A CAD SDK for developers: Render DWG and DXF drawings in the browser, add precise distance and area measurement tools, and convert CAD files to PDF — across web, server, desktop, and scripting environments. No AutoCAD installation required.
Render DWG and DXF drawings in a web viewer — no desktop CAD software or browser plugins required.
Add distance, perimeter, and area measurement tools with calibrated, real-world scale for engineering and construction drawings.
Turn CAD files into PDF or PDF/A for sharing, archiving, and document workflows — in a single API call.
Run CAD conversion server-side through a REST API or cloud processing API for high-volume, headless workflows.
WEB CAD VIEWER
Display DWG and DXF drawings directly in a JavaScript/HTML5 viewer. Document Engine converts the CAD file to PDF, and the Web SDK renders it for viewing, annotation, and precise measurement — no plugins and no desktop CAD tools.
Render technical drawings client-side in any modern browser — no ActiveX, Flash, or native CAD viewer required.
Measure distance, perimeter, polygon area, ellipse area, and rectangle area with built-in, customizable tools.
Calibrate a page-to-real-world scale from a known distance; scale and precision persist within the document.
Mark up drawings with annotations and comments for collaborative review across engineering and construction teams.
CAD CONVERSION
Convert AutoCAD Drawing (DWG) and Drawing Exchange Format (DXF) files to PDF or PDF/A. The same conversion engine is available as a server REST API, a desktop and server .NET library, and Python and Java SDKs — so CAD output fits wherever your pipeline runs.
Convert DXF and native binary DWG, including the AC1032 format used by AutoCAD 2018 and later.
Produce standard PDF or archival PDF/A, with control over the conformance level in the .NET SDK.
Open a CAD file and export it to PDF in one call — Nutrient handles vector rendering, layers, and line weights.
Run conversion headless on the server via Document Engine, or in desktop and server apps with the .NET, Python, and Java SDKs.
COMPARE
Choose where CAD viewing and conversion runs in your architecture. The Java SDK offers the same conversion capabilities as Python.
| Document Engine | .NET | Python & Java | Web | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input formats | DWG, DXF | DWG (AC1032/AutoCAD 2018+), DXF | DWG, DXF | DWG, DXF (via Document Engine) |
| Primary capability | Headless CAD-to-PDF conversion over REST | CAD-to-PDF and PDF/A with conformance control | CAD-to-PDF in a single API call | View, annotate, and measure CAD in the browser |
| Output | PDF (and other output types) | PDF, PDF/A | PDF | Rendered in-browser view |
| How it works | POST the CAD file to the /api/build endpoint | GdPictureDocumentConverter load and save | Document.export_as_pdf after opening the file | Document Engine converts, the Web SDK renders |
| Deployment | Self-hosted server/container | Desktop and server (.NET) | Server, scripts, and pipelines | Browser frontend and backend |
| Ideal use | Centralized, high-volume CAD conversion | Windows desktop and server apps; archival PDF/A | Automation, batch jobs, and data pipelines | Engineering and construction review in the browser |
Nutrient’s Document Web Services (DWS) platform offers cloud-native APIs for document conversion, rendering, and high-volume processing — without managing infrastructure.
Convert, generate, watermark, and process documents from the cloud with a headless processing API built for scale.
Deliver interactive document experiences in the browser — render, annotate, and measure documents with a cloud-hosted viewer API.
Parse and extract structured content from documents into JSON or Markdown for AI and automation workflows.
Nutrient supports AutoCAD Drawing (DWG) and Drawing Exchange Format (DXF) files. DWG support includes the AC1032 native binary format used by AutoCAD 2018 and later. CAD files can be converted to PDF or PDF/A, or rendered for viewing in the browser.
Yes. Document Engine converts a DWG or DXF file to PDF, and Nutrient Web SDK renders it in a JavaScript/HTML5 viewer — no browser plugins or desktop CAD software required. Users can pan, zoom, annotate, and measure the drawing directly in the browser.
Yes. The Web SDK includes measurement tools for distance, perimeter, polygon area, ellipse area, and rectangle area. You can calibrate a real-world scale from a known distance, and the scale and precision settings are saved within the document and persist across sessions and devices.
CAD-to-PDF conversion is available on Document Engine (server REST API), the .NET SDK (C#/VB.NET), and the Python and Java SDKs — which share the same conversion capabilities. Browser viewing, annotation, and measurement are provided by the Web SDK together with Document Engine.
No. Nutrient renders and converts DWG and DXF files on its own — you don’t need AutoCAD or any other desktop CAD application installed. This makes it suitable for headless server environments, containers, and CI/CD pipelines.
Yes. The .NET SDK converts DWG and DXF to PDF/A and lets you select the conformance level you require, which is useful for long-term archiving and compliance workflows. Standard PDF output is available across all supported platforms.
For centralized, high-volume conversion, send CAD files to
Document Engine’s /api/build endpoint, or use the cloud-hosted
DWS Processor API to convert without managing infrastructure. Both
run headless and are built for batch and automated workflows.
Yes. Start a free trial to evaluate CAD viewing, measurement, and conversion across supported platforms. For pricing or a production license, contact Sales.
Learn how to convert DWG and DXF CAD files to PDF using Nutrient .NET SDK, REST APIs, and Power Automate. Preserve layers, fonts, and 3D views with high-fidelity output — includes code samples and integration tips.
OpenText Brava! was discontinued in 2022. Learn how Nutrient SDK serves as a modern replacement with support for CAD, Office, PDF, annotations, redaction, and more.
Discover how WebAssembly enhances document processing speed and efficiency directly in JavaScript applications.
FOR DEVELOPERS
Nutrient provides a CAD SDK for viewing, measuring, and converting technical drawings inside your own applications. Render DWG and DXF in the browser, add precise measurement tools, and convert CAD files to PDF — without depending on AutoCAD or desktop CAD software.
A CAD SDK lets developers work with engineering drawings programmatically across viewing, measurement, and conversion.
When selecting a CAD library, weigh where it runs and which capabilities you need.
Nutrient renders CAD drawings in the browser through Document Engine conversion and the Web SDK viewer, giving end users a fast, plugin-free way to view and measure DWG and DXF files. Distance, perimeter, and area tools support calibrated scale for accurate readings on architectural and engineering drawings.
Convert DWG and DXF to PDF wherever your pipeline runs.
Instead of stitching together a desktop CAD dependency for conversion and a separate web viewer, Nutrient provides CAD viewing, measurement, and conversion across web, server, desktop, and scripting from one vendor. The same drawings can be rendered in the browser, measured with calibrated tools, and archived as PDF/A — backed by complete documentation, code samples, and developer support.
