AutoCADderFriday, June 08, 2007
Design Review as a DGN viewing tool
Autodesk Design Review is in the first place a viewing and markup tool for DWF, DWFx and DWG files. But with the DGN plugin, you can simply use it to view also DGN v8 files. We have recently received a bunch of DGN files for a project - this tool allows us to measure basic dimensions before we further process or convert such files.
When using Design Review for DGN files, don't forget to open the DGN files by Import (not by Open), or just drag and drop them to Design Review. You probably won't be able to open some DGN files as Design Review supports only the curent version of DGN files - version 8.
Don't forget - both the Design Review 2008 and the DGN plugin are free.
When using Design Review for DGN files, don't forget to open the DGN files by Import (not by Open), or just drag and drop them to Design Review. You probably won't be able to open some DGN files as Design Review supports only the curent version of DGN files - version 8.
Don't forget - both the Design Review 2008 and the DGN plugin are free.
Labels: Design Review, DGN, DWF
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Autodesk DWF tools updated
Autodesk has recently updated all of its free DWF tools.
On the publishing side - for AutoCAD 2008 there is a new DWFx driver allowing to publish DWFx files directly from AutoCAD Plot (ePlot DWFx). XPS-style .dwfx files do not need any viewer to display on Windows Vista computers. I would expect Autodesk includes this in a shipping boxes - but probably the have missed the shipping deadline or the DWFx driver is scheduled to be updated more frequently. For non-Autodesk applications, there is a new DWF Writer 2008 (aka V3.5). All the 2D/3D versions, Solidworks/CATIA plugins etc. are now in a single installation. Unsurprisingly, DWF Writes 2008 also adds support for Windows Vista.
On the viewing/reviewing side there is now a single free application - the new Autodesk Design Review 2008. It has a lot of new functions (see the Beyond the Paper blog), the most important for me is the measuring/redlining of 3D DWF files, DGN support, DWFx support. Autodesk has also rebranded its DWFit web service - the viewerless web viewing of DWF files is now Freewheel (the original name of the development project).
On the publishing side - for AutoCAD 2008 there is a new DWFx driver allowing to publish DWFx files directly from AutoCAD Plot (ePlot DWFx). XPS-style .dwfx files do not need any viewer to display on Windows Vista computers. I would expect Autodesk includes this in a shipping boxes - but probably the have missed the shipping deadline or the DWFx driver is scheduled to be updated more frequently. For non-Autodesk applications, there is a new DWF Writer 2008 (aka V3.5). All the 2D/3D versions, Solidworks/CATIA plugins etc. are now in a single installation. Unsurprisingly, DWF Writes 2008 also adds support for Windows Vista.
On the viewing/reviewing side there is now a single free application - the new Autodesk Design Review 2008. It has a lot of new functions (see the Beyond the Paper blog), the most important for me is the measuring/redlining of 3D DWF files, DGN support, DWFx support. Autodesk has also rebranded its DWFit web service - the viewerless web viewing of DWF files is now Freewheel (the original name of the development project).
Labels: Design Review, DWF, DWFx, Freewheel
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Design Review is now free
The DWF Viewer seems to be replaced by a more capable free tool now - Autodesk Design Review 2007. Design Review can not only view DWF files (2D and 3D) but it can also markup and measure CAD data.
The free Design Review version from www.autodesk.com/designreview-download (24MB) is too small to contain the DWG Viewer which was in the original commercial version but you can download the DWG Viewer (also for free) from www.autodesk.com/dwgtrueview-download
Making Design Review free is a generous move but it will definitely broaden the use of DWF for markup and review cycles.
The free Design Review version from www.autodesk.com/designreview-download (24MB) is too small to contain the DWG Viewer which was in the original commercial version but you can download the DWG Viewer (also for free) from www.autodesk.com/dwgtrueview-download
Making Design Review free is a generous move but it will definitely broaden the use of DWF for markup and review cycles.
Labels: Design Review, DWF, viewer
