command Line Interface Reference Guide.

You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

Are you designing a program targeting people who work in architecture, construction engineering or design? If so, you probably want to add DWG conversion as one of its useful features. DWG (“Drawing”) is one of the most helpful and popular formats in handling computer-aided design or drafting (CAD).

However, though preferred by many for its ability to edit and optimize 3D design data and metadata, DWG files also have a few drawbacks. Firstly, in order to open them you need to have AutoCAD or IntelliCAD installed, and using these programs requires not only a powerful computer, but also special training. Secondly, DWG files tend to have very large sizes and require long loading times. For all these reasons, most people who work with DWGs prefer to be able to convert them into PDFs, because thus it becomes much easier to store, open and e-mail them.

If you are a developer who wants to integrate DWG conversion into a customized solution, reaConverter Pro is precisely what you need. This easy-to-install software which can be downloaded at reaconverter.com and has a 15-day free trial period.

Install reaConverter

reaConverter can be operated both through a GUI interface and through command-line. In order words, you can work with reaConverter not only by issuing command through graphic interface, but also by writing “command lines”. The latter option is particularly useful when you want to include DWG conversion as a feature in the software you are designing. Command-line is an effective way to automate reoccurring conversion operations and generally simplify the way users handle image manipulation. It also increases the operation speed, thus saving time and energy, and decreases the possibility of errors.

reaConverter Pro supports conversion and image editing through command-line for over 500 image file formats, including DWG.

How does it work?

Directly from the command-line, through command (batch) files or through third party applications.
In each case, you can use reaConverter’s command-line tool, cons_rcp.exe, which allows you run conversion with configuration (.cfg) and action (.act) files.

Here is the simple usage of cons_rcp.exe:

cons_rcp.exe -s source_file -o output_file [cfg_file.cfg] [act_file.act]

In the config files, you can set the output format of the converted file, as well as where you want to save it on your computer, under what name, and using what kind of conversion options. In the action type of files, you can define the exact image editing actions you want to apply to the images. You can read more about config and action files here: reaconverter.com/features/config-and-action-files.html

Detailed information about how to use command-line for converting DWG files, together with a list of required and optional parameters for doing conversions through command-line, is available at reaconverter.com/features/command-line.html

Moreover, if you encounter any difficulties integrating DWG conversion in your customized software, reaConverter also offers hight quality technical support.

If you want to make sure your copyrights are protected and no one will use the images you create without explicit permission, watermarking your images is the best solution. But this implies editing each image so that it includes a personalized text or image which appears transparently, with customizable size and position. Many people might find that to be a complicated task, involving a series of repetitive operations.

However, we are convinced watermarking your images shouldn’t be a difficult, time-consuming or costly process. And for this reason we recommend using ReaConverter Pro for adding watermarks, especially in case you are a developer or an advanced user who would like to integrate this feature in his own customized solution. As opposed to many other converters, reaConverter Pro not only supports a GUI interface, but can also be operated through command-line or Watch folder. Which means it can help you integrate a large variety of image editing features in your very own custom solution.

How can you watermark a series of images using command line? Just follow these easy steps:

Create action file

Create a file with the .act (action) extension, which includes the Watermark action. How? Start the conversion process normally, by opening reaConverter and moving directly to the Edit images tab. Click + add action button and choose Watermark from the dropdown menu. After you pick the type of watermark you intend to use (image or text) and its features, use Save action file as… What will result is the .act file you will need in order to process this feature through command-line. Make sure you remember where you saved it.

Run CMD

Open the cmd tool or a third party application that enables you to use it. Here you can issue commands written as text lines. Though more difficult to use than the GUI (graphical user) interface – because it requires more knowledge about how to write command lines and thus it is addressed mainly to developers and advanced users, command line is very effective when a complex set of tasks is involved, such as watermarking a large number of images.

Start cons_rcp.exe

Use reaConverter’s command-line tool, cons_rcp.exe, to process over 500 images file formats, including PDF, JPG, TIFF and many others. Make full use of the .act file you have created and include Watermarking in your own customized software solution.

Example

Here is the example on how to apply watermark with text on your images:

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\Path_to\input_file.jpg" -o "C:\Path_to\output_file.jpg" -text_watermark t"Text Watermark Here" pos50x50% op100 fn"Arial" fs24 b


Watermarking with image:

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\Path_to\input_file.jpg" -o "C:\Path_to\output_file.jpg" -image_watermark p"C:\Path_to\watermark.png" pos10x10% op50 rot90 mt


Dynamic watermarks:

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\Path_to\input_file.jpg" -o "C:\Path_to\output_file.jpg" -text_watermark datetime pos50x50% op100 fn"Arial" fs24 b


You can also watermark images with primitive drawings:

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\Path_to\input_file.jpg" -o "C:\Path_to\output_file.jpg" -line pos50x50 size100x100 rgb(66,137,212) p2 aa


For a complete guide on how to use command-line in order to integrate reaConverter’s features in your own developing project, you can read Command Line Interface Reference Guide

The TIF (Tagged Image File) format is often preferred by photographers because of the image quality it provides, as well as its compression features and availability for editing. TIFs provide high colour-depth images and smaller processing times than, for example, EPS or AI files. Apart from photography, the TIF format is also used in the professional printing or publishing industry and in graphic art.

As opposed to JPEGs, which provide a “lossy compression” of the image, TIF files can ensure a “lossless” compression, thus retaining all the image details with increased accuracy. This, however, also means that uncompressed TIF files tend to get very large and are more difficult to store or share.

With its equal range of both advantages and disadvantages, the TIF format is preferred by some and avoided by others. If you are a developer who plans to create an integrated solution that offers its users the possibility to convert image files both to and from the TIF format, here are 3 essential tips:

1. Choose a professional converter which can be easily incorporated in the custom solution you plan to design. reaConverter Pro is a great option, because apart from its GUI interface, it can also be operated through the command-line interface. This means that you can run it both directly, by issuing command through mouse clicks, or indirectly, by writing ”command lines” which dictate the program what operations to undertake. The first option might seem easier at first glance, but it is less effective when you plan to do advanced programming. In fact, reaConverter Pro is precisely addressed to developers and professional image designers, and it can be tried for free at reaconverter.com

 

2. Use reaConverter Pro to automate a series of routine and/or reoccurring operations connected to how your software handles conversions to and from the TIF format. Thus, you will be able to increase your productivity, spend less time doing tedious operations over and over again, as well as avoid errors and generally work more effectively.

 

3. Use the program’s command-line tool, cons_rcp.exe, to integrate the conversion of TIFs in and from a large variety of formats, including JPG, PNG, PDF and many others — in your custom programming solution. The tool can be used through third party applications via command-line interface. By using it, you can also define the variety of image editing actions to apply to your files. Depending on what you plan to do with your TIF files, reaConverter lets you choose between 2 kinds of CCIT compression: Group 3 compression and Group 4 compression. A comprehensive command-line interface manual is available at this address: http://www.reaconverter.com/features/command-line.html

Example of command-line conversion:

Here is a quick tutorial of how you can find it and how you can start using the command-line feature.

To convert TIF file into JPG try:

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\source_file.tif" -o "C:\output_file.jpg" -jpg_quality 100%

Batch TIF to JPG conversion from one folder to another:

cons_rcp.exe -source_folder "C:\source_folder\" -source_ext tif -dest_path "C:\output_folder\" -dest_ext jpg

Command-line tiff conversion tool is an advanced feature meant for professional use, and is available in Pro edition only.

• (CLI) Command Line Interface Reference Guide

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