Beyond the Paper

DWF in the News

With the release of Autodesk Inventor R11 DWF Extension, Autodesk Design Review 2007, and Autodesk DWF Viewer 7.0, DWF has been in the news of late. I thought I would share some of the news.

AEC Weekly - Solutions from Synergis: DWF Evolution
URL: http://aec.cadalyst.com/aec/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=333483

Desktop Engineering - DWF Composer Renamed, New Tools Added
URL: http://www.deskeng.com/News/Headlines/DWF-Composer-Renamed,-New-Tools-Added-200606161075.html

START-IT Magazine- Design File Sharing
URL: http://www.specialtypub.com/startit/article.asp?article_id=3573&SECTION=2

Cadalyst - Design Review 2007 takes over as Autodesk's solution for Review and mark-up of 2D, 3D DWF files
URL: http://www.cadalyst.com/cadalyst/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=335824

ConstrucTech Design File Sharing
URL: http://www.specialtypub.com/article.asp?article_id=3571

MCAD Café - Autodesk Accelerates Design Review Process for Customers in Manufacturing, Building and Infrastructure Industries
URL: http://www10.mcadcafe.com/nbc/articles/view_article.php?section=CorpNews&articleid=280930

TenLinks.com - Autodesk Design Review Released
URL: http://www.tenlinks.com/NEWS/PR/AUTODESK/061506_designreview.htm

Autodesk Accelerates Design Review Process for Customers in Manufacturing, Building and Infrastructure Industries
DallasNews.com
URL: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=danews.story&STORY=/www/story/06-15-2006/0004381159&EDATE=THU+Jun+15+2006,+08:30+AM

Finanz Nachrichten
URL: http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2006-06/artikel-6573441.asp

KRON 4
URL: http://kron.com/Global/story.asp?S=5034282

KVVU-TV
URL: http://www.kvvu.com/Global/story.asp?S=5034257

TXCN.com - New Products & Services
URL: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=TXCN.story&STORY=/www/story/06-15-2006/0004381159&EDATE=THU+Jun+15+2006,+08:30+AM

Ventura County Star - CA News
URL: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=VENCTYCA.story&STORY=/www/story/06-15-2006/0004381159&EDATE=Jun+15,+2006

Yahoo!
URL: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060615/sfth004.html?.v=53

CNN Money
URL: http://money.cnn.com/
Enter symbol at top of page under "Get a Quote".

Motley Fool
URL: http://quote.fool.com/Index.asp
Enter symbol next to "Quotes" at top of page.

Quicken.com
URL: http://quicken.com/
Enter symbol under "Quotes & Research" at upper left.

USA Today
URL: http://www.Saturday.com/money/front.htm
Enter symbol in "Quick Quote" in the center well, midway down the page.

Fidelity Investments
URL: http://www.fidelity.com
Enter symbol in "Get Quote" then click on the "News" tab from the pop-up window ("Detailed News" expands view).

Trade Financial
URL: HTTP://us.trade.com/e/t/invest/quotes research
Enter symbol in the "Quotes" section directly under the navigation tabs.

NASDAQ.com
URL: http://quotes.nasdaq.com/asp/MasterDataEntry.asp?page=Company%20News
Enter symbol next to "Company News".

Reuters
URL: http://reuters.com/
Enter symbol in "Quote" box.  When new page renders, click on "Press Releases" from the menu on left.

Bloomberg
URL: http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?
Enter ticker at top left.  When new page renders, next to "More on (ticker)", select "News" from picklist.

Can I give the Autodesk DWF Viewer to others?

The answer in the FAQ on the Autodesk web site is:

Yes. You can redistribute Autodesk DWF Viewer to anyone without prior approval from Autodesk, subject to the terms of the license agreement. The easiest way to share it with someone else is to include a short message and the URL when you send a DWF file. Here is an example: Use the free Autodesk DWF Viewer to read this file.

If you examine your license agreement (license.txt file gets installed) for Autodesk DWF Viewer 7.0, you will find:

You understand and acknowledge that this Agreement provides for the copying and distribution of the Software in its entirety and does not allow for partial distribution of any of the components (.dlls or other files) that make up the Software. Creating derivatives of the Software is strictly prohibited. Redistribution of: (i) the Software that is integrated with other technology as a component or standalone product and does not provide end user access to the complete Autodesk DWF Viewer install process, including this Agreement; (ii) incomplete, modified, reverse engineered, or otherwise altered copies of the Software, is not permitted and will result in termination of this Agreement, in addition to any other rights or remedies of Autodesk.

Based on the license agreement, a common strategy is for application developers to include DWFViewerSetup.exe with their applications and have their users run it as a prerequisite to installing their applications. The MSI file is also available. The ability to include the free Autodesk DWF Viewer with applications that add value to the DWF experience helps DWF go beyond the paper.

