What is the DRWDOT file format?
A .drwdot file is a SOLIDWORKS drawing template - a pre-configured blank document applied when creating a new .slddrw engineering drawing. It encapsulates every document-level setting from Tools > Options > Document Properties, so new drawings inherit a consistent, standards-compliant environment without manual setup.
Settings stored in a .drwdot include: unit system (millimetres or inches), drafting standard (ISO, ANSI, DIN, GB, JIS, BSI), annotation fonts, arrow styles and sizes, line thickness table, dimension precision, and links to a sheet format (border and title block).
The file uses the OLE2 Compound File Binary container, identified by the 8-byte signature D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 - the same container shared by .slddrw, .sldprt, and .sldasm, as well as legacy Microsoft Office formats.
.drwdot is distinct from two related file types:
.slddrw- a finished drawing with geometry and annotations.slddrt- a sheet format (border and title block) referenced by the drawing
SOLIDWORKS ships default templates in its installation folder; CAD administrators should save custom corporate templates to a separate path registered under Tools > Options > System Options > File Locations > Document Templates. Newer releases can open older templates, but older releases cannot open templates saved by a newer version.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWDRWDOT is a passive CAD configuration file (OLE2 container holding settings data only) - no executable code, no macros in the template file itself. Safe to open in SOLIDWORKS from trusted sources. As with any proprietary file, download templates only from trusted colleagues or official SOLIDWORKS sources.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open DRWDOT files
Windows1 app
SolidWorks
Paid To USE the template: File > New > Drawing and browse to the .drwdot. To EDIT the template: File > Open the .drwdot directly, modify settings, and save. Technical details
deep spec| Container format | OLE2 Compound File Binary (Microsoft Compound Document format) |
| Magic bytes | D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 (8 bytes at offset 0 - OLE2 signature) |
| Byte order | Little-endian |
| File encoding | Binary |
| Typical file size | 50 KB - 2 MB |
| Operating system | Windows only |
| Stored document settings | Unit system, drafting standard (ISO/ANSI/DIN/etc.), annotation fonts, arrow styles, line weights, dimension precision |
| Sheet format link | References a .slddrt sheet format file for border, title block, and revision table |
| Version compatibility | Newer SOLIDWORKS can open older templates; older releases cannot open templates saved by a newer version |
| Distinct from .slddrw | .drwdot is a reusable blank template; .slddrw is a completed drawing with geometry and annotations |
| Distinct from .slddrt | .slddrt holds the sheet format (border/title block); .drwdot holds document properties and references the sheet format |
| Template storage recommendation | Custom templates registered via Tools > Options > System Options > File Locations > Document Templates |
| Released | 1995 (SOLIDWORKS 95) |
| Latest version | SOLIDWORKS 2025 |
| Specification | www.solidworks.com |
DRWDOT conversions
Community Q&A
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