Why convert VWX to PDF?
VWX is Vectorworks' proprietary CAD/BIM format that only Vectorworks opens natively. .pdf is the standard format for sharing drawings with clients, contractors, or anyone who does not have Vectorworks. PDF preserves scale, title blocks, and visual output without requiring CAD software on the recipient's end.
How to convert VWX to PDF
Vectorworks - Export PDF APP
Open the .vwx, switch to the sheet layer, go to File > Export > Export PDF, select which sheet layers to include, set page size and resolution, then click Export and save.
Vectorworks - Print to PDF APP
Open the .vwx, switch to the sheet layer, go to File > Print; on Windows choose Microsoft Print to PDF, on macOS click the PDF button and select Save as PDF.
About these formats
.VWX
Vectorworks Design File
A VWX file is a design document created by Vectorworks, a CAD and BIM application used in architecture, landscape design, and entertainment design. Only Vectorworks opens it natively - no…
Open .VWX details →
.PDF
Portable Document Format
A PDF (Portable Document Format) is a fixed-layout document that looks identical on every device - fonts, images, and layout are all embedded. Open it in any browser or the built-in viewer…
Open .PDF details →Quality & what to watch
- Export from a sheet layer, not a design layer - sheet layers contain viewports set up for output at the correct scale with title blocks.
- The resulting PDF is a flat document with no editable CAD geometry, BIM data, layers, or classes.
- A .vwx saved in a newer version of Vectorworks will not open in an older version; if export fails, ask the sender to export from their installed version.
