CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
October 27, 2004
Product News
New, Free Autodesk Tools for Viewing and Converting DWG Data Enhance Communication and Collaboration
In response to customers' needs, Autodesk, Inc. is empowering DWG users with new, free tools: DWG TrueView for viewing DWG files, and DWG TrueConvert for translating DWG files between newer and older versions. DWG TrueView and DWG TrueConvert are available to download for free* from the company Web site.
"Our customers need to know that the data they share can be accessed with accuracy by suppliers and partners," said John Sanders, vice president, Autodesk Platform Technology Division. "Where our customers have relied on inaccurate or unreliable tools in order to communicate or re-use DWG data, now they'll have the power and reliability of authentic DWG format files at their fingertips."
Autodesk customer research shows that up to 85 percent of AutoCAD users frequently share DWG files with their design counterparts. DWG TrueView and DWG TrueConvert help customers better communicate and manage CAD data, with more options for sharing the file version and format best suited to the situation. DWG TrueView software lets users accurately view, plot, print and publish to DWG files. DWG TrueConvert software updates the Autodesk Batch Drawing Converter and provides conversion tools for DWG files to be translated from one version to another.
Innovation Based on Viewing Fidelity
Product engineers often share DWG files with design teams throughout the development phase. Equipped with the same viewing engine used in AutoCAD 2006 software, DWG TrueView provides unsurpassed viewing and plotting fidelity that engineers require to ensure the accuracy of their work-and eliminate barriers to innovation.
Users also can publish DWG files to the DWF file format for compact versions of the same accurate, detail-rich design documents. DWF files are easy to send electronically for review, so that non-technical team members working in manufacturing, marketing or purchasing can easily view, print and mark up DWF versions of complex designs and models without modifying the original design files or needing knowledge of AutoCAD software.
More Flexible Collaboration
Now DWG TrueConvert allows for backwards and forward compatibility of DWG files: It can batch-convert files from the latest release format (2004) to R14 or 2000 DWG formats and from AutoCAD version 2 to the latest release. Because DWG TrueConvert does not require users to have the latest AutoCAD version installed, project team members can maximize collaboration on drawings even if they have not upgraded.
DWG TrueView and DWG TrueConvert are examples of Autodesk's latest advances in industry and technology standards that help customers make the most of their design data and foster innovation. For example, Autodesk co-founded the Open Spatial Enterprise industry initiative to develop an interoperable and open spatial data management technology platform. In addition, the Autodesk RealDWG developer toolkit was recently introduced to help third-party application developers create and market products that read and write the world's most commonly used design data formats such as DWG and DXF.
Availability
DWG TrueView is available for immediate download in nine languages at www.autodesk.com/dwgtrueview. DWG TrueConvert can be downloaded beginning in early November in 14 languages at www.autodesk.com/dwgtrueconvert.
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