CADnection Announces Integrated Support for Autodesk DWF files in SharePoint

New lightweight viewing format expands client access to drawing visuals

May 7, 2008 - Santa Ana, California - CADnection®, developers of seamless integration between AutoCAD® and SharePoint® applications, today announced the availability of extended support for Autodesk®’s DWFTM file format.

The CADnection software combines the functionality of Autodesk's AutoCAD® -- the most widely used engineering and architectural drafting program -- and Microsoft SharePoint -- a suite of server-based capabilities for content management, collaboration and enterprise search to create a flexible, distributed, and cost effective project data management system.

DWF is Autodesk's new Design Web Format, which creates a compressed rendition of an associated AutoCAD drawing (DWG). The web format allows users without CAD software to view product drawings and plans. Now CADnection provides full support of DWF data, which is managed and controlled along with the original AutoCAD drawing. As a result, SharePoint users can quickly search, select, and view a drawing, even without AutoCAD software or CAD skills. More importantly, the system allows unlimited drawing access without the risks of inadvertently sharing intellectual property or accidently editing the contents of a drawing.

To support the viewing of DWF files, CADnection provides the necessary linkages to Autodesk Design Review® -- another Autodesk product designed specifically for viewing DWF files. Design Review is available free from Autodesk (dwfcommunity.autodesk.com), and can operate as a standalone application or as an integrated part of the CADnection solution.

CADnection software updates DWF files as their counterpart DWG drawings are modified through the normal check-in and retrieval process.

In SharePoint, CADnection greatly expands the access to drawing file visuals. By right-clicking on an AutoCAD file, the user is presented with the option to "View Drawing". Selecting this option launches the DWF image inside the designated viewing application.

Similarly, CADnection gives the AutoCAD user the option to "publish" or "export" the active session drawing to a DWF format prior to checking in a drawing. When the drawing is checked back into SharePoint, CADnection automatically updates the changes to the DWF file as well. If a previous DWF rendition exists in the SharePoint database, CADnection overwrites the file to reflect the most current version.

“CADnection’s support for DWF files extends the value of AutoCAD data to all SharePoint users,” says Brian Griset, Sales Manager of CADnection. “We are excited about the downstream benefits that our clients now have available. Engineering data can be immediately shared with anyone, including personnel who are unfamiliar with AutoCAD.”

An online demonstration of CADnection can be viewed at www.cadnection.com, and follow the demonstration links.

The DWF functionality is a fully operating feature of the CADnection product and is immediately available to customers.

Press Contact
Rachael Dalton-Taggart
Strategic Reach PR
Tel: (303) 487-7406
Email: rachael@strategicreachpr.com

About CADnection

CADnection was founded in 2007 with the express mission of delivering a high quality, high value, feature-rich AutoCAD / SharePoint integration. It operates as a business unit of the vdR Group, Inc. The people behind the solution have more than 15 years of experience integrating Autodesk products as well as other engineering data and content management-oriented applications.

The features and functionality of CADnection are reflected in the solution's ease of use, configurability, and native application technology. CADnection focuses on getting the best out of AutoCAD and SharePoint, with non-disruptive implementations, quick deployments and improved productivity. It is sold in 25-seat bundles and licensed on a subscription basis.

For more details about CADnection, visit the corporate Web site at www.cadnection.com or call 1.877.887.7833.

CADnection is a registered trademark of CADnection, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks, registrations or copyrights of their respective owners.

This release was published on openPR.