WANT TO LOCK A DRAWING

[MB-CAD]

Is there a reason that Autodesk does not have an option to save a .dwg into a format that is basically a read-only .dwg? In the age of security, it would be nice to send a .dwg to a client and know that they can "look but not touch" our product. A third party application should not be the answer. Any ideas out there?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Currently a 3rd party application is the only answer.

www.cadlock.com if you want the person to be able to use the drawing in
AutoCAD with the restrictions you set forth (ie, no changes, changes with
correct password, etc).

You can also print the drawing to PDF if the person does not have AutoCAD.
Be aware that the PDF format can be converted back to DXF or DWG a number of
ways (search this NG for more info). There are several free PDF printers
(www.pdf995.com) or search the NGs for more. The resulting DXF or DWG (in
my experience) is rather useless, but someone can still use it if they
really wanted to steal your drawing. The resulting file is just made up of
a lot of polylines, no circles, arcs, "smart" objects, solids, or anything
like that, just polylines.

HTH
--
Kevin Nehls


"MB-CAD" wrote in message
news:f12723f.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Is there a reason that Autodesk does not have an option to save a .dwg
into a format that is basically a read-only .dwg? In the age of security, it
would be nice to send a .dwg to a client and know that they can "look but
not touch" our product. A third party application should not be the answer.
Any ideas out there?
> Thanks
>
>

[Anonymous]

AutoCAD is designed to be customized by users and 3rd party vendors: if
Autodesk did it all, I can only imagine how much they would charge for it 😉

--
Dean Saadallah
http://www.pendean.com
LT Express Utilities
http://www.pendean.com/ltexpress
Expanded Links Pages
http://www.pendean.com/lt/links.htm
--

"MB-CAD" wrote in message
news:f12723f.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Is there a reason that Autodesk does not have an option to save a .dwg
into a format that is basically a read-only .dwg? In the age of security, it
would be nice to send a .dwg to a client and know that they can "look but
not touch" our product. A third party application should not be the answer.
Any ideas out there?
> Thanks
>

[MB-CAD]

Thanks all,

One would think though that this would be a simple task for Autodesk. Other software big names like Microsoft Office have the function...oh well, maybe someday.

[Anonymous]

Yes, office products do have the option of password protecting documents,
but there are many, many password crackers (free and not free) for these
documents.

I'm sure if Autodesk ever implemented something like this it would not be
nearly as thorough or as secure as the CADLock program.

--
Kevin Nehls


"MB-CAD" wrote in message
news:f12723f.2@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Thanks all,
> One would think though that this would be a simple task for Autodesk.
Other software big names like Microsoft Office have the function...oh well,
maybe someday.
>
>

[Anonymous]

A better question is why make a file that is sized
well for emailing or posting on the net then requireing a 26MB download to read
it. Whip was a much better deal than voloview.

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"MB-CAD" <
href="mailto:iyeager@mulvey-banani.com">iyeager@mulvey-banani.com>
wrote in message
href="news:f12723f.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb">news:f12723f.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...

Is
there a reason that Autodesk does not have an option to save a .dwg into a
format that is basically a read-only .dwg? In the age of security, it would be
nice to send a .dwg to a client and know that they can "look but not touch"
our product. A third party application should not be the answer. Any ideas out
there?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

There is going to be a new leaner smaller DWF viewer from
Autodesk soon. In the mean time, you can also try this tiny
freebie that is as good as VVE:
http://www.docu-point.com/download_files/zingv1.0b.exe

--
Dean Saadallah
http://www.pendean.com
LT Express utilities
http://www.pendean.com/ltexpress
Expanded Links Pages
http://www.pendean.com/lt/links.htm
--

"Tim McGuire" wrote in message
news:DF7243898BD342F8D9AFD64A3AC4CA0A@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> A better question is why make a file that is sized well for
emailing or posting on the net then requireing a 26MB download to
read it. Whip was a much better deal than voloview.
> "MB-CAD" wrote in message
news:f12723f.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Is there a reason that Autodesk does not have an option to
save a .dwg into a format that is basically a read-only .dwg? In
the age of security, it would be nice to send a .dwg to a client
and know that they can "look but not touch" our product. A third
party application should not be the answer. Any ideas out there?
> Thanks
>

[MB-CAD]

DWF is no solution, as PDF there are ways to get the information in the file back into AutoCAD. Our work is simply that, Our work. Does anyone else out there want to work on a project for a few months and the send it off to client in DWG format? I think not. If you want to be able to send out a DWG for a client, start squaking! A secure file lock could be created. I don't think it is too much to ask. Otherwise what is the point of etransmit, Buzzsaw, etc. We need a read-only secure file.
Just my rant..................

