Convert ACO to DWG

An ArCon object file may need conversion when its contents must be supplied to an AutoCAD-based consultant or inserted into a DWG drawing set. Because ACO is an ArCon object format, not a general CAD exchange format, the usual process is to open it in ArCon, place or export the object, and then create a DWG through DXF-capable CAD software.

What the ACO format is

In the CAD context, ACO is an ArCon object file associated with Eleco’s ArCon architectural planning software. It is used for individual architectural or interior-design objects and object collections, such as furniture, fixtures, building components, or other reusable 3D elements. Architects, house designers, interior planners, and ArCon object-library users may encounter it.

ACO is different from .acp, which is the ArCon project format used for complete building or interior-design projects. An ACO file is not normally a standalone floor plan or a complete project. AutoCAD, BricsCAD, DraftSight, FreeCAD, and general online converters generally cannot open it directly.

What the DWG format is

DWG is a native drawing database format associated with AutoCAD and supported by many CAD applications. It can store editable lines, arcs, polylines, text, dimensions, blocks, layers, hatches, and, depending on the application and file version, 3D entities.

DWG is suitable when the recipient needs to edit the converted geometry, coordinate it with other CAD drawings, or add it to construction documentation. The DWG version must match the recipient’s software; an application may require an older or newer save version before it can open the file reliably.

How to convert ACO to DWG

Use ArCon and a DWG-capable CAD application

1. Install the ArCon release that created the file, or a compatible release, and open or import the .aco object through ArCon’s object or library tools. An ACO file may not open through the normal project-open command.
2. Insert the object into an ArCon project or open it in the relevant object editor. Confirm that the object displays correctly and set its intended orientation, scale, and position.
3. Check the ArCon edition’s export commands. Depending on the release, it may expose a 2D or 3D DXF export, or another 3D export format. Menu names vary, so use the installed version’s help system if File → Export → DXF is not present.
4. Export the required view or object to .dxf. A 2D export creates a projected drawing; it does not preserve the ArCon object as a parametric object. A 3D export is available only in editions and workflows that support it.
5. Open the DXF in AutoCAD, BricsCAD, DraftSight, or another CAD application that can save DWG. Inspect the insertion units and measure a known object dimension before saving.
6. Use File → Save As and select the DWG version required by the recipient. Reopen the resulting .dwg and check geometry, layers, blocks, text, hatches, and dimensions.

ArCon may not provide a usable DWG export for every ACO object. If its installed edition can export only an intermediate 3D format, convert that format in a CAD application that supports both the exported source and DWG. Do not rename .aco to .dwg; changing the extension does not change the file structure.

Desktop alternatives and online services

ODA File Converter can convert between supported DWG and DXF versions, but it is not an ArCon ACO reader and cannot perform the first conversion step. The same limitation applies to most general CAD programs: they can process the DXF produced by ArCon, not the proprietary ACO object file.

Reputable online CAD services such as CloudConvert or Convertio may support selected DXF and DWG conversions, but they do not generally support ArCon ACO as an input format. Use an online service only after ArCon has produced a supported intermediate file, and confirm that the service lists the exact source and target formats before uploading. Confidential building data should be converted locally.

Quality and compatibility limits

The conversion normally transfers visible geometry or a projection, not ArCon’s object-library metadata. Parametric construction properties, materials, textures, object behavior, attachment points, library classifications, and rendering settings may be discarded or reduced to ordinary CAD entities.

2D output can contain flattened outlines instead of editable 3D geometry. 3D output may lose surface organization, solids, materials, or object names during intermediate conversion. Fonts, layer names, hatch patterns, lineweights, symbols, and units can also change. Dimensions may be exploded or absent, and imported objects may require manual cleanup.

Keep the original .aco file and, if applicable, the containing .acp project as the authoritative source. Treat the DWG as an exchange copy and verify at least one known dimension and the required view before delivery.