Any stable and fast way to view DWG via F3?

[zhugecaomao]

Hi all,

I’m currently using the latest version of Total Commander together with AutoCAD and the CADView Lister Plugin.

My current workflow is:

- F3 on *.dwg → open with CADView Lister plugin
- Double-click / Enter → open with AutoCAD

However, CADView is not very stable on my system:
- sometimes it crashes
- font display is incorrect for some drawings
- compatibility with newer DWG files is not always good

So I’m looking for a more stable, faster, and more efficient DWG viewing solution.

Nowadays there are standalone viewers such as DWG FastView which work much better.

My questions are:

1. Is there any way to embed or host an external viewer like DWG FastView inside a TC Lister window? Creating a new lister plugin is too much for me
2. Alternatively, is there any way to make F3 launch DWG FastView only for *.dwg files?

I understand that
- Lister can set view method for specific extension, but only can choose internal viewer / plugin / explorer preview, not external EXE viewers such as DWG FastView.
- [Associations] can set for .dwg, but it is mainly for Enter / context menu actions, not standard F3
- [Extensions] also can set for .dwg, but it works with Alt+F3, not normal F3
- custom [Shortcuts] can be used to open with DWG FastView, but they affect other file types too

I would prefer to keep a consistent workflow:
- F3 = quick view for all file types
- but use an external DWG viewer specifically for *.dwg

Any recommended method, plugin, workaround, or script would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Horst.Epp]

ULister plugin with the Oracle files can also view .dwg files.

[zhugecaomao]

ULister plugin with the Oracle files can also view .dwg files.

Thank you so much for the reply, unfortunately ulister render cad format is very slow

[zhugecaomao]

Got another option: using lister plugin AppLoader can do it.

[macleod]

For me, CAD view 14.1.0.4 (latest) works well with all DWG generations (including 1032). I'm using it every day.

[white]

Moderator message from: white » 2026-05-15, 19:34 UTC

It seems a duplicate post was made in an attempt to edit the post.
I deleted the old post and kept the post with the edit, but removed quotation of the entire post.

[zhugecaomao]

For me, CAD view 14.1.0.4 (latest) works well with all DWG generations (including 1032). I'm using it every day.

Thanks. I am using version 12, let me try version 14, thanks

[macleod]

Thanks. I am using version 12, let me try version 14, thanks

Here you can find the latest version:
https://cadsofttools.com/products/cad-view-plugin-for-total-commander/

[zhugecaomao]

Version 14 has improved, but still got some problems