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Locking/protecting CAD files but still have dwg

34 REPLIES 34
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Message 1 of 35
Anonymous
504 Views, 34 Replies

Locking/protecting CAD files but still have dwg

Is there a way to protect or lock a drawing file so that the files can not
be change? The only thing that I want my customers to do is opening the
drawing files, zoom in and out, pan around and plot. Does anybody know of
such a program that I can buy or download? I've tried CADlock, but this is
not what I was really looking for. CADlock would do everything that I was
looking for but the only problem is that it would change the extension to
dwx. You can not open a CADlock file without having to download or
installing the program. My clients would like to open it with AutoCAD and
not having to install a separate application. Your suggestions are greatly
appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Jonathan
34 REPLIES 34
Message 21 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

You only loaded the lisp file. you never ran the command. after the file
was loaded the command should show. hit OK to all the dialog boxes and then
type "lockup" at the command prompt. Lockup is the command name.


Jonathan Ho wrote in message
<1B4ACDFD92E25385108E4822E53A2D10@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb>...
>Sorry but I don't know if I did it right. I open a file and appload the
lisp
>file that you sent me. Some dialog box pop up with warnings and all I did
>was click OK. The loading of the lisp file was successfully loaded, but
>nothing really happen. I could still modify the drawing and save it.
Thank
>you anyways.
>
>"AWeissner" wrote in message
>news:E65FDA01D0EAC99C1BF02D31E6259FB9@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>> That file I sent you did not do what you want.
>>
>>
>> Jonathan Ho wrote in message
>> <6A29E55F13C84191E6F4A56CA1E548CC@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb>...
>> >You are exactly right Mark. Does anyone have a solution to this
problem?
>> >
>> >"Mark Scacco" wrote in message
>> >news:097807F23A07AF48581F02CE692EF647@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>> >> How about using the new Digital Signature Extension to "sign" the
>> >drawings.
>> >> This way, you'll know if its been modified or manipulated.
>> >>
>> >> However, it really sounds like your client wants access to your
>linework
>> >for
>> >> other uses besides panning, zooming, etc. and your company does not
>want
>> >to
>> >> grant this access. If this is indeed true, then a digital signature
>will
>> >> not provide the desired protection.
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Mark Scacco
>> >> Scacco Consulting, Inc.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
>> >> news:164B944E5622AE8CEF75AFEC3A8DB2E2@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>> >> > Is there a way to protect or lock a drawing file so that the files
>can
>> >not
>> >> > be change? The only thing that I want my customers to do is opening
>> the
>> >> > drawing files, zoom in and out, pan around and plot. Does anybody
>know
>> >of
>> >> > such a program that I can buy or download? I've tried CADlock, but
>> this
>> >> is
>> >> > not what I was really looking for. CADlock would do everything that
>I
>> >was
>> >> > looking for but the only problem is that it would change the
>extension
>> >to
>> >> > dwx. You can not open a CADlock file without having to download or
>> >> > installing the program. My clients would like to open it with
>AutoCAD
>> >and
>> >> > not having to install a separate application. Your suggestions are
>> >> greatly
>> >> > appreciated.
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks in advance,
>> >> > Jonathan
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
Message 22 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

you can explode a WMF file after you insert it. It great if you have 3d
drawings and want a 2d view. you can change the view and wmfout, then wmfin
and explode and you will have a 2d all line in the same plane.


