Autodesk Freewheel

[#1]

We launched Project Draw on October 1, 2007. We retired it on January 21, 2010 but left the servers up. The other day we actually updated our DNS so draw.labs.autodesk.com now navigates to AutoCAD WS. To misquote a line from Monty Python's parrot sketch. "This technology preview is no more. It is an ex-technology preview." Project Draw is no more.

We launched Project Freewheel on March 1, 2007. We retired it on December 14, 2011 but left the severs up. On May 1, 2012 we are going to update our DNS so freewheel.labs.autodesk.com will navigate to Autodesk Freewheel (freewheel.autodesk.com). Recall that Autodesk Freewheel is the production version whereas Project Freewheel is the Labs version. When I say production version, I mean that the Autodesk Freewheel servers are in a data center (the same one used for other Autodesk 360 services) that is monitored by professional IT staff 24/7. The Project Freewheel servers are located upstairs from my office and are monitored by the Labs team.

There are a few use cases to consider regarding this switchover.

1. If you are already using Autodesk Freewheel, there is nothing you need to do. Your team members will continue to view your DWF files using the freewheel.autodesk.com URLs that you are currently using.
2. If you are using Project Freewheel with a DWF file that you are hosting yourself, there is nothing you need to do.Your team members will continue to view your file using the same URL to your file but will automatically start using the new server (freewheel.labs.autodesk.com) when we make the switch.
3. If you are using Project Freewheel with a DWF file that you have uploaded to the Project Freewheel server, you will want to relocate that file to another location (host it yourself as covered in item 2 above or upload to Autodesk Freewheel). You would change your HTML to reference freewheel.autodesk.com instead of freewheel.labs.autodesk.com and be done.
4. If you were using the electronic review session feature of Project Freewheel, this functionality is not available in Autodesk Freewheel. You are not required to log into Autodesk Freewheel. You may wish to try the electronic review process associated with AutoCAD WS. You would need the DWG used to publish your DWF file and use that with AutoCAD WS instead of the DWF.

Labs technology previews are about feedback. Project Freewheel helped us learn what we needed to know to create Autodesk Freewheel and start us on our road to Autodesk 360.

[#2]

Is Freewheel the tool to use if we want to view DWF on iPad, iPhone, etc.?  Or is there another solution?

[#3]

Autodesk 360 has a built-in DWF viewer.

http:///360.autodesk.com

[#4]

When will Autodesk 360 offer an API like Freewheel has?

[#5]

Thanks for the question, but we don't announce features in advance. I can tell you that nothing is immediately imminent. It will take some time to develop the APIs, but we recognize the interest in having them.