Autodesk Design Review is Now Free!

Several Autodeskers having been pointing out that Autodesk Design Review is now FREE. Click on the title of this post to get to the download page.

If you are unfamiliar with Design Review (formerly DWF Composer) it allows users to not only open DWFs, but to markup them up. This can be used to establish a paperless revision process. The price can not be beat.

DWF Service Pack 1

Back in December, Autodesk released Service Pack 1 for Design Review 2007 and Service Pack 1 for DWF Viewer 2007.

I often create 3D DWFs with the 3DDWFPUBLISH command. I like the ability of making items (in the case of the image one of the two surfaces) transparent or perhaps hidden. I also like the small size for transmitting electronically.

Autodesk Labs

I am not certain why I had not mentioned this before, but Autodesk has a new section at their website where they are making available new stuff under development. Non-disclosure agreements are not required. This makes the technology previews available "public betas" (with all of the disclaimers that go along with that). The new section is called Autodesk Labs.

There are currently three previews available

Autodesk DGNV8 Translator Beta - Added June 19th, 2006
Installs on all language versions of:

AutoCAD 2007
Autodesk Architectural Desktop 2007
Autodesk Building Systems 2007
AutoCAD Electrical 2007
AutoCAD Mechanical 2007

Google Earth Extension Beta - Added June 28th, 2006
Installs on all language versions of:

AutoCAD 2007
Architectural Desktop 2007
AutoCAD Civil 3D 2007
AutoCAD Map 3D 2007

Project Freewheel Technology Preview - Added July 4th, 2006
Freewheel is both a web site where you can type in an DWF URL for interactive viewing, and a web service that allows you to embed an interactive DWF viewer in your own HTML page.

The main reason I thought to mention this now was that someone asked in a discussion group how to get basic AutoCAD entities into Google Earth. The "Google Earth Extension Beta" would likely work best for him.

2007 New, Changed, and Obsolete Commands

Autodesk has posted in the knowledge base all of the following information for New, Changed and Obsolete Commands

New Commands
Command - Description

3DALIGN - Aligns objects with other objects in 2D and 3D.

-3DCONFIG - Provides a command line interface to the 3D graphics system's configuration settings.

3DDWF - Displays the Export 3D DWF dialog box.

3DFLY - "Activates fly-through mode and enables you to navigate in any direction including off the XY plane."

3DFORBIT - "Controls the interactive viewing of objects in 3D, using an unconstrained orbit."

3DMOVE - Displays the move grip tool in a 3D view and moves objects a specified distance in a specified direction.

3DROTATE - Displays the rotate grip tool in a 3D view and revolves objects around a base point.

3DWALK - Interactively changes the view of a 3D drawing so that you appear to be walking through the model.

AECTOACAD - Creates a new DWG file with all AEC objects exploded.

ANIPATH - Saves an animation along a path in a 3D model.

BREP - Removes the history from 3D solid primitives and composite solids.

CHSPACE - "Moves objects from model space to paper space, or vice versa. (Integrated Express Tool)"

CONVERTOLDLIGHTS - Converts lights created in previous releases to lights in AutoCAD 2007 format.

CONVERTOLDMATERIALS - Converts materials created in previous releases to materials in AutoCAD 2007 format.

CONVTOSOLID - Converts polylines and circles with thickness to 3D solids.

CONVTOSURFACE - Converts objects to surfaces.

COPYTOLAYER - Copies one or more objects to another layer. (Integrated Express Tool)

-COPYTOLAYER - Copies one or more objects to another layer. (Command line version)

DASHBOARD - Opens the Dashboard window.

DASHBOARDCLOSE - Closes the Dashboard window.

DISTANTLIGHT - Creates a distant light.

DWFADJUST - Allows adjustment of a DWF underlay from the command line.

DWFATTACH - Attaches a DWF underlay to the current drawing.

DWFCLIP - Uses clipping boundaries to define a subregion of a DWF underlay.

EXTERNALREFERENCES - Displays the External References palette.

EXTERNALREFERENCESCLOSE - Closes the External References palette.

FLATSHOT - Creates a 2D representation of all 3D objects in the current view.

GEOGRAPHICLOCATION - Specifies the latitude and longitude of a location.

HELIX - Creates a 2D or 3D spiral.