Dave Alexander wrote in message ...
>You could export your drawing to windows metafile format, open an new
>drawing, import the wmf and scale it up to the correct size and save it.
The
>drawing can be zoomed, and plotted but not edited. If you want to send a
>layout drawing, do the same thing with the paper space entities and then
>create a new layout from the orginal drawing layout tab. You end up with
the
>layout entities, viewports included. It can be plotted. If you use ctbs, I
>think it will plot fine with the ctb settings. If you use stb, it will use
>the stb for the layer it is insert on.
>
>Dave Alexander
>
>
>"Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
>news:164B944E5622AE8CEF75AFEC3A8DB2E2@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>> Is there a way to protect or lock a drawing file so that the files can
not
>> be change? The only thing that I want my customers to do is opening the
>> drawing files, zoom in and out, pan around and plot. Does anybody know
of
>> such a program that I can buy or download? I've tried CADlock, but this
>is
>> not what I was really looking for. CADlock would do everything that I
was
>> looking for but the only problem is that it would change the extension to
>> dwx. You can not open a CADlock file without having to download or
>> installing the program. My clients would like to open it with AutoCAD
and
>> not having to install a separate application. Your suggestions are
>greatly
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Jonathan
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Message 23 of 35
BigCountry
in reply to: Anonymous

You DON'T need a lisp file or any third-party software to protect your drawing. Try this one.... Create a block of the objects you want to send to the client. Then, rather than insert it into the drawing, MINSERT it into the drawing. Pick the insertion point, enter the scale and rotation angle. When it prompts you for number of rows and columns, enter 2. When it prompts you for the distance between rows and columns, enter 0. Your client will still be able to turn on/off layers, however, they will NOT be able to explode the MINSERTed block. They can, however, erase it and insert it as a regular block. Hopefully your client won't be able to figure that out. Hope this helps. - Matt
Message 24 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

After some deliberation on how we were to do something like this, our
company had a document drafted that must be signed by the receiving company,
preferably a PM or Department Head, and one of our PM's or DH's before
digital files are sent. The document states that we are no longer held
responsible for the documents if changes are made by anyone outside of our
company. We also insert a disclaimer notice text block into the drawing and
include a text file with the same info with any transmittal, just to make
sure it can't be missed. At some point, we may check out the Digital
Signature extension, as well.

Paul Richards
Paulrichards@mdwessler.com
------------------------------------------
MD Wessler & Assoc., Inc.
Consulting Engineers
www.mdwessler.com

"Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
news:6A29E55F13C84191E6F4A56CA1E548CC@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> You are exactly right Mark. Does anyone have a solution to this problem?
Message 25 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

I know that now.

Dave Alexander
"AWeissner" wrote in message
news:ED89A9F26AAAAAFEE7084C3CFF5772B9@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> you can explode a WMF file after you insert it. It great if you have 3d
> drawings and want a 2d view. you can change the view and wmfout, then
wmfin
> and explode and you will have a 2d all line in the same plane.
>
>
> Dave Alexander wrote in message ...
> >You could export your drawing to windows metafile format, open an new
> >drawing, import the wmf and scale it up to the correct size and save it.
> The
> >drawing can be zoomed, and plotted but not edited. If you want to send a
> >layout drawing, do the same thing with the paper space entities and then
> >create a new layout from the orginal drawing layout tab. You end up with
> the
> >layout entities, viewports included. It can be plotted. If you use ctbs,
I
> >think it will plot fine with the ctb settings. If you use stb, it will
use
> >the stb for the layer it is insert on.
> >
> >Dave Alexander
> >
> >
> >"Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
> >news:164B944E5622AE8CEF75AFEC3A8DB2E2@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> >> Is there a way to protect or lock a drawing file so that the files can
> not
> >> be change? The only thing that I want my customers to do is opening
the
> >> drawing files, zoom in and out, pan around and plot. Does anybody know
> of
> >> such a program that I can buy or download? I've tried CADlock, but
this
> >is
> >> not what I was really looking for. CADlock would do everything that I
> was
> >> looking for but the only problem is that it would change the extension
to
> >> dwx. You can not open a CADlock file without having to download or
> >> installing the program. My clients would like to open it with AutoCAD
> and
> >> not having to install a separate application. Your suggestions are
> >greatly
> >> appreciated.
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance,
> >> Jonathan
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
Message 26 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

That's okay, I like to think of Dave Jones as my mentor and I am flattered
to be confused with or mistaken for him.

Dave Alexander
ps. Hi Dave.

