Re: [QGIS-Australia-User-Group] Digest for australian-qgis-user-group@googlegroups.com - 5 updates in 2 topics

[Andrew James]

Hi Iain 

Surely the work around would be to save the .dwg in a pre 2018 version  before you import?

Best

Andrew 

Sent from Android

On Thu, 18 Dec 2025, 8:04 pm , <australian-qg...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

australian-qg...@googlegroups.com

Google Groups

Topic digest
View all topics

• QGIS and DWG files - 4 Updates
• 2026 QGIS User Conference - 1 Update

QGIS and DWG files

<Ia...@jcis.net.au>: Dec 18 08:04AM +1100 Tell me its not true.     QGIS will only read dwg files if they are in a version of dwg before 2018? This seems to be a major flaw given that many Q users will encounter dwg files at some point. It's hard enough to get our clients to save them with coordinates!     What is the work around? Upload them in Arc and save them in some format in Q? Or is there another path.     Cheers     Dr Iain Stuart   JCIS Consultants     P.O. Box 2397   Burwood North   NSW, 2134     (0413) 380116 (m)

Emma Hain <em...@north-road.com>: Dec 18 07:10AM +1000 Hi Iain   I believe so. I remember having to go into Autodesk and saving them as older files.   In the end it comes down to someone to fund the development for CAD support.   There are a lot of companies moving over that may want to do this. I have noted this in our feature requests for clients to fund for improvement.   But I believe someone more knowledgeable out there may have more info.   Kind regards Em     On Thu, 18 Dec 2025 at 07:04, Iain via QGIS Australia User Group <

Colin Mazengarb <colin...@gmail.com>: Dec 18 08:54AM +1100 Iain,   My workaround is to use online converters. They create dxf and are then good to go. Try a google search for one of several free options and avoid the ads.   Cheers   Colin   Sent from my iPhone   On 18 Dec 2025, at 8:10 am, Emma Hain <em...@north-road.com> wrote:      Hi Iain   I believe so. I remember having to go into Autodesk and saving them as older files.   In the end it comes down to someone to fund the development for CAD support.   There are a lot of companies moving over that may want to do this. I have noted this in our feature requests for clients to fund for improvement.   But I believe someone more knowledgeable out there may have more info.   Kind regards   Em   On Thu, 18 Dec 2025 at 07:04, Iain via QGIS Australia User Group <australian-qg...@googlegroups.com> wrote:   Tell me its not true.   QGIS will only read dwg files if they are in a version of dwg before 2018? This seems to be a major flaw given that many Q users will encounter dwg files at some point. It's hard enough to get our clients to save them with coordinates!   What is the work around? Upload them in Arc and save them in some format in Q? Or is there another path.   Cheers   Dr Iain Stuart   JCIS Consultants   PO Box 2397   Burwood North   NSW, 2134   (0413) 380116 (m)   --   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "QGIS Australia User Group" group.   To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to australian-qgis-use...@googlegroups.com.   To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/000201dc6f98%24c2154c00%24463fe400%24%40jcis.net.au.   --   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "QGIS Australia User Group" group.   To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to australian-qgis-use...@googlegroups.com.   To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/CACGKw0aSjQVLDTz0iQsywWGQDiVbYNRygsfyNt837VsgWuL%2BoA%40mail.gmail.com.

Luke Kirkwood <luke.k...@gmail.com>: Dec 18 06:01PM +1000 Hi Iain,   Try ODA File Converter. It’s been my go to for a while. Doesn’t always work with the latest formats, but if simple DWG (they usually are), then they typically work. Just convert to 2018 DWG or DXF   https://www.opendesign.com/guestfiles/oda_file_Converter ODA File Converter opendesign.com   Cheers   Luke Kirkwood

Back to top

2026 QGIS User Conference

QGIS Australia User Group <australian-qg...@googlegroups.com>: Dec 17 01:30PM -0800 Hi All The dates have been announced for the 2026 QGIS User Conference, Switzerland. <https://blog.qgis.org/2025/12/15/user-conf-2026-dates/>   - 4 October 2026 – Informal active outdoor pre-event day - 5–6 October 2026 – QGIS User Conference - 7 October 2026 – Workshops - 7–9 (10) October 2026 – QGIS Contributors Meeting   Switzerland is not only home to OpenGIS.Ch <https://www.opengis.ch/> who undertake a lot of work in QGIS, but the government is really turning their systems to Open Source in Geospatial. As an example, the Local Council Surveyors have a project to look into what needs to be improved in QGIS in order for them to deliver to their surveying standards.   Whilst there are more details to come about the location, your little birdy here has some intel that it may be near or in Laax <https://www.laax.com/en>, a ski village. The best airport will be Zurich and fares so far, seem ok. But wait out until confirmation.   So start thinking about your leave or how to get your work to assist you to attend. It would be so amazing to have Oceanic representation there.   Mappingly yours Em

Back to top

You have received this digest because you're subscribed to updates for this group. You can change your settings on the group membership page. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it send an email to australian-qgis-use...@googlegroups.com.

[Ia...@jcis.net.au]

Oh Andrew if only it was that simple.

