All about DRW Files

The DRW file type is primarily associated with Creo.

DRW	File extension: DRW
	File type:	drawing

What is a DRW file

DRW files mostly belong to Creo by PTC. DRW is the filename extension of vector-based drawings created by various image manipulation and computer-aided design software. These files usually contain vector graphics made up of points, paths, and the drawing's document type declaration. Some programs that save vector-based drawings in DRAWING files include Micrografx Designer (later Corel DESIGNER), AppleWorks, and Inkscape. Pro/ENGINEER (now Creo) 2D/3D product design and drawing software saves 2D and 3D drawings in DRW files. 2D and 3D vector drawings created with Personal Designer CAD software can be opened with DraftView for Personal Designer. 2D drawings of mechanical parts created with ANVIL-1000MD technical drawing software are also saved in DRW files. Cadmatic building information management software uses DRW files to store drawings.

How to open a DRW file

You need a suitable software like Creo to open a DRW 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 DRW file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a DRW file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online DRW Text Viewer

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Programs that open and convert DRW files:

Creo by PTC
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. DRW files are often referred to as Creo cads because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
7-Zip (data) by Igor Pavlov
7-Zip is an archive file management program that supports most archive file formats. This program may be used to unpack the contents of DRW files saved in ZIP format. This file format is classified as Data.
CADMATIC (drawing) by CADMATIC
CADMATIC is a building information modeling software suite that provides a complete solution for building electrical design. Drawings used by CADMATIC are saved in DRW files. This file format is classified as CAD.
CorelDRAW (drawing) by Corel
CorelDRAW is a vector graphics editor for creating rich illustrations and designs for web, desktop, and print applications. Drawings created by earlier iterations of CorelDRAW (Micrografx Designer and Corel Designer) are saved in DRW files. This file format not compatible with modern versions of the program. This file format is classified as Vector Image.
DraftView for Personal Designer (drawing database) by Draftware
DraftView for Personal Designer is a program for viewing 2D and 3D files created by legacy/discontinued CAD/CAM software such as Personal Designer. DRW files created by Personal Designer contain databases of 3D vector-based drawings stored in binary format. This file format can be viewed with DraftView for Personal Designer. This file format is classified as CAD.
Freelance Graphics (drawing) by IBM
Freelance Graphics was a drawing and information presentation software for classic DOS and OS/2 platforms. The program saved vector-based drawings and charts in DRW files. This file format is classified as Vector Image.
MacDraw (drawing) by Apple
MacDraw is a vector graphics editor for classic versions of Macintosh operating systems. The program was mainly used to draw technical diagrams such as floor plans. Drawings created with MacDraw were saved in DRW files. This file format is classified as Vector Image.
SKM PTW (one line electrical drawing) by SKM
SKM PTW is an industrial, commercial, and residential power systems design and analysis software. One line electrical drawings created with this program are stored in DRW files. This file format is classified as CAD.

DRW format details:

To find out what program is needed to open DRW files, you need to determine the file format. The file format can be determined based on the file extension and the signature (the first few characters of a file). 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 DRW files looks like this:

DRW is a very widely used file extension. The file type includes different formats for different programs. The two most common formats are as follows:

30% of all DRW files belong to Micrografx Designer Drawing. They consist of unreadable binary data. The file size is in the range of 3 KB to 740 KB. The file type was primarily used more than 20 years ago. The following keywords are characteristic: Windows Draw Drawing. Files like these are sometimes connected to partyhits, achter and anlnca.
10% of all DRW files belong to Pro/ENGINEER drawing. These files are binary files, so they do not contain text, but only cryptic characters. DRW files can be up to 13 MB in size, but are often around 85 KB - 2 MB. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. - VERS 0 0 , #UGC:2 DRAWING, #- HOST and - HOST . Files like these are sometimes connected to assy.

The remaining 60% of all DRW files are different files with different signatures, the following 16 formats can be found: CADS Planner drawing, Freelance Graphics Drawing, MacDraw drawing, ZIP, JetDB, Version and Created. They are often associated with chantier, plan, layout, haus, general, export, floor, kuva, line or wine. Drag & drop your file here to see the file format and a preview of your DRW file!

