In the Dynamic Interface

DWF Composer SEND TO!

One thing that I wish DWF Composer had was a simple SEND TO mail recipient option from inside DWF Composer. I find myself all the time creating MARKUPS for a client then saving the DWF. Opening up OUTLOOK starting a new e-mail then going to the attach file. Browse for the DWF I just marked up and place it in my e-mail. WHAT A PAIN!! Well, one really slick work around a DWF Composer team member showed me was a simple drag and drop to e-mail. So once you create your markups, simply save your DWF. Then in the navigator under the LIST view. Next Hold your CTRL key and select each of your sheets till all are selected. Now all sheets will be highlighted. Then simply LEFT click over a sheet and DRAG and DROP the files into your OUTLOOK e-mail message. You will then notice a DWF in your e-mail with all the sheets and markups from your DWF. The only draw back is once you place the sheets in your e-mail it creates a anonymous file name. You will have to manually change if you want it to read like it was in DWF Composer.

DWF Composer 2 file format change!!

Just a heads up for DWF Composer users. DWF Composer 2 now has a R2 file format. What does this mean. Well simply, you can send DWF's to users who have DWF Composer R1 but they CANNOT add a Markup on a DWF that already has a DWF Composer 2 markup in it. Users can view a DWF but will not be able to add markups. Unfortunately I don't know a way that a user can erase or delete all DWF Composer 2 markups in order to use R1 for markups? If anyone else is disappointed in this change your not alone. I have just got a ton of our consultants to purchase DWF Composer R1 just a couple months ago then DWF Composer 2 comes out and I cant exchange DWF's with them. I have to un-install R2, reinstall R1 make comments to exchange with them. Then un-install R1 and re-install R2. How much of a pain is this. Well, some might run into this because there is NO save back to previous file format.  DWF Composer 2 has some great new additions, but this file format change makes it really difficult to work with.

Overlay a DWF in ACAD 2006

The new DWF Composer 2 has some very cool new features, but one that I hope Autodesk continues to improve is the round trip process of DWF back into AutoCAD. DWF Composer 2 now allows you to import a DWF into DWF Composer 2 as a custom symbol. To do this go to your stamps pull down and select the "Import DWF as symbol catalog". Next browse to the DWF you want to overlay in your DWF file. Then you will be prompted for "Import each object on sheet as symbol" or "Import each sheet as a symbol" option. The "Import each sheet as symbol" is the option you want to use. This will take all sheets in a Multi page or single sheet DWF and create custom symbols of them. Now, you can go to your stamps pull down and select the name of the DWF you just imported and place the sheet you want to overlay in YOUR DWF file. Next you may need to adjust the DWF Overlay (Custom Symbol) a bit to align over your objects in your DWF File. Then simply save your DWF and open it back up from the Markup Manager. Make sure you have a WHITE background set in Paperspace or Modelspace in order to see a DWF that has black lines.

Note: You can not snap or use any markup geometry in your drawing. But this process will allow you to get a general idea of what you trying to adjust. Its not perfect but the best thing we got right now on getting a DWF back into ACAD. The quality of the Overlayed DWF is very good. Importing a DWF in as a image has never given me good results.

Lines Merge in DWF Composer 2

Just wanted to let users know that DWF Composer 2 now supports Lines Merge setting published from AutoCAD. Im pretty sure that the DWF Viewer 5 supported lines merge also. But DWF Composer 1 didn't have this ability. If you aren't familiar with lines merge below is some screen captures of it. I personally think this setting is a MUST and should be modified as the AutoCAD standard. But I'm only one user.

Objects in AutoCAD. Usually is a problem with hatches or 2D solids. That cover up other geometry when plotted.

DWF When plotted with Lines Overwrite set. You will not see objects below the hatches.

DWF when plotted with the Lines Merge set. This allows a user to plot a DWG even if a hatch is covering up the geometry. You will notice that all the lines now show.

If you want to modify your plotter for the Lines merge setting, you just need to modify your plotter configuration settings under graphics and lines merge.

DWF Composer 2

Finally!!!

DWF Composer 2 and DWF Viewer 6 were released a couple weeks ago and I have to tell you, there are some really great improvements! Below is some links to get more information. I'm working on some tips that I will be posting later this week. One TIP that I use frequently in DWF Composer 2 is the ability to IMPORT a DWF into AutoCAD 2005 or 2006 as a background. Check back later this week and I'll show you how.

Here is some links to the new products.

DWF Composer 2 link
DWF Viewer 6 link