 

The problem is that I am often not the producer of such drawings – usually it is a client and it is difficult to get them to assign a projection let alone issue a drawing in pre 2018 format.

 

Cheers

 

Dr Iain Stuart

JCIS Consultants

 

P.O. Box 2397

Burwood North

NSW, 2134

(0413) 380116 (m)

 

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/CAAqwi9S6p8V_5H4OH7jhirbrO7OC9bpRpD_jA_K5m3czChDGDQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Luke Kirkwood]

Tis true, unfortunately Iain.

Archaeologists are not autocad experts, but we can use QGIS thanks to its ease of use and more importantly being free. DWGs are the bane of our existence due to incompatibilities, conversions errors and projections (oh my kingdom for a projected DWG). Sometimes you get lucky and the DWG can be converted, other times not and you have to go back to the client and ask for a DXF or hope beyond hope a KMZ. Nine times out of ten, the client has no idea what you are talking about, because they subcontracted the drawing out to a third party, and then the client has to play ‘I don’t know what this archaeologist is requesting, so I will try and translate it for them’ and you end up invariably getting another useless DWG.

If I had 10 cents for everytime this scenario has played out in my career, I would probably have about $500.

Luke

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/002101dc7055%247a4cd920%246ee68b60%24%40jcis.net.au.

[Emma Hain]

Try working in an engineering firm where you sit next to them and they still have no idea!!!!!

Kind regards

Em

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/C3AD171F-56E3-42B2-8ED7-8109BE0C0DEC%40gmail.com.

[Ia...@jcis.net.au]

Sorry to reply to an old thread but it is a continual source of irritation.

 

I have found some recent success in saving dwg files as dfx (2013 version) which QGIS seems to like better.

 

You can do this in AutoCAD or DFX

 

Cheers

 

Dr Iain Stuart

JCIS Consultants

 

P.O. Box 2397

Burwood North

NSW, 2134

(0413) 380116 (m)

 

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/002101dc7055%247a4cd920%246ee68b60%24%40jcis.net.au.

[Tasadduq Hanif]

Hi Iain,

We have faced the same issue multiple times while working with client-supplied CAD files. In many cases the clients are not even aware of the DWG version or projection settings, which makes the workflow even more frustrating.

One thing that has helped us is converting the DWG into DXF 2013 format before importing into QGIS. QGIS seems to handle that version much more reliably. We have also had decent results using ODA File Converter when AutoCAD access is not available.

Unfortunately, projection information is still the biggest challenge. Even when the conversion works, the missing CRS creates another layer of troubleshooting.

Hopefully CAD interoperability in QGIS continues improving because this is a very common workflow for many GIS professionals.

Cheers,
Tasadduq Founder of https://ezgradercalculator.com/

[Ia...@jcis.net.au]

They keep talking about grants to improve QGIS – maybe this is something that needs a grant or some cooperation from Autodesk because a Tasadduq said it’s a common problem.

 

Cheers

 

Dr Iain Stuart

JCIS Consultants

 

P.O. Box 2397

Burwood North

NSW, 2134

(0413) 380116 (m)

 

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/b17656a2-3cf1-4e9a-8c8a-a912c1cee034n%40googlegroups.com.

[box...@iinet.net.au]

Hi all,

 

I have found the “Another DXF Importer” plug-in does a good job. Have you tried that one?

 

Cheers Grant

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/b17656a2-3cf1-4e9a-8c8a-a912c1cee034n%40googlegroups.com.

[Andrew Lindsay]

Grant, 

This is something that I have actually been trying to understand myself. (Un)fortunately I use FreeCad instead of Acad for the same freeware reason. Can you point to a good tutorial on how to use CRS with DXF, or applying a CRS to a DXF file that does not have world coordinates?

Best regards 

Andrew. 

Sent from my iPhone. 

On 15 May 2026, at 06:11, boxerg via QGIS Australia User Group <australian-qg...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/001c01dce3ee%2496590410%24c30b0c30%24%40iinet.net.au.

[box...@iinet.net.au]

Hi Andrew,

 

There is some explanation for the plug-in, see attached,

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/51D36311-6932-4401-99DB-1E5D8D108CC7%40gmail.com.

[Ia...@jcis.net.au]

Thanks Grant,

 

I did try it and it seemed to work but then our office GIS lead imported the drawing via ArcPro!

 

BTW it was a services search for Circular Quay (Australia) so you can imagine what it was like.

 

Looking at the explanation you posted it is worth digging into so you can get control of the layers.

 

Cheers

 

Dr Iain Stuart

JCIS Consultants

 

P.O. Box 2397

Burwood North

NSW, 2134

(0413) 380116 (m)

 

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/000c01dce419%2439cec600%24ad6c5200%24%40iinet.net.au.

[Colin Mazengarb]

Andrew, the QGIS georeferencer will work on vector layers. This may be the most pragmatic option provided you have some features you can correlate to your base layers. 

Colin

Sent from my iPhone

On 16 May 2026, at 8:01 am, Iain via QGIS Australia User Group <australian-qg...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/australian-qgis-user-group/003701dce4b6%24414b31a0%24c3e194e0%24%40jcis.net.au.