API Command Collections Work Like a Charm

Autodesk DWF Viewer discussion group member, apuhjee, reports that the new command collections that are part of the Autodesk DWF Viewer 7.0 API work like a charm.

Download Autodesk Design Review 2007 / Autodesk DWF Viewer 7.0 API Help File

He uses the API to provide a simple viewer that has two icons: one for print and another for save. His screen shot shows how he is using the control with this minimal interface.

Software Quality Assurance Engineer, John Schmier, noted that the Commands collection returns strings that are for internal use. You should only use the strings that are documented in the API help file for the Commands object. If you use command strings that are not documented, they may change in the next release. Autodesk will only maintain code compatibility between releases for strings that are documented.

The ability to customize the user interface for a specific class of users is another way DWF goes beyond the paper.

Autodesk DWG TrueView 2007 versus Autodesk Design Review 2007

I sometimes get questions from users. Here is a recent one:

Scott,
One of our project managers here recently purchased the upgrade from Autodesk DWF Composer R1 to R2. He claims that according to the Autodesk website, this version should be able to support 2007 drawings. I looked at the website and the website is very confusing when it comes to Autodesk DWF Composer R2 vs. Autodesk Design Review 2007. Are they actually different software? When you go to "How to Buy" on the website under Autodesk Design Review, it only lists Autodesk DWF Composer R2 or Autodesk DWF Composer R2 upgrade from R1. He purchased the upgrade expecting to get the latest version. Can you clear up the confusion for us? Is there anyway to get the latest version that supports 2007 DWGs? Is it a separate upgrade fee?

There are a few factors in this time of transition. Let me try to straighten this out for you. When you purchased the Autodesk DWF Composer R2 product, you actually got 4 applications:

1. Autodesk DWF Composer application (does not support the newest DWF files)
2. Autodesk DWG viewer (does not view AutoCAD 2007 drawings)
3. Autodesk Inventor View 10
4. Autodesk DWF Writer 2.0

Autodesk DWF Composer R2 is old. The product has since been renamed to Autodesk Design Review. When you purchase Autodesk Design Review 2007, you get 4 applications:

1. Autodesk Design Review 2007 application (supports the newest DWF files)
2. Autodesk DWG TrueView 2007 (supports AutoCAD 2007 drawings)
3. Autodesk Inventor View 11
4. Autodesk DWF Writer 3.1

The trial of Autodesk Design Review 2007 is not yet available. That page still allows people to download a trial of Autodesk DWF Composer R2. The same is true for the upgrade page. These pages will be updated to Autodesk Design Review 2007 near the end of July or early August.

The DWG viewer of Autodesk DWF Composer R2 has now been replaced by Autodesk DWG TrueView 2007. Autodesk DWG TrueView is free. You can now download Autodesk DWG TrueView 2007 from the Autodesk web site at: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=8077853 .

Autodesk Inventor View is also free. You can download it at: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=7333738.

At the same time that Autodesk DWF Viewer 7.0 and Autodesk Design Review 2007 were released, the free Autodesk DWF Writer was updated to version 3.1. It can be downloaded from the Autodesk web site at: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=6400324.

Though the Autodesk Design Review 2007 CD contains some applications that are available elsewhere, they are placed on the product CD because they are important to the review process. When you buy Autodesk Design Review, you are getting the ability to: aggregate DWF content, markup DWF files as well as other formats, measure DWF files, and batch print them. A key factor is that the markups round trip with Autodesk design software such as AutoCAD, Revit, and Inventor. Supporting an electronic review workflow is so key that the product has been renamed to Autodesk Design Review.

The ability to replace a paper-based review process with an electronic one is another way DWF goes beyond the paper.

C# Sample now supplied with PrintUtil.dll

DWF Technical Evangelist and Software Engineer, Ben Cochran, has added a C# sample program that demonstrates how to use his PrintUtil DLL print a DWF file using the Autodesk DWF Viewer control. PrintUtil.dll gives programmers the ability to have direct access to a device context from .NET. Ben's updated sample (PrintUtil.zip) is part of the list of DWF programming samples:

DWF Programming Samples.

New Maximize Canvas Sample from John Schmier

Software Quality Assurance Engineer, John Schmier, has created a new DWF programming sample that demonstrates how to maximize the DWF viewing canvas by turning off the menu toolbars. His sample has been added to the list of DWF programming samples:

DWF Programming Samples

Users who wish to program with DWF can get started with:

Programming with the Open DWF Standard

The new sample requires Autodesk DWF Viewer 7.0 or Autodesk Design Review 2007.

Email an Open DWF File from Autodesk DWF Viewer

DWF user, Colin Brooking, inquired as to whether DWF files could be sent via email.

Yes you can send any open DWF file via email. To send a DWF file from Autodesk DWF Viewer:

1. Open the DWF file you want to send.

2. Choose File Send....

3. The default email application opens, creating a new email message. The subject includes the name of the DWF file being sent. The DWF file is attached to the email automatically. In the email message body, an URL to the free Autodesk DWF Viewer is provided, enabling recipients to download the application if they don't have it installed already.

