In the early 2000s TechSoft American wrote Autodesk a 3D WEB streaming file format + 3D file viewer based on their HOOPS toolkit and HSF 3D file format which would morph into DWF-3D. DWF can be considered an empty 'container file format' (similar to PDF) that actually contains many other internal files (a DWF file is actually just a ZIP file with a different file extension). As of 2006, Autodesk introduced DWF-3D which was an entirely new file format.

Historically, DWF was a 2D plotter file format created by Autodesk for their AutoCAD software. They can also publish 3D models from most Autodesk design applications. With DWF functionality, publishers of design data can limit the specific design data and plot styles to only what they want recipients to see and can publish multisheet drawing sets from multiple AutoCAD drawings in a single DWF file. Because DWF files are highly compressed, they are smaller and faster to transmit than design files, without the overhead associated with complex CAD drawings (or the management of external links and dependencies). The dwf file extension is associated with Design (Drawing) Web format used by AutoCAD and Inventor.ĭesign Web Format (DWF) is a secure file format developed by Autodesk for the efficient distribution and communication of rich design data to anyone who needs to view, review, or print design files.

Dwf file open in autocad