Extract text from DataCAD drawings (DC5)
To convert DC5 drawings to another format, you need DataCAD or other Cad software.
To convert other file formats to the "Legacy Architectural Drawing" file type, you need software like DataCAD or a similar tool.
A .dc5 file is a legacy computer-aided design (CAD) drawing created by older versions of DataCAD, specifically version 5. These files contain 2D and 3D architectural data, including lines, layers, dimensions, and text annotations used for drafting buildings.
The primary disadvantage of the .dc5 format is its age and proprietary nature; it is a relic from the early 1990s often rooted in MS-DOS or early Windows environments. Because modern CAD industry standards have shifted almost entirely to DWG and IFC, opening a .dc5 file today is significantly difficult without access to legacy DataCAD software. You cannot simply drag this file into AutoCAD or standard viewers like Autodesk Viewer.
To make the data usable, the best course of action is conversion. For editing in modern software like Revit or SketchUp, convert the file to DWG or DXF. If you strictly need to view or archive the blueprints without editing them, converting to PDF is the most reliable method to preserve line weights and layout visibility.
Convert.Guru analyzes your DC5 file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted DC+, AEC and LY+ files.
If you want to convert DC5 file to , you can use DataCAD or similar software from the "Architectural CAD Drawing" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to DC5, try DataCAD or another comparable tool in the "Architectural CAD Drawing" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our DC5 converter.