IMPRINT - Imprints an edge on a 3D solid.

-INTERFERE - Highlights 3D solids that overlap. (Command line version)

JOGSECTION - Adds a jogged segment to a section object.

LAYCUR - Changes the layer of selected objects to the current layer. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYDEL - "Deletes the layer of a selected object and all objects on the layer, and then purges the layer from the drawing. (Integrated Express Tool)"

-LAYDEL - "Deletes the layer of a selected object and all objects on the layer, and then purges the layer from the drawing. (Command line version)"

LAYFRZ - Freezes the layer of selected objects. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYISO - Isolates the layer of selected objects so that all other layers are turned off. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYLCK - Locks the layer of selected objects. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYMCH - Changes the layer of a selected object to match the destination layer. (Integrated Express Tool)

-LAYMCH - Changes the layer of a selected object to match the destination layer. (Command line version)

LAYMCUR - Makes the layer of a selected object current. (Renamed AI_MOLC)

LAYMRG - Merges selected layers onto a destination layer. (Integrated Express Tool)

-LAYMRG - Merges selected layers onto a destination layer. (Command line version)

LAYOFF - Turns off the layer of the selected object. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYON - Turns on all layers. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYTHW - Thaws all layers. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYULK - Unlocks the layer of a selected object. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYUNISO - Turns on layers that were turned off with the last LAYISO command. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYVPI - Isolates an object's layer to the current viewport. (Integrated Express Tool)

LAYWALK - Dynamically displays layers in a drawing. (Integrated Express Tool)

LIGHTLIST - Opens the Lights in Model window to add and modify lights.

LIGHTLISTCLOSE - Closes the Lights in Model window.

LIVESECTION - Turns on live sectioning for a selected section object.

LOFT - Creates a 3D solid or surface by lofting through a set of two or more curves.

MATERIALATTACH - Attaches materials to objects by layer.

MATERIALMAP - Displays a material mapper grip tool to adjust the mapping on a face or an object.

MATERIALS - "Manages, applies, and modifies materials."

MATERIALSCLOSE - Closes the Materials window.

PLANESURF - Creates a planar surface.

POINTLIGHT - Creates a point light.

POLYSOLID - Creates a 3D polysolid.

PRESSPULL - Presses or pulls bounded areas.

PYRAMID - Creates a 3D solid pyramid.

RENDERCROP - Selects a specific region (crop window) in an image for rendering.

RENDERENVIRONMENT - Provides visual cues for the apparent distance of objects.

RENDERPRESETS - "Specifies render presets, reusable rendering parameters, for rendering an image."

RENDERWIN - Displays the Render Window without invoking a render task.

RPREFCLOSE - Closes the Advanced Render Settings palette if it is displayed.

SECTIONPLANE - Creates a section object that acts as a cutting plane through a 3D object.

SPOTLIGHT - Creates a spotlight.

SUNPROPERTIES - Opens the Sun palette and sets the properties of the sun.

SUNPROPERTIESCLOSE - Closes the Sun Properties window.

SWEEP - Creates a 3D solid or surface by sweeping a 2D curve along a path.

THICKEN - Creates a 3D solid by thickening a surface.

VISUALSTYLES - Creates and modifies visual styles and applies a visual style to a viewport.

-VISUALSTYLES - Creates and modifies visual styles and applies a visual style to a viewport. (Command line version)

VISUALSTYLESCLOSE - Closes the Visual Styles Manager.

VSCURRENT - Sets the visual style in the current viewport.

VSSAVE - Saves a visual style.

WALKFLYSETTINGS - Specifies walk and fly settings.

XEDGES - Creates wireframe geometry by extracting edges from a 3D solid or surface.



Changed Commands -
Command - Description

3DCONFIG - Provides 3D graphics system configuration settings.

3DORBIT - Controls the interactive viewing of objects in 3D.

3DPAN - Starts the interactive 3D view and enables you to drag the view horizontally and vertically in a perspective view.

3DSWIVEL - Changes the target of the view in the direction that you drag.

3DZOOM - Zooms in and out in a perspective view.

ALIGN - Aligns objects with other objects in 2D and 3D.

BOX - Creates a 3D solid box.

CAMERA - Sets a camera and target location to create and save a 3D perspective view of objects.

CHANGE - Changes the properties of existing objects.