[Anonymous]

first of all.......all kind of files that you can see >> can be copied and edited............id say the most secure way is sending read only drawing as PDF files as per Kevin said above . (There is a long and complicated way to tranfer it from pdf back to .dwg even for professional cad drafter, and 'watermark' option makes it almost impossible). .............If you only want it as read only .dwg file, instead of do it inside of autocad just do it on windows explorer, right click the dwg file, under GENERAL tab look for attributes and thick the read only.

[Anonymous]

I did not say that sending drawings via PDF is the most secure way. For
AutoCAD drawings the most secure way is CADLock, period. PDF is good if the
person you are sending the drawing does not have autocad. If they do have
autocad and they need a DWG to insert/use/print/whatever, CADLock is the
only solution if you want to control what they can and can't do with that
drawing.

Changing that file attrib does nothing, even the "average" and "below
average" computer users know to look there by now.

--
Kevin Nehls


"acadgue" wrote in message
news:f12723f.7@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> first of all.......all kind of files that you can see >> can be copied and
edited............id say the most secure way is sending read only drawing as
PDF files as per Kevin said above . (There is a long and complicated way to
tranfer it from pdf back to .dwg even for professional cad drafter, and
'watermark' option makes it almost impossible). .............If you only
want it as read only .dwg file, instead of do it inside of autocad just do
it on windows explorer, right click the dwg file, under GENERAL tab look for
attributes and thick the read only.
>

[Anonymous]

DWF (ePlot) Files are secure enough. Your client will be able to look it,
turn layes on and off but that's it!. He won't be able to modify anything.
That's what DWF files are made for.

Seba

"Kevin Nehls" escribió en el mensaje
news:0E703C5EE729D09F978ABC66852CAE90@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I did not say that sending drawings via PDF is the most secure way. For
> AutoCAD drawings the most secure way is CADLock, period. PDF is good if
the
> person you are sending the drawing does not have autocad. If they do have
> autocad and they need a DWG to insert/use/print/whatever, CADLock is the
> only solution if you want to control what they can and can't do with that
> drawing.
>
> Changing that file attrib does nothing, even the "average" and "below
> average" computer users know to look there by now.
>
> --
> Kevin Nehls
>
>
> "acadgue" wrote in message
> news:f12723f.7@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > first of all.......all kind of files that you can see >> can be copied
and
> edited............id say the most secure way is sending read only drawing
as
> PDF files as per Kevin said above . (There is a long and complicated way
to
> tranfer it from pdf back to .dwg even for professional cad drafter, and
> 'watermark' option makes it almost impossible). .............If you only
> want it as read only .dwg file, instead of do it inside of autocad just do
> it on windows explorer, right click the dwg file, under GENERAL tab look
for
> attributes and thick the read only.
> >
>
>

[Anonymous]

You've never used on of those PDF to DXF or DWF to DWG utilities,
have you? Try them. They do not create IMHO useful DWG files from
an AutoCAD user point of view... .

--
Dean Saadallah
http://www.pendean.com
LT Express utilities
http://www.pendean.com/ltexpress
Expanded Links Pages
http://www.pendean.com/lt/links.htm
--

"MB-CAD" wrote in message
news:f12723f.6@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> DWF is no solution, as PDF there are ways to get the
information in the file back into AutoCAD. Our work is simply
that, Our work. Does anyone else out there want to work on a
project for a few months and the send it off to client in DWG
format? I think not. If you want to be able to send out a DWG for
a client, start squaking! A secure file lock could be created. I
don't think it is too much to ask. Otherwise what is the point of
etransmit, Buzzsaw, etc. We need a read-only secure file.
> Just my rant..................

[Anonymous]

Absolutley!

I came to this discussion board to find a quick answer on how to password protect a DWG. We want to send DWG's to a client so THEY can plot them how ever they wish. We just don't want the client to take the DWG's for themselves.

We tried HPGL-2 PLT files, but the client claimed they didn't work.

AUTODESK, PLEASE INCLUDE A PASSWORD READ-PLOT FEATURE!

-Chris

[Anonymous]

www.cadlock.com is the only solution to keep it in a format AutoCAD can
open.

PDF or DWF are other solutions, but those can be turned back into a DXF or
DWG through different processes.

This has been discussed many times, please search the groups before posting
a question.

--
Kevin Nehls