Opening CGM Files

The CGM file type is primarily associated with AutoCAD.

CGM	File extension: CGM
	File type:	2D image

What is a CGM file

CGM files mostly belong to AutoCAD by Autodesk. CGM is the filename extension of 2D vector image files saved in Computer Graphics Metafile format. These CGM files can also include text data and raster graphics written in text source files that are later compiled to a binary format. CGM format supports various data types and images saved in this format can be encoded using clear-text, character-based, and binary encoding. Nowadays, it is mainly used to store CAD drawings in aviation, engineering, and technical applications. Programs such as TubroCAD, PaintShop, Creo, Illustrator, Irfanview, ArcGIS, and XnView support CGM file format. CGM is also the filename extension of the player's progress file created by Heroes of Might and Magic III turn-based strategy computer game.

How do you open CGM files?

You need a suitable software like AutoCAD to open a CGM file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your CGM file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a CGM file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online CGM File Viewer

Choose your .cgm file to view

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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How do you convert CGM files to SVG, PDF, JPG, PNG, ...

If you want to convert or edit a CGM file, you can use our free Online CGM File Converter (powered by Convert.Guru):

Just click the "Choose your .cgm file to view" button on this page.
Your CGM file will then be displayed in the browser.
Now click on "Save as..." at the top of the page.
Then choose the image format (e.g. SVG, PDF, JPG, PNG, ...) you want.
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert CGM files:

AutoCAD by Autodesk
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. CGM files are often referred to as AutoCAD vector images because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
CAD file by CST CAD Navigator
Enables to open and convert different 2D/3D files, get their dimensions and create section views. The software is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
CATIA (2D drawing) by Dassault Systemes
CATIA is a computer-aided 2D/3D product design and computer-aided engineering software with a comprehensive product lifecycle management system. It may be used to import or create drawings stored in CGM format. This file format is classified as Vector Image.
CorelDRAW (image) by Corel
CorelDRAW is a vector graphics editor used to create low/high-resolution graphics designs suitable for web, desktop, and print. CorelDRAW is distributed as part of the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite and it supports CGM file format. This file format is classified as Vector Image. Related links: XnView, PaintShop
Heroes of Might & Magic III (player progress) by Ubisoft
Heroes of Might and Magic III is a turn-based strategy video game for PC, mobile, and console platforms. The game saves a player's progress in a CGM file. This file format is classified as Game.
IsoDraw (2D drawing) by PTC
Arbortext IsoDraw is a 2D drawing software that is optimized for creating 2D drawings and models of mechanical, plumbing, and industrial systems. Drawings created with Arbortext IsoDraw may be stored in CGM format. This file format is classified as Vector Image.
MicroStation (drawing) by Bentley
MicroStation is a computer-aided design, modeling, and documentation software for creating rich 2D and 3D designs for infrastructure projects. It can save and import drawings in CGM format. This file format is classified as Vector Image.
NCAR GKS (image) by University Corporation for Athmospheric Research
NCAR GKS is a software package used to visualize graphics in scientific fields. The package is written in C and Fortran programming languages. CGM is one of its supported file formats for storing and visualizing graphics. This file format is classified as Vector Image.
NX (2D drawing) by Siemens
NX (previously known as Unigraphics) is a CAD, CAM, and CAE software suitable for parametric, solid, and surface modeling. It also provides tools for electro-magnetic, static, dynamic, and fluid-dynamics models. Vector-based drawings created with NX may be saved in CGM format. This file format is classified as Vector Image. Related links: WebCGM Profile
Vizex Reader (image) by Larson
Vizex Reader is a computer software for viewing 2D drawings stored in CGM and TIFF format. It supports the ISO binary and clear text CGM format as well as industry-specific profiles such as WebCGM and Seismic+. This file format is classified as Vector Image. Related links: ISO/IEC 8632 Standards Download, Computer Graphics Metafile

CGM file format details:

If you know the file format, you can also find out how to open or edit the file. The first characters in a file identify the file format, for example, HTML files start with the bytes <html>. If the file extension or signature does not match the file format, errors will occur when opening or editing the file. If there are problems opening a file, you must first determine the file format used. Our evaluation of the CGM files is as follows:

The CGM file extension is very common and is used by different programs with different formats. The following file formats are most commonly found in CGM files:

45% of all CGM files are Computer Graphics Metafile files. The contents of these files cannot be read by a human; only a computer program can interpret the data. The files are often between 11 KB and 1 MB in size. The file type was developed 20 years ago and is still in use today. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. ProfileId, ColourClass, Source and ProfileEd. These files are often associated with aaaa, ildsaaaaaaaaaa, assy, insaaaaaaaaaaa, sheet, correlation, logo and drawing.
6% of all CGM files have the same signature 00 32 11. The content consists of illegible binary data, which can only be read and interpreted by the associated programs. The files are 82 KB to 4 MB in size, with a median of 620 KB. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. HELVETICA, 3D PLM CGM Driver, COURIER, COURIER_BOLD, COURIER_BOLD_ITALIC, COURIER_ITALIC, HELVETICA_BOLD, HELVETICA_BOLD_OBLIQUE, HELVETICA_OBLIQUE, TIMES_ROMAN, TIMES_BOLD and TIMES_ITALIC.

