Tips to open DRW file

Can't open the DRW file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open DRW files as well as a list of programs that support DRW files.

DRW file extension

File Name Drawing Format
File Category Vector Image Files

The DRW file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the DRW files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the DRW file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 8
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is DRW file?

The DRW file has been categorized as Vector Image Files. Additionally, the Vector Image Files category contains 138 of other files. Drawing Format appears on 2 operating systems as a functional file. The file will work on Mac OS, Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. Alternatively, you can use 8 other programs. The CorelDRAW, PaintShop Pro, Corel Presentations programs will also handle the file when the AppleWorks program does not fulfill its role.

How to open DRW file?

The main problem with Drawing Format is that the DRW file is incorrectly associated with programs. This causes the file DRW to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the DRW file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install AppleWorks

The first step is to check if the computer has the AppleWorks program installed. This can be achieved by typing AppleWorks into the operating system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file DRW with AppleWorks. Below is a list of programs that support the file DRW.

Step 2. Create association of AppleWorks with DRW files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the DRW file to open in the AppleWorks application, but you can set it manually. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can set the program to handle this type. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the DRW file with the AppleWorks program.

Step 3. Update AppleWorks to the latest version

If, however, after binding AppleWorks with Drawing Format there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the DRW file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. The most common file problems are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This suggests truncating the DRW file contents when downloading or copying. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file DRW or the program directory. Sometimes virus-infected DRW files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the DRW file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair DRW file corruption.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted DRW files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. It is best to move DRW to a different directory.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Just close unnecessary programs. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the DRW file again. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If nothing helps, please reset the device.