Why was Autodesk Design Review originally called DWF Composer?

Whereas the Autodesk DWF Viewer is free, Autodesk Design Review provides additional capabilities at a modest cost. These capabilities primarily include markup and measurement that facilitate an electronic review process that integrates with Autodesk design software.

Well if Autodesk Design Review is Autodesk's design review application, why was it originally called Autodesk DWF Composer? Autodesk Design Review also provides the ability to drag and drop sheets from one DWF file to another. You can "compose" one DWF file using sheets from several DWF files. You can also drag and drop image formats into Autodesk Design Review and save them as a DWF file. You drag the images right into Autodesk Design Review - you don't need to convert them to DWF first. You can also drag and drop entire DWF files from Windows Explorer into Autodesk Design Review and add of the sheets at once.

Autodesk Design Review allows sheets from different DWF files to be aggregated into one DWF file. This is particularly useful for combining DWF files generated from non-Autodesk applications, e.g. Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, with DWF files generated by Autodesk applications, e.g. AutoCAD.

As such, a DWF file can correspond to an issue or addendum.

• Using Autodesk Design Review to add and remove sheets, you can compose one DWF file that contains everything for the issue or addendum.
• Since DWF files can be printed in their entirety or on a sheet by sheet basis, combining all project data into a single DWF file allows you to send one file to your reprographer for your printing needs. You would then order as many or as few sheets as needed.
• To republish a new issue or addendum, the simplest process to use is to regenerate the entire DWF file; however, if time does not permit this, you can use Autodesk Design Review to replace (remove and add) individual sheets in the DWF file. The individual sheets can be generated by right clicking and selecting PUBLISH on any node in the tree structure of the Sheet Set Manager.

Combining different aspects, e.g. design drawings, cost estimates, schedules, punch lists, into a single file allows an entire project's worth of documentation to stay together and remain consistent. This facilitates the design review process for all aspects of a project.

The ability to serve CAD data and non-CAD data alike is another example of how an electronic process goes beyond loose sheets of paper. ...and you'll never have to tell your boss that "my dog ate my homework."