Click the "Select File" button above, and choose your DCW file.
You’ll see a preview, if available.
Click the "Convert file to..." button to extract text information.
Convert DCW to another file type
To convert DCW drawings to another format, you need DesignCAD or other Cad software.
Convert a file to DCW
To convert other file formats to the "Legacy Vector Drawing" file type, you need software like DesignCAD or a similar tool.
About DCW files
A .dcw file is most commonly a legacy vector drawing created by older versions of DesignCAD for Windows (now developed by IMSI Design). These files contain 2D or 3D geometric data, layer information, and drafting elements used in engineering and architectural designs. Unlike the modern DCD format, .dcw files are often locked behind obsolete software versions and cannot be opened directly by industry-standard tools like AutoCAD or Adobe Illustrator. This proprietary lock-in forces users to rely on specific export functions within DesignCAD to migrate data to usable formats. A secondary, distinct use of the extension is for game world/level files in Motocross Madness 2, a vintage racing game by Microsoft, where the file stores terrain and collision data. Less frequently, it may be associated with Deed-Chek surveying software. For CAD preservation, the gold standard is converting to DWG or DXF. For simple archiving or client review without requiring CAD software, PDF is the recommended target.
Convert.Guru analyzes your DCW file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
If you want to convert DCW file to , you can use DesignCAD or similar software from the "Legacy Vector CAD Drawing" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to DCW, try DesignCAD or another comparable tool in the "Legacy Vector CAD Drawing" category.
The DCW Converter Story
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 DCW converter.