Introduction to DWGExplorer
DWGExplorer is a tool designed to make it easier to analyze, explore and manage the information contained in CAD drawings, giving users fast, structured access to the objects and data in the model.
The program provides a tabular view of the drawing’s elements, which makes searching, filtering and selecting very quick. With this view, users can locate specific objects, analyze their associated information and act on them far more efficiently than with the traditional ways of working inside the drawing.
Besides exploring the model, DWGExplorer includes tools to integrate geographic and mapping information, working with WMS and WMTS services from around the world, SHP files and GML files, and georeferencing the drawing in more than 5,000 coordinate systems. This makes it easy to bring in data from external sources such as official maps, orthophotos or cadastral information, integrating it directly into the CAD environment.
The system also includes utilities aimed at improving user productivity, such as quickly searching for DWG files within a folder structure, recording the time spent on each document and generating reports that can be exported to Excel, so you can analyze the time dedicated to each project and support financial management or planning.
Supported platforms
Section titled “Supported platforms”DWGExplorer is available as a plugin for ZWCAD 2025 and 2026, AutoCAD 2025, 2026 and 2027, and BricsCAD V26 and V27. This compatibility lets you use its features directly in your usual working environment, without having to change application or alter your existing workflows.
The interface is available in Spanish, English, Portuguese (Brazil) and French.
Almost all functions are available in every CAD. These are the differences:
| Function | ZWCAD 2025 and 2026 | AutoCAD 2025, 2026 and 2027 | BricsCAD V26 | BricsCAD V27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explore, clone, coordinates, WMS and WMTS, SHP, parcel information and location | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
GML by commands (GML, GMLE, GMLRGA, GMLIMPORT) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Parcel GML and Building GML with their forms | Yes | No | By commands | No |
| Access and Time Used | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Block properties table | Yes | Native in the CAD | Native in the CAD | Native in the CAD |
The DWGExplorer ribbon
Section titled “The DWGExplorer ribbon”The commands are in the DWGExplorer ribbon tab, organized into four panels:
| Panel | Buttons |
|---|---|
| DWGExplorer | Explore, Clone, Configuration, About…, Access, Time Used |
| ApliCAD WMS | Coordinates (drop-down: Coordinates and City; the button shows the last option used), Load WMS, Base layers, Spanish services (drop-down: Cadastre, PNOA, IGN and MTN), Turn WMS on, Turn WMS off, Order, WMS info, Associate Image, My services, Keys |
| Cadastre | Parcel info, Find parcel, Parcel GML (drop-down), Building GML (drop-down) |
| SHP | Import SHP, SHP info, Query SHP |
In BricsCAD the Cadastre panel has a single GML drop-down (Parcel, Building and Import GML) and there is no Associate Image button; use the WMSASOCIAR command for that function.
What’s new in version 2.0
Section titled “What’s new in version 2.0”- WMS worldwide: more than 5,000 coordinate systems, with automatic transformation between the service’s system and the drawing’s.
- Locate the drawing by city: enter a town in any country and the program suggests its official coordinate system.
- Base layers: a catalog of more than 70 services from Europe, the Americas, Oceania and Asia, filtered by the drawing’s area.
- WMTS services and service directories from several countries.
- WMS info: find out what is at a point in the visible WMS layers.
- My services: add your own services, free or paid, of type WMS, WMTS, ArcGIS or tile template, with their key if they need one.
- Esri satellite imagery, paid and with your own account, for areas with little official mapping. ApliCAD does not provide this service.
- Service keys for the services that require them, stored encrypted.
- Opacity per layer in the order window.
- Cadastres of France, Poland and the Netherlands.
- Portuguese and French interface.
- More compact ribbon, designed for low-resolution screens.
- Single installer for all CADs and versions, digitally signed.