How to View All Drawings in AutoCAD

Accessing Open Drawings in AutoCAD

AutoCAD offers various methods to manage and view your open drawings effectively. Here’s a step-by-step guide to viewing all your files in AutoCAD 2025.

Viewing Open Files Using the Command Line

1. Initiate the Command Line: Begin by focusing on the command line interface at the bottom of the AutoCAD window.
2. Enter the Command: Type FILETABCLOSE and press Enter on your keyboard. This command will display all currently open files, allowing you to navigate easily.
3. Cycle Between Drawings: For quick access, use the shortcut CTRL + TAB to switch between open documents in a sequence. This method offers a fast way to move through multiple files without having to close any.

Opening Additional Drawings

1. Launch a New Instance: To work with multiple drawings side by side, open a new instance of AutoCAD. You can do this by selecting the AutoCAD icon from your desktop or start menu.
2. Use the OPEN Command: Once the second instance is open, type OPEN into the command line and select the drawing file you wish to open. This method enables side-by-side comparisons and editing for better productivity.

Opening Multiple Files Simultaneously

1. Navigate to Your Files: Use Windows Explorer to locate the directory containing your AutoCAD drawing files (.dwg).
2. Select Multiple Files: To choose multiple files at once, click the first file, hold down the SHIFT key, then select the last file in your desired group. All files in between will be highlighted.
3. Open Them at Once: Once selected, right-click on the highlighted files and choose ‘Open’ to launch them simultaneously in AutoCAD.

Adjusting Layout Tabs for Better Visibility

1. Access Options: Type OPTIONS in the command line and hit Enter. This action opens the Options window where you can customize various settings.
2. Modify Display Settings: Click on the Display tab. Look for the section labeled ‘Layout elements’ and ensure the checkbox for “Display Layout and Model tabs” is checked. Then, click OK to save.
3. Confirm Layout Visibility: Check your workspace to confirm that all layout tabs are now visible, facilitating easier navigation between different drawing layouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I view AutoCAD files without having the software installed?
Yes, Autodesk provides a free viewer called DWG TrueView. It allows you to open and view DWG files without needing a full AutoCAD installation.

2. What should I do if the layout tabs are hidden?
Right-click anywhere on the ribbon at the top of your AutoCAD window and use the “Show Tabs” and “Show Panels” options to turn on any hidden tabs.

3. How can I determine which version of AutoCAD was used to create a file?
You can hover over a DWG file in Windows Explorer to see a tooltip with the “Created With:” information. Alternatively, opening the file in Notepad will reveal the version used to last save the file.