Illustrator 25.3 unable to open/import/export Autocad (DWG/ DXF ) files on M1 macs

[JOHN5D85]

I have just updated to Adobe illustrator 25.3 on Apple M1 mac mini. I can no longer open DWG files (2004 or otherwise), any way round this? or is this a known issue/problem? Thanks

{Renamed by MOD}

[rodn21537207]

Hi Doug. Yes I am.

[Doug A Roberts]

Adobe Staff here advise that DWG/DXF is not yet supported natively in the version of Illustrator for M1 Macs:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/illustrator-25-3-unable-to-open-import-export...

This will have been the case since the first M1-compatible version (25.3.1). They advise running Illustrator under Rosetta emulation or installing an older version.

[Erin5E38]

But I have a PC?

[Doug A Roberts]

Well, this topic is about DWG/DXF files on M1 Macs. Perhaps you should make a new topic with further details if your situation is different.

[Erin5E38]

Thank you for response. I will consider it . It appears to be the same issue however, can't export a dwg from illustrator. Honestly I was looking for a fast solution and as I said same deal just on a PC. So thanks for your consideration

[Ambrosial_day5E1F]

It is also a big problem for us that Adobe Illustrator no longer supports .DXF files. A few years ago there was no problem but now the work is very complicated and we have to look for external converters. That is why we are seriously considering changing to other options such as Corel, with which there is no problem in this regard. Please do everything you can to solve this situation, because it really is a big problem for many of us who work with this type of files on a daily basis.

Thank you

[Jasper27707257dhks]

The problem of Illustrator not beeing able to import dwg or dxf files still does not seem te be resolved. Is it that complex? The older versions 25.3.3 are not available anymore and a year and a half passed by since the problem first occurred. Adobe please do something!

[Anshul_Saini · Accepted solution]

Hi All,

I understand that some of you have been experiencing difficulties with opening or importing DXF/DWG files in Illustrator. I want to assure you that the product team has worked diligently to resolve this issue.

After careful investigation, it has been determined that the problem is with the DXF/DWG files themselves. They were not created in accordance with the proper file format specifications, and as a result, they are causing errors when attempting to open or import them in Illustrator.
Note: Illustrator uses the latest AutoCAD library licensed from Autodesk to open, import, and export DXF & DWG files.

Please note that the older versions of AutoCAD also experience difficulty with opening these malformed files. If you come across any DXF/DWG files that can be opened in the latest versions of AutoCAD but not in Illustrator, please report this as a separate issue in a new post and share the file with me via DM for further investigation. Our team will do their best to resolve any bugs that may exist.

It's worth mentioning that Illustrator versions 25.1 and below were able to open/import these files because they used a different library, which did not strictly check the DXF/DWG files for conformance. However, due to the lack of support for recent OS upgrades, Illustrator has switched to the latest AutoCAD library from Autodesk for opening, importing, and exporting DXF/DWG files. Unfortunately, the older versions of Illustrator are no longer available in Creative Cloud due to Adobe policy. However, you may try the suggestion in this community post to install an older version.

Additionally, it is important to note that other third-party apps may also export DXF/DWG files using older AutoCAD libraries that may not open in Illustrator. If you encounter such files, please report them to the application that created them for a potential fix in future releases.

Thank you,

Anshul Saini

#Marking as correct for visibility

[Tony 3Dimensions]

Unfortunatly this is not a solution and, as I see it, this new way of importing takes away functionality of illustrator that we pay for. Please use also the old library for files that are nog 100% conform the new library as AutoCAD itself also does. It is strange to me that a software update removes functionality that it's predessors had which worked fine.

[jonathanw21375371]

The oldest version of illustrator on CC is 26, are there any other options? 
A key reason why I subscribed to illustrator was to use it for cad export, if that doesn't work I will have to find a different product. This issue has been open for 2 years, so it would be nice to know if adobe really does have any intention of solving it or not. 

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @jonathanw21375371,

I understand your concerns regarding the difficulties in opening or importing DXF/DWG files in Illustrator. Let me provide some clarification on this matter.

The product team has indeed put significant effort into addressing this issue. After a thorough investigation, it was discovered that the problem lies with the DXF/DWG files themselves. These files were not created in compliance with the required file format specifications, which leads to errors when attempting to open or import them in Illustrator. Please note that Illustrator uses the latest AutoCAD library licensed from Autodesk to handle DXF & DWG files.

It's important to highlight that even newer versions of AutoCAD may face difficulties when opening these malformed files. If you encounter DXF/DWG files that can be opened in the latest versions of AutoCAD but not in Illustrator, please share the file with me via DM. Our team will investigate these cases and work towards resolving any related bugs.

Regarding the compatibility of older Illustrator versions, it's true that versions 25.1 and below could open/import these files because they used a different library that didn't strictly check DXF/DWG files for conformance. However, due to the lack of support for recent OS upgrades, Illustrator has transitioned to using the latest AutoCAD library from Autodesk. As a result, the older versions of Illustrator are no longer available through Creative Cloud. If you wish, you can explore the suggestion in this community post to potentially install an older version (https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/need-to-download-version-2019-of-illustrator-...).

Lastly, it's worth noting that other third-party applications may also export DXF/DWG files using older AutoCAD libraries, which may not be compatible with Illustrator. In such cases, it's advisable to report these issues to the application developers responsible for creating the files.

I hope this information helps clarify the situation. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have further questions or encounter any specific issues.

Best regards,
Anshul Saini

[Tracy29136990lqj0]

Hello All,

 Our Company utilizes Illustrator to create and export to .DXF. All of our DXF files now, are not to scale. What can be done to correct this?

[Anshul_Saini]

Hello @Tracy29136990lqj0,

I understand your concern regarding the DXF file scaling issue. As I mentioned earlier, if you're working with older DXF/DWG files that are not fully compatible with the latest version of Illustrator, this could indeed result in such problems.

To resolve this, you may need to use an older version of Adobe Illustrator that is compatible with your existing DXF files. Unfortunately, versions older than Illustrator versions are no longer available through the Creative Cloud app. However, you can explore alternative methods to obtain and install an older version of Illustrator.

One approach is to follow suggestions provided in this community post (https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/need-to-download-version-2019-of-illustrator-...), where our expert has shared the steps on how to obtain specific versions of Adobe apps. Please keep in mind that when using older software versions, it's essential to consider compatibility with your operating system.

I hope this helps you address the scaling issue with your DXF files. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please feel free to ask.

Best regards,
Anshul Saini