Open DWG/DXF Files and the Start Center

Open DWG/DXF files with the built-in reader, and use the Start Center and multiple tabs.

What it does

MCAD 2026 opens AutoCAD DWG and DXF files directly with the DWG reader built into the program. You do not need to install an extra file converter. It also opens .mprj project files (several sheets at once).

Where to find it

Ribbon: Output › File › Open
Quick Access Toolbar (the folder icon at the top)
File › Open... menu
Command line: OPEN
Shortcut: Ctrl+O
Start Center: File › Start Center..., then click Open Drawing...

Steps

Press Ctrl+O, or type OPEN and press Enter.
Choose the file type 2D CAD (*.dwg *.dxf *.mprj) and select a file.
Click Open. The file opens in a new tab (the existing tabs stay open). Large files load in the background, and you can keep working in other tabs meanwhile.
Switch tabs with Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab.

Note: You can also double-click a .dwg or .dxf file in Windows Explorer to open it in MCAD (if MCAD is set as the default program). Explorer then shows thumbnails of the drawings.

Start Center

The Start Center is the start-up window. It shows recent files, pinned files, and backup files you can recover.

Option	Meaning
New Drawing	Create a new drawing (same as `NEW`)
Open Drawing...	Open a file
MET Drawing Sheet...	Create a new drawing from a standard MET A4–A0 sheet with a title block. See TITLEBLOCK and MET Drawing Sheet
Command Reference	The table of all commands
Pinned and Recent Drawings	Recent files (★ = pinned). Double-click to open
Open Selected / Pin / Unpin / Remove from List	Open, pin, or remove from the list
Drawing Recovery / Open Selected Backup	Opens backup files found in recent folders, without overwriting the original
Show this Start Center at launch	Turn the Start Center on or off at start-up
Continue to Drawing	Close the Start Center and go to the drawing area

Damaged files

If a DXF file will not open, try RECOVER. See AUDIT, RECOVER and PURGE.

Try it: Open an architect's restaurant plan next to your own drawing

Scenario: an architect sends you restaurant-plan.dwg so you can place the signs and furniture, while your sign drawing is already open in another tab.

Press Ctrl+O, choose 2D CAD (*.dwg *.dxf *.mprj) and open restaurant-plan.dwg. It opens in a new tab and your existing tab stays open.
If the file is large, you can keep working in the sign tab while it loads.
Press Ctrl+Tab to switch between the plan and the sign drawing. Use DIST on the plan to measure the shopfront wall.
Open File › Start Center..., click restaurant-plan.dwg in the recent list and click Pin, so you find it straight away next time.

Restaurant plan opened from a DWG: kitchen, bar and 8 table sets

Challenge: Select one table set in the plan, press Ctrl+C, then Ctrl+V in the other tab to reuse the furniture in your drawing. See Clipboard.