You might have noticed read-only warning while opening .dwg files in DraftSight at some point. Here are possible solutions that can help to get rid of this warning:

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Solution:
1. Make sure the file is accessible:

• Right-click the .dwg file.
• Choose Properties.
• Uncheck "Read-only" and click OK.

Note: This may also need to be done for the folder the .dwg file is in, particularly if multiple files all open read-only. Check to see if the root folder is zipped or compressed, and unzip if necessary. 

2. Check for .dwl\\.dwl2 files:

What are .dwl files:

Whenever a ".dwg" file is opened in DraftSight lock files are also generated at the location where the file is saved with extension ".dwl/.dwl2” and whenever the file is closed in the software these files are automatically deleted.

These are temporary files (DWgLock) that lock files when a user has file open so that other users can't open same file at the same time. These files store information like:

• Name of user who has file open
• Machine name where file is open
• Time stamp

To eliminate read only warning:

• Go to the file location
• Check for same file name with extension ".dwl" or “.dwl2”
• If the file with .dwl/.dwl2 extension is available, delete those files and then try to open your file.

3. Check for folder permissions:
Check if user has full permissions or access rights to the file or the folder that user is trying to access. For this right-click the file or folder, choose Properties, and click the Security tab.

Sometimes if user do not have full permissions to the folder .dwl file do not get deleted automatically when .dwg file is closed causing read-only warnings.

Note:

In some cases .dwl files do not appear if these files are set to hidden status in folder options. These files can be shown by disabling option "Don't show hidden files, folders and drives" from folder options.