CHPROP - Changes the properties of an object.

CONE - Creates a 3D solid with a circular or elliptical base tapering symmetrically to a point or a circular/elliptical planar face.

CUI - "Manages customized user interface elements such as workspaces, toolbars, menus, shortcut menus and keyboard shortcuts."

CYLINDER - Creates a three-sided 3D solid with a circular or elliptical base and top.

DSETTINGS - "Sets grid and snap, polar and object snap tracking, object snap modes, and Dynamic Input."

DVIEW - Defines parallel projection or perspective views by using a camera and target.

ETRANSMIT - Packages a set of files for Internet transmission.

-ETRANSMIT - Packages a set of files for Internet transmission. (Command line version)

EXPLODE - Breaks a compound object into its component objects.

EXTRUDE - Creates a 3D solid or surface by extruding an object or planar face a specified distance and direction.

FIELD - Creates a multiline text object with a field that can be updated automatically as the field value changes.

GRID - Displays a grid in the current viewport that is not plotted.

HIDE - Regenerates a three-dimensional wireframe model with hidden lines suppressed.

HLSETTINGS - Changes the display properties of lines in 2D wireframes.

IMAGE - Starts the EXTERNALREFERENCES command allowing for image management.

-IMAGE - Allows access to image options from the command line.

IMAGEADJUST - "Controls the image display of the brightness, contrast, and fade values of images."

-IMAGEADJUST - "Controls the image display of the brightness, contrast, and fade values of images. (Command line version)"

IMAGEATTACH - Attaches a new image to the current drawing.

IMAGECLIP - Uses clipping boundaries to define a subregion of an image object.

IMAGEQUALITY - Controls the display quality of images.

INTERFERE - Highlights 3D solids that overlap.

JOIN - "Joins objects to form a single, unbroken object."

LIGHT - Creates a light.

LIST - Displays database information for selected objects.

MATCHPROP - Applies the properties of a selected object to other objects.

MVIEW - Creates and controls layout viewports.

OPTIONS - Customizes the program settings.

PAGESETUP - "Controls the page layout, plotting device, paper size, and other settings for each new layout."

PLOT - "Plots a drawing to a plotter, printer, or file."

PUBLISH - Publishes drawings to DWF files or plotters.

PURGE - "Removes unused named items, such as block definitions and layers, from the drawing."

-PURGE - "Removes unused named items, such as block definitions and layers, from the drawing. (Command line version)"

QSELECT - Creates a selection set based on filtering criteria.

RECTANG - Draws a rectangular polyline.

REFCLOSE - Saves back or discards changes made during in-place editing of a reference (an xref or a block).

REFEDIT - Selects an external reference or block reference for editing.

RENDER - Creates a photorealistic or realistically shaded image of a three-dimensional wireframe or solid model.

REVOLVE - Creates a 3D solid or surface by revolving 2D objects around an axis.

RPREF - Displays the Advanced Render Settings palette for access to advanced rendering settings.

SAVEIMG - Saves a rendered image to a file.

SELECT - Places selected objects in the Previous selection set.

SHADEMODE - Starts the VSCURRENT command.

SHEETSET - Opens the Sheet Set Manager.

SLICE - Slices a solid with a plane or surface.

SNAP - Restricts cursor movement to specified intervals.

SOLIDEDIT - Edits faces and edges of 3D solid objects.

SPHERE - Creates a 3D solid sphere.

TORUS - Creates a 3D donut-shaped solid.

UCS - Manages user coordinate systems.

VIEW - "Saves and restores named views, camera views, layout views, and preset views."

-VPORTS - Creates multiple viewports in model space or paper space. (Command line version)

WBLOCK - Writes objects or a block to a new drawing file.

-WBLOCK - Writes objects or a block to a new drawing file. (Command line version)

WEDGE - Creates a five-sided 3D solid with a sloped face tapering along the X axis.

XREF - Starts the EXTERNALREFERENCES command.



