e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
(OP)
Is anyone using the e-Drawing Professional? The $995 price tag was too much for us to justify only a markup tool and measurement.
We are excited by Adobe Acrobat Professional at $280 a seat. Is anyone using Acrobat for design review and ECP's? The price and features look much better than e-Drawing Pro.
Bill
We are excited by Adobe Acrobat Professional at $280 a seat. Is anyone using Acrobat for design review and ECP's? The price and features look much better than e-Drawing Pro.
Bill 





RE: e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
Try rotating or exploding a PDF. Try moving, or making parts transparent in PDF. Try opening a SW file in Acrobat.
If all you need is a review & markup tool then Acrobat is great ... but that is not what eDrawings is for. Review & markup is but a small part of its intended use.
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RE: e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
These animals are not that different in our use. We need to work with the drawing files not part or assembly files. The 3D option in e-Drawings is a great "WOW!" but we are communicating in complete, detailed engineering drawings. The 3D part isn't that important when you have a comprehensive 2D drawing.
We are looking at a way to approve engineering drawings prior to release or to review drawings prior to a DCN/ECP/EO release.
RE: e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
I have used PDFs, DXFs, ACAD & SW Drawings & eDrawings for communication tools with some very competent design, machine & fabrication shops. Without exception, all have responded with the equivalent of "Don't bother sending any of the other stuff ... keep giving us the eDrawing files"
If there is ANY doubt about a drawings feature, a glance at an eDrawing solid, quickly clarifies. Also the recipient of an eDrawing file does not even have to have the eDrawing program on his machine, the files can be saved as self-executables. With PDF files everyone has to have Acrobat Pro.
Don't get me wrong, I like Acrobat & use it often, but it is nowhere near as efficient a communication tool as eDrawings.
In my opinion, eDrawings is worth every penny, but if Acrobat works for you, your company & the people you deal with ... then go for it.
Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies FAQ731-376
Making the best use of this Forum. FAQ559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions. FAQ559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of. FAQ559-520
RE: e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP0.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site
RE: e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
BL
RE: e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
Another is www.solidview.com
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP0.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site
RE: e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
I also like the fact that I can link to the download page for the free viewer in the body of my e-mails; makes a great first impression on new customers.
As for 2D drawings, I generally use the dxf format. Most manufacturers have software that can open them and get whatever dimensions they need from them.
RE: e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
It appears we're going with Adobe Acrobat for our office use. The $$$$ for e-Drawing Professional killed it. We are getting Acrobat seats for under $300 each.
The 3D aspect of drawings in e-Drawings was less important than the ability to easily mark then track markups.
RE: e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
eDrawings is great for getting the idea across, especially early on in the design. Printing has usually been an issue, some printers don't like it. Also, any moderate size assembly will be slow. Most recipients of edrawings don't have a work station so performance is sluggish.
I usually send both.
Jason Capriotti
Smith & Nephew, Inc.
RE: e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP1.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site
RE: e-Drawing vs. Adobe Acrobat for markup
The user do not need a full version of Acrobat to do markup. They only need Acrobat Reader 7.0 to do markup on a file generated in the full version of Acrobat. That's a good feature since anyone can download the free version of Reader.
"Smash the dwg"? What's that?