CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
29 November 2005
Product News
Application Developers Flock to DWF, Autodesk's Open Technology Platform, for Collaborating With Extended Teams
A growing number of companies and third-party software vendors are taking advantage of the DWF development platform to extend the distribution and management of design information to extended project teams, according to Autodesk, Inc. Already, several thousand third-party application developers have downloaded the free Autodesk DWF Toolkit to date in 2005, to produce more than 150 third-party applications now on the market-and hundreds of developers attended the first-ever DWF Developer Conference at Autodesk University.
Autodesk research shows that one designer's work is typically used by as many as 10 other people in an organization. With seven million Autodesk users worldwide-and more than two million of these using add-on applications-the need to share complex design information throughout the value chain multiplies significantly. This expanded set of users is typically unfamiliar with 3D modeling and related software; however, by integrating the DWF platform, developers help the rest of the value chain use design information, and Autodesk applications' support for DWF helps ensure interoperability with these third-party products. Using the Autodesk DWF Toolkit, developers can enhance their products and deliver new solutions that help solve workflow challenges for customers whose team extends beyond the design process to construction, production, sales and support, and other functions.
"DWF alone supports the kind of data-intensive file-sharing requirements characteristic of the manufacturing, infrastructure and building industries-industries that increasingly are using 3D models," said Jonathan Knowles, director of worldwide market development for Autodesk Collaboration Services. "Companies are taking advantage of DWF to target these markets with valuable capabilities that enhance product and project workflows for extended teams."
Users Extend Design Workflow to More Team Members with DWF Functionality
A wide range of products now on the market take advantage of the DWF platform to address customers' vertical market needs as well as basic functions that all industries share in common. For example, leading printer vendors such as HP and Oce have integrated DWF into their printing solutions, and Cadzation and Pinion Software offer publishing and security solutions.
Companies that are building industry-specific applications using the DWF platform include Applied Spatial Technologies, a developer of facilities management software. Applied Spatial Technologies used the Autodesk DWF Toolkit to build its FMDesktop solution, which allows building managers to transform floor plans and other visual drawings into compact, data-rich files that can be accessed and shared through a simple browser interface.
"Given the wealth of information facilities managers must handle, we use DWF to aid in their day-to-day facilities management and provide them with ready access to complex CAD information without requiring CAD software training," said Bob Fahlin, president and CTO of Applied Spatial.
Surpac Minex Group offers mining, engineering and environmental software products, and used the DWF Toolkit for its Surpac Vision solution.
According to Tony Hampton, chief executive officer, Surpac Minex Group, "DWF helps us develop new software products that let us better serve customers and open up new business opportunities."
The Autodesk DWF Toolkit is among the tools and initiatives that are part of Autodesk's commitment to advance interoperability and foster innovation. Autodesk offers these tools to help application developers create and market products that read and write the world's most commonly used design data formats such as DWF, DWG and DXF.
Availability
The Autodesk DWF Toolkit is a software development kit (SDK) for third-party software developers to read, write, and query 2D and 3D design data in the DWF specification. A Printer Development Kit lets printer vendors add DWF-based function for instant printing and more. And because DWF is supported by Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh, Linux and all current Autodesk applications, developers can be confident their products will assist users with design collaboration regardless of the end user's technology platform.
The downloadable Autodesk DWF Toolkit includes the specifications and source code needed to develop with DWF. In addition, APIs for Autodesk DWF Viewer and Autodesk DWF Composer applications are available. Visit the DWF Developer Web site at http://www.autodesk.com/dwf-developers .
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