OPEN Command

Opens an existing drawing file

	Standard toolbar:
	File menu: Open
	Command line: open

If the current drawing has not been saved, AutoCAD LT displays a dialog box so that you can save the current drawing before opening a different drawing. AutoCAD LT displays the Select File dialog box.

Specifies a file name.

Look in

Select the drive and directory that contain the drawing file you want to open.

File Name

Select or enter the name of the drawing file you want to open.

Note: You can open only a file with the .dwg or .dxf extension.

Files of Type

Select the type of files you want to see in the File Name list.

Preview

Displays a preview of the selected drawing.

Find File...

To find drawing files on multiple drives and directories, choose Find File. The Browse/Search dialog box is displayed.

Locate

Choosing Locate after a drawing file name has been entered in the File Name box enables AutoCAD LT to search the support paths specified by the AutoCAD environment variable or in the Preferences dialog box. If the file is located, the File dialog box displays the directory that contains the file.

Open as Read-Only

Select to open the drawing file in read-only mode. You can edit the drawing file, but to save changes you must save the drawing with a new file name.

Select Initial View

Select if you want to specify a previously saved view for display when the drawing is opened. When you choose OK, the Select Initial View dialog box is displayed.Select a named view or the last view used in the drawing. The letter to the right of the view name represents the space in which the view was created, M for model space or P for paper space.

Browse/Search Dialog Box

Specifies a file or files.

Browse Tab

Previews and opens files on a selected drive or directory.

Look in

Select the drive and directory that contain the file you want to open.

File Name

Select a preview image or enter the name of the file you want to open.

List Files of Type

Select the type of files you want to see in the File Name list.

Size

Select the size at which you want the preview images of files to appear in the File Name list.

Open

To open the selected file, choose Open.

Exit

To close the dialog box, choose Exit.

Search Tab

Uses search criteria to search for and open files on multiple drives and directories.

Files

Select a file from a list of all files located in the drives and directories you specify and that match the criteria you define. The list is displayed after you choose Search.

Search Pattern

Enter the file name pattern you want to search for and display in the File Name list. For example, you can enter floor* to search for all files that begin with floor and are of the file type specified.

File Types

Select the type of file for which you want to search.

Date Filter

Controls how AutoCAD LT searches for files based on the date and time of creation of the file.

• Before This Date. Select to search for files created before the time and date you specify.
• After This Date. Select to search for files created after the time and date you specify.
• Time. Enter the time from which AutoCAD LT searches for files.
• Date. Enter the date from which AutoCAD LT searches for files created.

Search Location

Controls how AutoCAD LT searches for files based on the date and time of creation of the file.

• Drives. Select the drive you want to search.
• All Drives. Select to search all local drives on your computer, or all drives connected to your computer. Local Fixed Drives searches all local fixed drives on your computer. All Drives searches all drives connected to your computer, including local drives and network drives
• Path. Select to search a specific directory or directories. Enter the drive and path of the directory or directories you want to search. To search more than one directory, separate the path names of the directories with a semicolon (;).

Open

To open the selected file, choose Open.

Exit

To close the dialog box, choose Exit.

Search

To begin the file search, choose Search.

Related Commands: NEW creates a new drawing file.