Need a simple drawing viewer 1

[IFRs]

I need a simple drawing viewer to replace pdf format for internal use. We have a couple hundred standard parts that we have autocad drawings for. Currently our parts viewer program spawns the free Adobe viewer with the drawing pdf. It is such a pain to maintain current pdf files that we are looking for a free drawing viewer that can print also. We don't need any other funcionality. If I can integrate it into a VB6 progrm, even better.

Any and all suggestions and comments are welcome!!

Thanks!!

 

[IFRs]

borgunit - EDrawings has several issues. It does not render or print polylines of non-zero thickness, it does not render or print embedded images and it prints very light lines, nearly unreadable at least on our printers. They are aware of these limittions and plan upgrades to the first two.

Thanks for your suggestion though!!

Keep 'em coming !!!

 

[mcintya]

We use a software called Myriad Engineering Viewer

http://www.myriadviewer.com/

 

[IFRs]

mcintya - Nice software. Heavy price - $595 per seat!! They have a lower price 2D only version, but it is $195 per seat. Still too much and I need 3D. This is nice software in that it supports many formats, a feature I really don't need since I only need to view and print dwg files. Good idea though!

 

[chicopee]

if you can open a .PDF file thru the ACAD OLE oject command then you can save that file in .DWG--Alas,it has to be done one file at a time.

 

[IFRs]

chicopee - I appreciate your efforts, but my problem is not using autocad to view pdf drawings, but rather finding a viewer for dwg files for users that do not need or can't afford autocad.

 

[Technopriest]

Try

http://www.bravaviewer.com/

I'm not sure about neither print nor 3D viewing ability, but it's free.. worth a try.


Che Dio ce la mandi buona, o almeno ce la mandi- Massimiliano Eusebi

 

[chicopee]

About scanning A size .dwg files into raster images (.tiff files) and let the user open these .tiff files with an inexpensive image program.

 

[tulum]

I have not used it, but some folks at my office like bentley viewer. Best part it's free and it works for both acad and microstation.

Regards,
TULUM

 

[ajack1]

Any joy yet IFRs ? here is another one to try

http://processing.actify.com/actify/registercmp.do?cmpid=manutalk0105

 

[cfee]

Chicopee-
How would I open a PDF in AutoCAD, even as an OLE object, and save it as a DWG? Are you suggesting saving the raster product into the "DWG" drawing? Sounds interesting- I've often imported raster (BMP, JPG, TIF, etc) files into ACAD, and saved the result, but I haven't yet discovered how to do this with PDF. Interesting idea.

Now If I could do this, I'd have access to viewing my PDF's with any ACAD viewer. However, on the face of it, this seems a bit backward, as I haven't found a "free" one yet that's worth using. Even the suggested BRAVA product costs $345 if you want to view any of your OFFICE documents, or mark up any comments ... And the question of viewing 3D Models is still open, as I still haven't discovered a free-ware program worth considering for that, either.

I get all the viewing & mark-up capabilities I need, circulating WORD dcouments with inserted raster versions of my documents and images, and as I've already purchased my OFFICE suite, the cost is already covered (not the same thing as "free", but lots of folks don't have to shell out extra for this functionality). A significant added benefit to this approach is that nearly everyone already knows how to use the tool, or has a secretary who can help. File security is a non-issue, as the embedded raster file almost NEVER results in an editable version of the original drawing. That level of security is available tho, for those who have a copy of one of the MANY free PDF writers and viewers available. ALL of this completely includes EVERY CAD format, including ACAD's DWG.

None of this attacks the original central question of conveniently viewing large directories of ACAD "DWG's" for free. Hmmmmm...
Tks-
C. Fee