Should I select IDW or Inventor-DWG when creating drawings in Autodesk Inventor?

Use IDW if your workspace is purely Inventor-based, as it yields slightly smaller file sizes. Use Inventor-DWG if you need to share drawing sheets with AutoCAD users, allowing them to open, view, and print the sheets natively in 2D without exporting.

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Software That Opens & Edits IDW Files (1 Tools, 2026)

IDW is the native 2D drafting sheet format used by Autodesk Inventor to compile production-ready blueprints, section specifications, and assembly detail bills. It maps 3D parametric components directly onto 2D drawing sheets. IDW files maintain absolute associativity with the parent IPT (parts) and IAM (assemblies) files, automatically redrawing viewport projections, centerlines, and dimension callouts whenever the parent 3D components are modified.

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Should I select IDW or Inventor-DWG when creating drawings in Autodesk Inventor?: Use IDW if your workspace is purely Inventor-based, as it yields slightly smaller file sizes. Use Inventor-DWG if you need to share drawing sheets with AutoCAD users, allowing them to open, view, and print the sheets natively in 2D without exporting.

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