MacDraft 7 now supports the latest DWG 2018/2019 file format (AC1032), meaning you can now open and save the latest AutoCAD DWG files. In addition we have streamlined the opening of DWG files allowing you speed things up and make it easier to work with them. In addition we have updated the MacDraft file format to a new version (MD70). Don’t worry though, MacDraft will still open your old MD60 files. This means that MacDraft 7 will still bring compatibility with older versions, but will also provide a stable and modern file system from now on.
When ever a new version of an application you use comes out, there are no doubt concerns you may have reagrding you older files and the support the new version may provide. When developing the file system for MacDraft 7 we were always aware of the support needed for older versions of the program, so that you would not have to re-create all of your drawings and content again.
Preparing for the new MacDraft 7 is easy. Below is a check list to help you get ready:
Ok, so here’s the technical bit.... We’ve updated the file format because we switched to using modern data types, standards, structures and formats of internal data (for example, image formats). In particular, we introduced UTF-8 encoding to keep all text data, PNG format for all bitmap data, and utilized other changes necessary to support the new functionality of MacDraft 7. The new file format is more portable (less platform-dependent), more compact in some cases, and wide open for further improvements and future functionality updates. In short, the new file format is faster, more efficient and ready for any future updates.
We have kept in support for opening the old MD60 file format. This means that any files created in MacDraft 5.6, 6.0, 6.1 and 6.2 will be able to be opened using the new MacDraft 7. The support for files created in the older versions was very important to us as it allows you to upgrade to the new version without the worry that you’ll lose all of your previous work. We knew that this support would be important, because we have been using the MD60 file format for a number of years now, meaning that most of the files you have will be in that version. This would then allow you to re-save your MD60 files to the new format.
MacDraft 7 now supports the latest DWG 2018/2019 file format (AC1032), meaning you can now open and save the latest AutoCAD DWG files. In addition we have streamlined the opening of DWG files allowing you speed things up and make it easier to work with them.
For a complete list of the DWG file versions MacDraft 7 can now support, please see the table below.
