Autodesk Design Review 2008: JT Import Feature Overview

JT is a 3D data format developed by UGS Corporation and used for product visualization and CAD data exchange. One of the new features of Autodesk Design Review 2008 is the ability to import a JT file. The file gets converted to a 3D DWF. The ability to import JT files is available as a plug-in for Autodesk Design Review. When released, it can be downloaded from:

www.autodesk.com/dwf-plugins

A JT file is imported and converted to 3D DWF by:

1. When you open Autodesk Design Review 2008 without specifying a DWF file, this is what you see:
   
   Notice how the Autodesk logo is now in black. "Luke, I am your father..."

2. Without a DWF file already open, the Import capability is not available from the File menu. Grrrrr!
   

3. So you can open a dummy DWF file.
   
   Longtime Autodesk customer, Charles Bliss of Applied Mechanics, has created a dummy DWF file called EmptyBase.DWF explicitly for this purpose. Thanks Charles.

4. With a DWF file open, Import is now available from the file menu.
   

5. Selecting import brings up the Import dialog. You can use the pull down to select the desired file type - this case, JT.
   
   As installed, Autodesk Design Review also imports DWG and DXF files. Importing of DGN files is available via another plug-in that will also eventually be available on www.autodesk.com/dwf-plugins.

6. Using the standard Windows browsing technique, you navigate to the desired folder and pick the desired JT file.
   

7. Autodesk Design Review imports the JT file and converts it to a 3D DWF.
   
   The viewing, printing, markup, and measurement capabilities of Autodesk Design Review are now available for that design data.

The ability to get different forms of data into DWF, e.g. Microsoft Word documents, Microsoft Excel workbooks, Microsoft Project schedules is available via the Autodesk DWF Writer for 2D. The DWF Writer for 3D captures data via OpenGL. In addition to the DWF Writer, Autodesk Design Review supports opening various image file formats. Support for other forms of data has now been extended in the 3D realm with the inclusion of the JT import feature. Whether data is in an Autodesk format or not, it can be placed into DWF. Having one file format that can house all of your project data, in one file, for all of your project members, that can be shared across the entire life cycle of your project, really makes DWF go beyond the paper.