Removed or Obsolete Commands -
Command - Description

3DDWFPUBLISH - Creates 3D DWF files of three-dimensional models. (Replaced with 3DDWF)

3DSOUT - Exports to a 3D Studio (3DS) file. (No replacement)

BACKGROUND - Sets up the background for your scene. (Merged with VIEW)

FOG - Provides visual cues for the apparent distance of objects. (Replaced by RENDERENVIRONMENT)

LSEDIT - Edits a landscape object. (No replacement)

LSLIB - Maintains libraries of landscape objects. (No replacement)

LSNEW - "Adds realistic landscape items, such as trees and bushes, to your drawings. (No replacement)"

MATLIB - Imports and exports materials to and from a library of materials. (Replaced by MATERIALS)

RENDSCR - Preserves the integrity of scripts. (No replacement)

REPLAY - "Displays a BMP, TGA, or TIFF image. (No replacement)"

RMAT - Manages rendering materials. (Replaced by MATERIALS)

SCENE - Manages scenes in model space. (No replacement)

SETUV - Maps materials onto objects. (Replaced by MATERIALMAP)

SHOWMAT - Lists the material type and attachment method for a selected object. (Replaced by LIST)

STATS - Displays rendering statistics. (Merged with RENDERWIN)

2007 Contains 87 NEW System Variables

There are 87 NEW system variables in AutoCAD 2007, thus Civil 3D 2007. I am confident that a list will help some so here they are:

System Variable - Description

3DDWFPREC - Controls the precision of 3D DWF publishing.

CAMERADISPLAY - Toggle camera objects display in the current drawing.

CAMERAHEIGHT - Stores the default height for newly created camera objects.

CLEANSCREENSTATE - Stores a value that indicates whether the clean screen state is on (read-only).

CMATERIAL - Sets the material of new objects.

CSHADOW - Sets the shadow display property for a 3D object.

DASHBOARDSTATE - Determines whether the Dashboard window is active or not.

DEFAULTLIGHTING - Turns default lighting on and off.

DEFAULTLIGHTINGTYPE - Specifies the type of default lighting.

DIMARCSYM - Controls display of the arc symbol in an arc length dimension.

DIMFXL - Sets the total length of the extension lines starting from the dimension line toward the dimension origin.

DIMFXLON - Controls whether extension lines are set to a fixed length.

DIMJOGANG - Determines the angle of the transverse segment of the dimension line in a jogged radius dimension.

DIMLTEX1 - Sets the linetype of the first extension line.

DIMLTEX2 - Sets the linetype of the second extension line.

DIMLTYPE - Sets the linetype of the dimension line.

DIMTFILL - Controls the background of dimension text.

DIMTFILLCLR - Sets the color for the text background in dimensions.

DRAGVS - Sets the visual style while creating 3D objects.

DWFFRAME - Determines whether the DWF frame is visible and if it will plot.

DWFOSNAP - Determines whether object snapping is enabled for DWFs that are attached to a DWG.

ERSTATE - "Determines whether the External References window is inactive - active/visible or active/auto-hidden."

GRIDDISPLAY - Controls the display behavior and display limits of the grid.

GRIDMAJOR - Controls the frequency of major grid lines compared to minor grid lines.

GRIDUNIT - Specifies the grid spacing (X and Y) for the current viewport.

GTAUTO - Controls whether or not grip tools display automatically when selecting objects in 3D space.

GTDEFAULT - "Controls whether or not the 3DMOVE, 3DROTATE, and 3DSCALE commands start automatically when the MOVE, ROTATE, and SCALE commands (respectively) are started in a 3D view."

GTLOCATION - Sets the default location for grip tools.

IMPLIEDFACE - Controls the detection of implied faces.

INTERFERECOLOR - Sets the color of interference objects.

INTERFEREOBJVS - Sets the visual style for interference objects.

INTERFEREVPVS - Sets the visual style for the current viewport while using the INTERFERENCE command.

LATITUDE - Specifies the latitude of the drawing model.

LEGACYCTRLPICK - Specifies the keys for selection cycling and the behavior for CTRL + left-click.

LIGHTGLYPHDISPLAY - Controls whether light glyphs are displayed.

LIGHTLISTSTATE - Indicates whether the Lights in Model window is open or closed.

LOFTANG1 - Sets the draft angle through the first cross section in a loft operation.

LOFTANG2 - Sets the draft angle through the last cross section in a loft operation.

LOFTMAG1 - Sets the magnitude of draft angle through the first cross section in a loft operation.

LOFTMAG2 - Sets the magnitude of draft angle through the last cross section in a loft operation.