4. Type the appropriate email address(es) into the To..., Cc..., and Bcc... text boxes.

5. Optional: Modify the contents in the Subject: text box.

6. Optional: Type a message.

7. Click Send.

Notes

• If you are viewing an older DWF file (saved in pre-DWF 6.0 format), that saved file is updated to DWF 6.0 when you send it.
• The Send command is only available if your system includes a MAPI-enabled email program. MAPI is an acronym for Messaging Application Programming Interface. Many email applications, such as Microsoft® Outlook®, Outlook Express, and QUALCOMM® Eudora® are MAPI-enabled.
• In addition, if your computer is offline, the Send command is also unavailable.

At Autodesk, we have a Microsoft Exchange server. I have Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 installed on my laptop. When viewing a DWF file with Autodesk DWF Viewer 7.0:

I can select Send... from the File pull down menu:

and because I have Outlook installed with a connection to the Exchange server, a Microsoft Office Outlook email dialog comes up:

Having a file size small enough to transmit via email is another way DWF goes beyond the paper.

Autodesk DWF Viewer 7.0 Allows Finer Printing Control via UI

In two previous blog postings, I noted how Autodesk DWF Viewer 6.5 allowed for finer control of printing. This was possible via a registry setting. For Autodesk DWF Viewer 7.0, this same functionality has been added to the user interface (UI) via the Print dialog instead of a registry setting.

The ability to select between:

• Center on paper (formerly REG_DWORD pplsvpPlacementModifier = 0 in Autodesk DWF Viewer 6.5)
• Center in printer margins (formerly REG_DWORD pplsvpPlacementModifier = 1)
• Align to upper left
• Align to upper right
• Align to lower left (formerly REG_DWORD pplsvpPlacementModifier = 2)
• Align to lower right

is enabled when:

1. Scale is selected instead of Fit to page.
2. Clip pages is selected instead of Tile pages.

By replacing a little known registry setting with a more intuitive user interface, the new Autodesk DWF Viewer makes it easier to get DWF files to the paper as desired.

HOOPS Application Framework 14.0 supports DWF for C++ Programmers

I am not a graphics programmer [but I play one on TV :-) My apologies go out to international readers who have not seen this aspirin commercial on American television.]. Even if you are not a graphics programmer, what do you think this program does?

HC_Open_Segment ("?picture");
  HC_Set_Color ("lines = red");
  HC_Insert_Line (0.0. 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0);
HC_Close_Segment ();
HC_Update_Display ();

The code above is actual C++ code that will work with the HOOPS 3D graphics system. The program sets the line color to red, inserts a line from (0,0,0) to (1,1,1), and updates the display. The red line appears on the screen. This same exact source code works across a variety of platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Macintosh OSX. How easy was that?

The reason I bring up HOOPS is that release 14.0 of the HOOPS Application Framework supports the ability to save 3D or 2D data as a DWF file. HOOPS makes DWF generation very easy.

HC_Open_Segment ("/driver/whip2d/myFile.dwf"");
  HC_Set_Color ("lines = red");
  HC_Insert_Line (0.0. 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0);
HC_Close_Segment ();
HC_Update_Display ();

By specifying the segment as the DWF driver instead of the display, a DWF file is generated. Again, how easy was that? This application framework is used by many organizations in the CAD industry. So you can expect DWF files to be generated from HOOPS-based products in the future.

The HOOPS Application Framework supports the reading and writing of both 3D and 2D DWF files. Programmers can check out HOOPS at:

http://www.hoops3d.com/products/3daf.html

By being able to originate from and then interoperate with a variety of applications, DWF goes beyond the paper.

Removing Old DWG TrueView 2007 Before Installing DWG TrueView 2007 Update

In an earlier posting, I noted that an updated Autodesk DWG TrueView 2007 is now available. This update corrects a problem where administrative rights were required to execute the application. Autodesk is working to remove these restrictions from its DWF-related products. Although the update (build 139) works properly for new installations, some steps are required to remove the old Autodesk DWG TrueView 2007 (build 136).

Software Engineer, Suresh Alapati, reports that this is a registry problem of Autodesk DWG TrueView 2007. To solve the problem, follow these steps:

1. Login as an Admin user.

2. Uninstall Autodesk DWG TrueView 2007 Build 136.

3. Logout from the Admin user and login as the Restricted user.

4. Open Registry Editor and navigate to My Computer> HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Autodesk.
   Always be careful when editing the registry and back it up first.

5. Delete the whole folder "DWG TrueView."

6. Logout from the Restricted user and login as the Admin user.

7. Install the DWG TrueView Build 139.

8. Run the application as the Admin user.

9. Logout from the Admin user and login as the Restricted user.

10. Run the application as the Restricted user.

As a result, the application works as expected for both Admin and Restricted users.