Beyond the Paper

Navisworks NWD or Navisworks NWF file format?

So what exactly is the difference between the two Navisworks file formats?

NWD File Format

When you save to a Navisworks (NWD) file, all loaded models, the scene's environment, the current view, and favorite viewpoints (including redlines and comments) are all saved to a single file. This is known as publishing a Navisworks file and creates a "snapshot" of the project. An NWD file is considered a complete file and can be opened in any Navisworks product and the Navisworks Freedom viewer.

NWF File Format

When you save to the Navisworks file format (NWF), only a list with pointers to the files currently loaded is saved, along with the scene's environment, the current view, clash results, if available, and favorite viewpoints (including redlines and comments).

To open an NWF file, a Navisworks product is required, such as Review, Simulate, or Manage (not Freedom), as well as access to the original CAD files. (Note: Copies of the original CAD files may be used. However, they must have the same file names as the original files).

When you open a CAD file in Navisworks, by default, a corresponding cache file (NWC) is created, which contains all of the conversion details required by Navisworks. When you subsequently open that CAD file in Navisworks, it will check to see whether a cache file is available. If it is, then Navisworks will check to see whether the CAD file has been modified since it was last opened in Navisworks. If the file has not been modified, Navisworks will read the cache file, speeding up the loading process and utilizing less memory. If the CAD file has been modified, Navisworks will read the CAD file in again and re-create the cache.

It is strongly recommended that you use an NWF file when referencing several CAD files. This will prevent you from having to republish the Navisworks file whenever one of the CAD files is amended because the NWF file will open the most recent files available. The NWF file will read in the cache files of CAD files that have not been modified, which can significantly reduce the time to load the files and the amount of memory used.

For this reason, it is also strongly recommended that you use an NWF file when conducting clash tests. The original clash results will be saved in the NWF file. You can then modify the CAD files as necessary. When the NWF file is opened again, the revised CAD files will be opened, and the Clash Detective, having retained the original clash data, will determine that those clashes have already been resolved.

What is "Project Dragonfly"?

Project Dragonfly is an early stage entry level design application delivered over the web.

It is ideal for anyone who ever wanted an easy, intuitive floor planning tool. You can visualize ideas and organize changes in your living space.

The project welcomes all types of designers and no prior knowledge of computer aided design is required to join the fun.One can easily modify structural elements (walls, doors, windows) and even entire rooms - in real time.

You can either start with an existing design or you can select one of the many samples in the gallery. A "Furnish & Decorate" catalog allows for planning  using a variety of generic furniture options and views can be switched between 2D and 3D at anytime.

Go and take a look and share any thoughts you may have.

Thank you.

Introducing Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010

Autodesk® Navisworks® Freedom 2010 software is the free viewer for NWD files.

Autodesk Navisworks products can combine design data created with a variety of design tools, and then publish the entire model to NWD format including properties, comments, viewpoints and 4D playback.

Navisworks Freedom and the compact, secure, and streamable NWD file format give all project stakeholders access to the whole-project view. Quality is improved by enabling widespread real-time experience of entire design projects before they are real.

New Features

User Interface

ViewCube.The ViewCube is an on-screen widget, shaped like a cube, that rotates as you orbit your 3D scene and provides you with feedback about your current camera viewing angle in relation to the model world. 

SteeringWheels. SteeringWheels are task-based floating tool palettes that travel with the cursor to minimize tool access time. SteeringWheels provide access to different navigation tools grouped into various wheels depending on the navigation task and user skill level.

 

Button menus.In Autodesk Navisworks, some toolbar buttons exist in mutually-exclusive groups of which only one at a time can be selected. These buttons are now grouped under drop-down menus to improve accessibility and decrease screen clutter.

Artificial horizon. You can now place your model against a fixed artificial horizon so that it appears more realistic and does not float in mid air. The background of the 3D scene is split across the horizontal plane giving the effect of a sky and the ground. The resulting artificial horizon gives you an indication of your orientation in the 3D world.

Communication Center

Providing the Autodesk Navisworks team with an opportunity to notify you of updates and other noteworthy news.

Other Improvements

• Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2010 is available for 64-bit installations.

• Manual override option allows you to specify the distance of Near and Far Clipping Planes. 

• When entering invalid values in the Options Editor, you are notified of the error.

• Upgrades to the Autodesk Navisworks rendering engine (LADS) provide improved support for PNG transparencies and improved rendering consistency.

What do you make of the new release? Please feel free to provide feedback through the blog or by contacting me directly via email.

Thank you.

Autodesk's Guide to Sustainable Design

Catherine Palmer, our Industry Marketing Manager for Sustainable Design introduces the interactive, on-line guide, which highlights sustainable design principles and technologies for every phase of the project life cycle – whether new construction or renovation.

Autodesk developed the guide to help professionals better understand which decisions are critical, what steps to take, and how Autodesk solutions can help to create and deliver more sustainable designs. Users can explore each project phase to see the opportunities for impacting the efficient use of land, water, energy and materials, then dive deeper to learn more. 

Enjoy!

Beyond the Paper - Layout & Content Changes

Here's a heads up to our readers, that there are some changes in the pipeline as far as the "Beyond the Paper" blog is concerned.

Layout

I think it is time for a newer and fresher looking layout. Have been looking at some other, better outlined and presented contents and do have some ideas floating in brain-sphere as well as in a *.text file of Notepad.

I will try and introduce all changes at once but may have to bring them in step by step. We'll see..

Content

This blog will start to cover Navisworks product content going forward, to be precise Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage, Autodesk® Navisworks® Simulate, and Autodesk® Navisworks® Review - as well as the free Autodesk® Navisworks® Freedom viewer.

I am very happy about the addition and hope users are as excited.

There won't be any change as far as DWF, DWFx, Autodesk Design Review and DWF Writer content is concerned. We will continue to cover this here.

Here is a friendly welcome to the newly added products as well as the new readership.

-Volker

DWF to DWFx Batch Converter

To date, we had a number of inquiries from customers around this issue. Some are asking for a DWF to DWFx converter, others for a DWFx to DWF converter.

Well, we listened and came up with this little utility that covers the above stated. Please note that the enclosed is a DWF Toolkit sample application. The quality of the output is not guaranteed but it should be similar to what is produced by Autodesk Design Review 2009.

Here are some additional details:

"DWFxConverter application is a tool to convert a source DWF file to a DWFx file. This application needs to be run from the command prompt.

Usage: DWFxConverter.exe infile outfile

infile: File path to the source file

outfile:Specifies the directory and/or filename for the file being generated. If no path and only a file name is provided, the file is generated in the folder from which the command is executed.

Example: DWFxConverter.exe C:\DWF\ArborPress.dwf C:\DWFx\ArborPress.dwfx

In the command prompt, from the folder containing the application, type DWFxConverter.exe without parameters to display the usage for this application."

Download the DWFxConverter & enjoy!

-Volker

Wiimote Rear Projection with Autodesk Design Review

Check out this great "experimental" use case!

Nauman Mysorewala, CAD Manager at GBBN Architects in Cincinnati, OH, came up with this fantastic idea. Even better - he captured the whole thing on video.

Naumann describes the setup and use case in detail so other users can follow his lead.

Great job!

-Volker