LOFTNORMALS - Controls the normals of a lofted object where it passes through cross sections.

LOFTPARAM - Controls the shape of lofted solids and surfaces.

LONGITUDE - Specifies the longitude of the drawing model.

MATSTATE - Indicates whether the Materials window is open or closed.

NORTHDIRECTION - Specifies the angle of the Sun from north.

OSOPTIONS - Automatically suppresses object snaps on hatch objects and when you are using a dynamic UCS.

PERSPECTIVE - Specifies whether the current viewport displays a perspective working view.

PSOLHEIGHT - Sets the default height for a swept solid object created with the POLYSOLID command.

PSOLWIDTH - Sets the default width for a swept solid object created with the POLYSOLID command.

PUBLISHALLSHEETS - Controls how the Publish dialog list is populated.

RENDERPREFSSTATE - Stores a value that indicates whether the Advanced Render Settings palette is open.

SHADOWPLANELOCATION - Controls the location of an invisible ground plane used to display shadows.

SHOWHIST - Controls the Show History property for solids in a drawing.

SOLIDHIST - Controls the default History property setting for new and existing objects.

STEPSIZE - Specifies the step size in current units when users are in Walk mode.

STEPSPERSEC - Specifies the number of steps taken per second when users are in Walk mode.

SUNPROPERTIESSTATE - Indicates whether the Sun Properties window is open or closed.

SUNSTATUS - Controls whether the Sun is casting light in the viewport.

TIMEZONE - Sets the time zone for a sun study.

UCSDETECT - Controls whether dynamic UCS acquisition is active or not.

VSBACKGROUNDS - Controls whether backgrounds are displayed in the current viewport.

VSCURRENT - Stores the name of the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSEDGECOLOR - Sets the color of edges.

VSEDGEJITTER - Controls the degree to which lines are made to appear as is they were sketched with a pencil.

VSEDGEOVERHANG - Makes lines extend beyond their intersection for a hand-drawn effect.

VSEDGES - Controls the types of edges that are displayed in the viewport.

VSEDGESMOOTH - Specifies the angle at which crease edges are displayed.

VSFACECOLORMODE - Controls how the color of faces is calculated.

VSFACESTYLE - Controls how faces are displayed in the current viewport.

VISUALSTYLES - "Displays the Visual Styles Manager palette - allowing you to create and modify visual styles or apply a visual style to a viewport."

VSHALOGAP - Sets the halo gap in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSHIDEPRECISION - Controls the accuracy of hides and shades in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSINTERSECTIONCOLOR - Specifies the color of intersection polylines in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSINTERSECTIONEDGES - Specifies the display of intersection edges in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSINTERSECTIONLTYPE - Controls whether obscured lines are displayed in the current viewport and sets their linetype.

VSLIGHTINGQUALITY - Sets the lighting quality in the current viewport.

VSMATERIALMODE - Controls the display of materials in the current viewport.

VSMONOCOLOR - Sets the color for monochrome display of faces.

VSOBSCUREDCOLOR - Specifies the color of obscured lines in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSOBSCUREDEDGES - Controls whether obscured (hidden) edges are displayed.

VSOBSCUREDLTYPE - Specifies the linetype of obscured lines in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSOPACITY - Controls the transparency of faces in the current viewport.

VSSHADOWS - Controls whether a visual style displays shadows.

VSSILHEDGES - Controls display of silhouette curves of solid objects in the visual style applied to the current viewport.

VSSILHEDGEWIDTH - Specifies the width in pixels for display of silhouette edges in the current viewport.

VSSPECULAR - Controls the display of specular highlights on faces without materials in the current viewport.

VSSTATE - Stores a value that indicates whether the Visual Styles window is open.

ZOOMWHEEL - Allows users to toggle the behavior of mouse wheel zoom operations.

Importing DWF's

In Civil 3D 2007, as with all 2007 products, we are now able to underlay a DWF file straight into our drawings.

How, you may ask? With the DWFATTACH command. DWF files can also be drag-and-dropped into a drawing.

When a DWF that contains multiple layers is attached all of the data is placed (flatted) onto a single layer.

Attached DWFs can be clipped with the DWFCLIP command. They also have adjustable settings for Contrast, Fade, and Monochrome.

If we xref a file that contains an attached dwf, the dwf will be visible in our file (similar to an attached xref).

