Autodesk® Batch Drawing Converter converts any AutoCAD® drawing file to AutoCAD® Release 14, AutoCAD® 2000, AutoCAD® 2000i, AutoCAD® 2002, AutoCAD® 2004, and AutoCAD® 2005 file formats. Batch Drawing Converter allows conversion of pen widths to lineweights and the addition of page setups.

• Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
• Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
• Microsoft® Windows® XP Tablet PC
• Microsoft® Windows® 2000
• Microsoft® Windows NT® 4.0 with SP 6a or later (not supported in AutoCAD 2005-based products or later)

• AutoCAD® 2004 and later
• AutoCAD LT® 2004 and later
• Autodesk Map™ 2004 and later
• Autodesk® Mechanical Desktop® 2004 and later
• Autodesk® Architectural Desktop 2004 and later
• AutoCAD® Mechanical 2004 and later
• Autodesk® Building Systems 2004 later
• Autodesk® Land Desktop 2004 later

To install the Autodesk Batch Drawing Converter:

1. Download the Autodesk Batch Drawing Converter (BDCSETUP.exe) file.
2. Close all running applications.
3. Double-click BDCSETUP.exe.
4. In the Autodesk Batch Drawing Converter Installation wizard, on the Welcome page, click Next.
5. On the Software License Agreement page, select the appropriate country, and click "I accept" to accept the license agreement. Click Next.
6. On the Setup Confirmation page, click Next.
7. After the installation is complete, click Finish.

To uninstall Autodesk Batch Drawing Converter:

1. In the Windows Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
2. In the Currently Installed Programs list, select Autodesk Batch Drawing Converter, and then click either Add/Remove or Change/Remove.
3. Select Remove, and then click Next.
4. When the Uninstall confirmation is displayed, click Next.
5. Click Finish.

• Fonts used in any drawings that you plan to convert must be located in the AutoCAD support path (for example: C:\Documents and Settings\(profile name)\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2005\R16.1\enu\support). If a drawing that you plan to convert uses fonts that are located elsewhere, any text that uses those fonts will not be visible in the converted drawing.
• When you create Autodesk or third-party custom objects within AutoCAD 2004 (or later) or AutoCAD LT 2004 (or later) DWG files and save your drawing with proxy graphics turned on, you can convert these drawings and maintain visual fidelity of the custom objects. However, you cannot edit the drawing in releases prior to AutoCAD 2004. To modify custom objects in previous releases, explode the custom objects in the drawing before you convert it.
• If you want to convert drawings created with Autodesk Architectural Desktop or AutoCAD Mechanical, use the Save To AutoCAD DWG feature before you convert the drawing.
• For drawings that contain custom objects, it is recommended that you do not use the Batch Drawing Converter to convert them to a newer release.
• When a drawing that contains custom objects is converted, the custom objects themselves do not get converted. Unexpected results might occur when you attempt to open the converted drawing in a custom object application.
• The Autodesk Batch Drawing Converter does not support password-protected DWG files for batch conversion. Before you convert a drawing file that is password protected, make sure you remove the password protection.
• Because drawing files are converted "in place," it is recommended that you either use the default backup file option or create a copy of your files before you run Batch Drawing Converter. It's a good idea to make backup copies of your files before doing any kind of automated batch processing.
• When Batch Drawing Converter converts files, it does not automatically load and convert external references (xrefs) attached to those files. The xref files must be explicitly named in the drawing list. You can save the drawing list as a file with a .bcl extension and add file names to it later.
• Batch Drawing Converter removes the previews from drawings that it processes. To restore a preview, open and save the drawing in AutoCAD.
• If a file is open or being used by another program, Batch Drawing Converter displays the status of the file as "Sharing Violation".