Convert DWG to PLT — Send AutoCAD Drawings Straight to a Plotter

• Converts single DWG files or entire folders in one batch
• Outputs standard HPGL/HPGL2 PLT files compatible with any plotter
• Preserves line weights, layers, and drawing scale
• Keeps all processing local — drawings never leave your PC
• Provides a command-line interface for scripted and automated workflows
• Includes a 30-day free trial with full functionality, no registration required

Download Total CAD Converter and start converting DWG drawings to PLT today.

DWG vs PLT: What Is the Difference?

DWG is AutoCAD's native binary format, in use since 1982. A DWG file stores complete design data: 2D and 3D geometry, layers, blocks, dimensions, linetypes, hatches, text styles, and metadata. The format is proprietary — reading it correctly requires AutoCAD or a DWG-compatible viewer like DraftSight or LibreCAD. DWG files are the working format for engineers, architects, and drafters who need to edit and revise drawings.

PLT is a plotter file based on the HPGL (Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language) and HPGL2 standard. It contains pen-movement instructions: pen-up, pen-down, pen selection, coordinate sequences, and line speed parameters. Plotters, wide-format printers, and CNC cutting machines read PLT natively. No CAD software is needed on the device that receives the file. PLT is the print-ready format — it describes what the plotter physically does, not what a designer intended to draw.

You cannot send a DWG file directly to most plotters. The plotter needs HPGL instructions, not CAD geometry. Converting DWG to PLT strips the design-level data and produces a lightweight, device-readable file. This lets you send drawings to plot stations, print shops, and CNC machines that have no AutoCAD license installed.

How to Convert DWG to PLT

• Step 1. Launch Total CAD Converter. The left panel shows a Windows folder tree for navigation.
• Step 2. Browse to the folder that contains your DWG files. The central panel lists all supported CAD drawings in that folder.
• Step 3. Check the DWG files you want to convert. Click Check All to select the entire folder for batch conversion.
• Step 4. Click PLT in the format toolbar at the top of the window. PLT is listed under the HPGL group.
• Step 5. In the settings dialog, choose a destination folder and configure plotter options: paper size, orientation, pen width, line weight scale, and color mode (color or black-and-white).
• Step 6. Press Start. The converter processes all selected DWG files and saves PLT output to your chosen folder. Original DWG files remain untouched.

Batch jobs with hundreds of DWG files typically complete in under a minute. The converter remembers your last settings, so repeat jobs require only selecting files and pressing Start.

Command-Line Conversion

Total CAD Converter includes a command-line interface for automated and server-side workflows. Example:

CADConverter.exe C:\Drawings\*.dwg C:\Output\ -cHPGL

Use this in a .bat file or Windows Task Scheduler job to convert incoming DWG drawings to PLT overnight, on a fixed schedule, or whenever new files arrive in a watched folder. The command-line version runs without any GUI and fits into existing plot pipelines.

Why Use Total CAD Converter?

No AutoCAD required. Total CAD Converter uses its own DWG rendering engine. You do not need AutoCAD, DraftSight, or any other CAD application on the conversion machine. Install the converter, point it at your DWG files, and convert.

Batch processing. Select a folder with 200 DWG drawings and convert them all to PLT in a single run. Each drawing gets its own PLT file, named to match the source. No manual file-by-file handling.

Plotter-specific settings. Adjust pen width, line weight scale, paper size (A4, A3, A1, custom), orientation, and scale factor before conversion. The PLT output matches what your plotter expects — no adjustments needed at the print station.

Layer control. Choose which layers to include or exclude in the PLT output. Construction lines, reference layers, or notes can be omitted from the plotter file without editing the source DWG.

100% offline processing. All conversion runs locally on your PC. Technical drawings with proprietary dimensions, client floor plans, or classified schematics never leave your machine.

13+ output formats. Beyond PLT/HPGL, convert DWG to PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, SVG, WMF, CGM, DXF, and more — all from the same interface.

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Total CAD Converter Customer Reviews 2026

"We send drawings to three different print shops weekly, each running different HPGL plotters. Total CAD Converter handles the DWG-to-PLT conversion in batch — we queue up 80 drawings, press Start, and come back to a folder of ready PLT files. No AutoCAD on the export machine, no manual steps. It has saved us hours every week."

Michael Sanderson CAD Manager, Engineering Firm

"Our office still uses two legacy plotters that only accept HPGL input. When our team moved to AutoCAD 2024, we needed a reliable way to get PLT output without reverting to old software. Total CAD Converter solved it perfectly. Line weights come out correct, layer control works as expected, and the 30-day trial was more than enough to evaluate it."

Patricia Lund Architectural Technician

"Our CNC router reads PLT files directly. Clients send DWG files, and I used to convert them manually one by one. With Total CAD Converter I set up a .bat script using the command-line interface — it converts the entire incoming folder to PLT automatically. Straightforward setup, reliable output."

Dmitri Volkov CNC Operator, Fabrication Shop

DWG to PLT Conversion: FAQ ▼