Installation and license

You can get the latest version of the program from the ApliCAD downloads area.

If you are not yet registered on the downloads portal, you will need to sign up before downloading the application.

Tip

If you don’t have a license yet, you can try DWGExplorer free for 30 days.

Signing up in the downloads area

Use the Registro (Sign up) button at the top of the screen:

The sign-up screen shows the following fields:

You can access the system with an email address and a password, or by using the Google or Microsoft authentication services, which simplifies signing up and logging in.

In either case, when you sign up for the first time, you need to complete these additional verification steps:

1. Look in your email program for a message sent from Aplicad Downloads no-reply@auth0user.net.

2. Open that email and confirm your registration by following the instructions in the message. The verification email may look similar to this:

   

3. Click the “Verify Your Account” button in the message to confirm your email address.

Once this verification is done, the next step is to link your email account to your ApliCAD downloads profile, which enables access to the available content.

When the process has been completed successfully, you will be able to access the ApliCAD downloads page and all the applications and resources available to you.

Important

The email address and password you use to sign up in the downloads area are the same credentials you will need later to log in to ApliCAD DWGExplorer, so keep them for use in the program.

Install DWGExplorer

DWGExplorer is installed with a single installer for all compatible CADs (DWGExplorer_<version>_<revision>.exe), digitally signed by ApliCAD. It covers ZWCAD 2025 and 2026, AutoCAD 2025, 2026 and 2027, and BricsCAD V26 and V27.

1. Run the installer and choose the language: Spanish, English, Portuguese (Brazil) or French. If DWGExplorer had no language set in that CAD yet, it will use this one.
2. If Windows asks, authorize the installation with administrator rights.
3. The components page lists the compatible versions. Those detected on the computer are selected; the rest are disabled and marked (not installed). Clear any you do not want to install.
4. If any of the selected programs is open, the installer will ask you to close it to continue.
5. When it finishes, the last page shows which programs it was installed for.

The next time you open the CAD, DWGExplorer loads automatically and its ribbon tab appears.

ZWCAD and .NET 8

If you install DWGExplorer for ZWCAD and the computer does not have the .NET 8 Desktop Runtime, the last page warns you. DWGExplorer still works, but its automatic updates will not start until you install it.

Unattended installation

The /S parameter installs what is detected on the computer without asking; /LANG=1034 sets the language (Spanish). Exit codes: 0 success, 740 administrator rights required, 1618 a program is open, 1633 no compatible program found.

Activate your license

Your license is activated as soon as you receive an email confirming that it is ready to use.

Once activated, the license is enabled automatically, so no additional steps are needed inside the program. To access it, use the same email address and password you used on the ApliCAD downloads page.

Each license is for one CAD and one version. For example, a ZWCAD 2025 license does not work in ZWCAD 2026: to use another version of the CAD you need a license for that version, under the same email address. However, the license does not depend on the DWGExplorer version: it stays valid when you update the program and you do not have to log in again.

Update the program

There are two ways to update:

• From the program itself: when you open the CAD, at most once every 24 hours, DWGExplorer checks whether there is a new version and asks if you want to install it. It is optional; if you say no, it stays pending.
• With the installer: run the installer of the new version. If what is installed does not change, it does not ask for administrator rights. If you have added another compatible CAD since the last installation, it asks for rights and shows it as (new).

From version 1.x

Run the version 2.0 installer: it replaces the previous installers, of which there was one per CAD and year. It uses the same folders, keeps the language, settings and license, and leaves a single entry in Add or Remove Programs.

If the ribbon is still the old one after updating, type DWGEXPLORER_CAMBIA_EN (or _ES, _PT, _FR, depending on the language) on the command line to reload the menu.

Uninstall

In Windows Add or Remove Programs, choose ApliCAD DWGExplorer. This removes all installed versions and their automatic loading in the CAD. Each user’s settings are kept in case you install it again.