All other CGM files (49%) have no consistent format, often e.g. JFIF, HTML, Generated and NCAR. These files are often connected to afpub, plot, sample, depth, capa or nthk. If you want to find out which format your CGM file belongs to, just click on the button "Choose your .cgm file to view".

Technical Data for CGM File Extension

File classification:

Vector Image

Related files:

cmg, webwismgr, cgn, dg, svg, url, gm1, gcm, dwg, pdf, ps, zip, cg, gz, png, h5, jks, jpg, fig, dwf, cad, svs

Mime type:

image/cgm

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.11, FileType: CorelDRAW 11.0 Graphic, AppName: CorelDRAW(R)
EXEFile: coreldrw.exe

ProgramID: PaintShopPro8.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro 8
EXEFile: Paint Shop Pro.exe

ProgramID: PHOTOFINISH_IMAGE.Document, FileType: PhotoFinish Image Document, AppName: PhotoFinish® 4

ProgramID: PSP.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro Windows 32 bit Executable

ProgramID: PSP5.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro 5 Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro 5 Release Executable
EXEFile: PSP.EXE

ProgramID: PSP7.Image, FileType: Paint Shop Pro 7 Image, AppName: Paint Shop Pro 7
EXEFile: psp.exe

ProgramID: ACDSee.cgm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ACD Systems\ACDSee\5.0\ACDSee5.exe %1

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.11
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\corel\corel graphics 11\programs\coreldrw.exe %1

ProgramID: PaintShopPro8.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 8\Paint Shop Pro.exe /dde

ProgramID: PaintShopPro9.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 9\Paint Shop Pro 9.exe /dde

ProgramID: PHOTOFINISH_IMAGE.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Softkey\PHOTOF~1\PFINISH.EXE %1

ProgramID: PSP.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PAINTS~1\PSP.EXE /dde

ProgramID: PSP5.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PAINTS~1.01\Psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: PSP5.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PAINTS~1\psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: PSP5.Image
EXEFile: F:\PAINT~14\Psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: PSP7.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Jasc Software Inc\Paint Shop Pro 7\psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: PSP7.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Paint Shop Pro 7\psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: WinPress
EXEFile: C:\arcgis\arcexe9x\bin\WinPress.exe %1

ProgramID: View Station Document
EXEFile: C:\View\Station\Image.exe %1

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.9
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\Graphics9\Programs\coreldrw.exe -DDE

ProgramID: PSP6.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PAINTS~1\psp.exe /dde

ProgramID: Adobe.Illustrator.cgm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Illustrator CS\Support Files\Contents\Windows\Illustrator.exe %1

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.10
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\corel\graphics10\programs\coreldrw.exe %1

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.8
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\programs\coreldrw.exe -DDE

ProgramID: PHOTOFINISH_IMAGE.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\CREATI~1\PHOTOF~1\PFINISH.EXE %1

ProgramID: WinPress
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ArcGIS\arcexe9x\bin\WinPress.exe %1

ProgramID: PaintShopProX.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\Corel Paint Shop Pro X\Paint Shop Pro X.exe

ProgramID: CorelDRAW ESSENTIALS.Graphic.11.2
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\PROGRAMS\CORELDRW.EXE -DDE

ProgramID: ImageView.Document.cgm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\EAI\VISPRO~1\Products\VISVIE~1\VisView.exe

ProgramID: PaintShopProPhotoXI.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo XI\Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo.exe

ProgramID: SnapfireI.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\Corel Snapfire Plus\Corel Snapfire.exe

ProgramID: MyViewPad.cgm
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\My ViewPad\MyViewPad.exe

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.8
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\corel\Programs\coreldrw.exe -DDE

Show all 33 listings To Top

a cgm 2D image is a special file format by Autodesk and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with CGM files

Associate the CGM file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open 2d images. Because only the current version supports the latest CGM file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Autodesk manufacturer website after an available AutoCAD update.
To make sure that your CGM file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .CGM file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.