Technical Data for DRW File Extension

File classification:

CAD

Related files:

dwg, 1, dwr, ad_drw, cmdrw, draw, sbj, 2, 5, edrw, 3, 6, 8, dxf, 7, 4, prt, dbc, eps, 33, dtl, ptd

Mime type:

application/octet-stream, application/x-mgx-designer

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: cta_extension_progid, FileType: Microsoft Picture It! Document, AppName: Dreamweaver MX

ProgramID: cta_extension_progid, FileType: Microsoft Picture It! Document, AppName: Picture It!
EXEFile: Pip.exe

ProgramID: Microsoft Picture It! Document, FileType: Microsoft Picture It! Document, AppName: Picture It! 2001

ProgramID: Microsoft.Picture.It.Document.7, FileType: Microsoft Picture It! Document, AppName: AceHTML 5 Freeware Executable
EXEFile: acehtml.exe

ProgramID: Microsoft.Picture.It.Document.7, FileType: Microsoft Picture It! Document, AppName: Picture It! 7.0
EXEFile: pip.exe

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

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

ProgramID: PictureIt!.Picture, FileType: Microsoft Picture It! Picture, AppName: Microsoft Picture It!
EXEFile: PICTURE.EXE

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: cta_extension_progid
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Picture It! 2002\Pip.exe

ProgramID: cta_extension_progid
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Picture It! 2002\Pip.exe %1

ProgramID: Microsoft Picture It! Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Picture It! PhotoPub\Pip.exe %1

ProgramID: Microsoft Picture It! Document
EXEFile: C:\PSP\PSP.EXE %1

ProgramID: Microsoft.Picture.It.Document.7
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Picture It! 7\pip.exe %1

ProgramID: Microsoft.Picture.It.Document.9
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Picture It! 9\pi.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: PictureIt!.Picture
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Picture It!\PICTURE.EXE /nostartup /nointro

ProgramID: PictureIt!.Picture
EXEFile: D:\MS Picture It\PICTURE.EXE /nostartup /nointro

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: Microsoft.Picture.It.Document.10
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Digital Image 10\pi.exe %1

ProgramID: Microsoft.Picture.It.Document.7
EXEFile: rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\System32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen %1

ProgramID: Draw.Document.6
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROG~1\WINDOW~1\DRAW.EXE %1

ProgramID: Draw.Document.5
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROG~1\WINDOW~1\Draw.exe %1

ProgramID: PictureIt!.Picture
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Picture It! Express\PICTURE.EXE /nostartup /nointro

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

ProgramID: SldDraw.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\SOLIDW~1\SLDWORKS.exe /dde

ProgramID: Microsoft.Picture.It.Document.10
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Picture It! Premium 10\pi.exe %1

ProgramID: Designer.Drawing.8
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROG~1\DESIGN~1\Ds90.exe %1

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

ProgramID: Caddie.drwDef
EXEFile: C:\DOCUME~1\JOSHAL~1\MYDOCU~1\MISC\CAD\caddie90.EXE %1

ProgramID: Microsoft.Picture.It.Document.9
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%r\Microsoft Picture It! 9\pi.exe %1

ProgramID: SldDraw.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\SOLIDW~2\sldworks.exe /dde

ProgramID: drwFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\proeWildfire 2.0\bin\proe.exe %1

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

ProgramID: drwFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ptc\proeWildfire 3.0\bin\proe.exe

ProgramID: iGrafx.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\iGrafx\Pro\8.2\flow80.exe

ProgramID: Designer.Drawing.7
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\MICROG~1\Designer\DS70.exe

ProgramID: CorelDESIGNER.Graphic.12
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Corel\Corel DESIGNER Technical Suite 12\PROGRAMS\DESIGNER.EXE -DDE

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

ProgramID: SldDraw.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\SOLIDW~1\SWVIEWER.EXE

ProgramID: drwFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ptc\proe\bin\proe.exe

Show all 49 listings To Top

a drw drawing is a special file format by PTC and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with DRW files

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