DWFFRAME controls the visiblity of the DWF file's Frame and whether or not it will plot.

Just remember DWF's are not 100 percent as accurate as a true vector file (DWG) but they are significantly smaller.

DWF Composer = Design Review

If you have visted AUTODESK.COM lately you may have noticed that "Autodesk Composer" is soon to be renamed "Autodesk Design Review".

Second 2007 Step - Autodesk DWG Trueview 2007

As of Friday April 14th Autodesk DWG Trueview 2007 was available for download.

The Documentation states...

DWG TrueView™ software is a free, downloadable product used to accurately view, plot, and publish authentic DWG™ files. Easily share AutoCAD® drawings among engineers and architects, view and plot DWG™ and DXF™ files, and then publish them as DWF™ files for quick and easy review by extended team members. DWG TrueView 2007 has new UI improvements and supports the latest DWG file format, DWF viewing installation, and 3D DWF publish.

This is the second 2007 based freely download-able utility (the first was DWG TrueConvert).

Click on the title of this post to get to the download page.

By the way, Civil 3D 2007 should begin arriving this Friday (April 21, 2006).

Anthony's Thoughts

Today, many resellers attended a webcast that described what will be available for us to refer to, and what is in the box (Civil 3D 2007), that can be used to learn, teach, and guide.

One segment of the webcast presented by Anthony Governanti, Technical Marketing Manager for Autodesk, was the "Wicked Cool Stuff" according to him.

The following is his list (in no particular order):

Text masking! Available in all labels!
Expressions – add calculations to any label
Reference text (that can use...)
---Alignments
---Profiles
---Parcels
---Surfaces
General Note (object)
Quick Profile
DWF Preview for Project Data
Grading Feature Line tools (3D polyline tools and more)
Grading that works!
---Inside corner cleanup
---Projection to surface
Graphical Corridor Editing
New Subassemblies
---Retaining walls
---Channels
---Pipe trench
---Many more
New templates
---National CAD Standards (NCS) based
---Extended to include Civil 3D specific objects
---Includes styles to replicate LDT output
Too much to list!

Although, much of this information has been discussed here and elsewhere, it was certainly very useful for me to see Anthony's highlight reel.


PS. I want to thank Anthony for his OK to use his list.

New Items II - New Blog

I have added additional links to blogs along the left edge of this Blog. Most notable is the NEW Blog by Scott Sheppard titled "Beyond the Paper". It is all things DWF.

I have post about 3DDWFPUBLISH and recently help users find how DWF fills their exact needs to a "T". So I find this new Blog very timely and helpful.

Install Express Tools and Publish 3D DWF

I had recently posted regarding the 3DDWFPUBLISH command. While installing Land Desktop recently on some computers I was prompted, early during the installation process, if I wished to install "Express Tools" and "Publish 3D DWF". This prompted me to write this post. We do get calls from time to time asking why, if the user did a complete install, do they not have Express Tools (or some other component) available.

Well, the answer is typically, because it is a separate option during the installation process it may not have actually been installed to begin with.

To install after the fact...

Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs...
Select "Civil 3D..." and press "Change" (which brings up the following).


Select "Add and Remove Features" and press "Next >" button.


You can then select any missing components to be added.

3DDWFPublish and Transparent Surfaces

Here are a couple of things that may brighten someone's Christmas.

First, the 3DDWFPUBLISH command allows us to create a Design Web Format (DWF) file of our three-dimensional models. The process is quick and easy.

Second, in Autodesk DWF Viewer or Autodesk DWF Composer when you look at a 3D DWF you can choose components and either "Hide" them or make them "Transparent". This can be useful when needing to see a pipe network. Just make the surface transparent.

Happy Holidays!

DWG TrueView it is Free

Recently posted on the Autodesk website is DWG TrueView. This is the FREE DWG Viewer that many others had mentioned in blogs and discussion groups. It was finally released.

It is a stripped down version of AutoCAD. It gives users the ability to open .DWG and .DXF files. Additionally, users can Zoom & Pan, switch between layouts and model space, turn Layers or Views on/off, Plot files, and Publish to DWF.

Owners of Composer had a similar viewer under a different name.

DWG TrueView is avialable for free download from the Autodesk website. Click on the title of this post to get there.