"Mark Scacco" wrote in message
news:0D366BBDEE65258A1268A559EFD12EDB@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Sorry. I didn't realize two different "Dave"s had replied. I am
referring
> to Dave Alexander's answer.
>
> --
> Mark Scacco
> Scacco Consulting, Inc.
>
>
> "Mark Scacco" wrote in message
> news:6AF1D4B7F1DB98E644246252D7A3E55A@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > David had the best reply. Export as a windows metafile, start a New
> drawing
> > and Insert the metafile. Total additional time required by your cad
> > operator: 1 minute. No exaggeration. I just did it and it took about
45
> > seconds.
> >
> > --
> > Mark Scacco
> > Scacco Consulting, Inc.
> >
> >
> > "Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
> > news:9F7E55DA627967C4960FA5ABAB34F3F1@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > You guys have great ideas! This is a good way to do it Mark, but it
will
> > be
> > > too much work for our CAD guys to create the (TIFF, BMP, etc) and than
> > > inserting it into a CAD drawing. I'm looking for a command, lisp or
> even
> > a
> > > third party software that would do the trick. I only want to satisfy
> our
> > > clients but not having to increase our CAD operators time.
> > >
> > >
> > > "Mark Scacco" wrote in message
> > > news:7CC3C1B9F9DF379D280319AB1022E392@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > > Create an image file (TIFF, BMP, etc) and insert it into a Cad
> drawing.
> > > > Save this and send it to the client. They get it in DWG format but
> > cannot
> > > > edit your line work. Everyone is happy (except the client, who
really
> > > > wanted the linework!)
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Mark Scacco
> > > > Scacco Consulting, Inc.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
> > > > news:DC4B366302AC9290C6E88723184027C3@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > > > I've tried sending them JPEG and PDF files but they specifically
> told
> > me
> > > > > that they wanted it in DWG format. This is really giving me a
> > headache
> > > > > because my supervisor don't want to have our clients manipulate
our
> > > > > drawings. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks though,
> > > > > Jonathan
> > > > >
> > > > > "AWeissner" wrote in message
> > > > > news:5238FDD34751EDBB76333D9EE1E7F885@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > > > > Can you send them a JPEG or PDF. There are pc3 files that plot
> both
> > > > > > formats. Most people can view both formats with program already
> > > > installed
> > > > > > and you zoom, pan, and print the files.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If all else fails create a DXF. They will be able to modify it
> but
> > > any
> > > > > CAD
> > > > > > Op. would not want to.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Jonathan Ho wrote in message
> > > > > > <2D796346B1CE5E9692F9916B396622EE@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb>...
> > > > > > >That is a good idea but we don't want them to modify the file
as
> > > well.
> > > > > > They
> > > > > > >can get the DWF file and convert it to DWG format.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >"AWeissner" wrote in message
> > > > > > >news:1E7058149321937799A7A0BDB3E8D022@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > > > > >> If all they need to do is zoom, pan, and plot send them DWF
> > files.
> > > > > They
> > > > > > >> should have VoloView or VoloView express.
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >> Jonathan Ho wrote in message
> > > > > > >> <164B944E5622AE8CEF75AFEC3A8DB2E2@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb>...
> > > > > > >> >Is there a way to protect or lock a drawing file so that the
> > files
> > > > can
> > > > > > >not
> > > > > > >> >be change? The only thing that I want my customers to do is
> > > opening
> > > > > the
> > > > > > >> >drawing files, zoom in and out, pan around and plot. Does
> > anybody
> > > > > know
> > > > > > >of
> > > > > > >> >such a program that I can buy or download? I've tried
> CADlock,
> > > but
> > > > > this
> > > > > > >is
> > > > > > >> >not what I was really looking for. CADlock would do
> everything
> > > that
> > > > I
> > > > > > >was
> > > > > > >> >looking for but the only problem is that it would change the
> > > > extension
> > > > > > to
> > > > > > >> >dwx. You can not open a CADlock file without having to
> download
> > > or
> > > > > > >> >installing the program. My clients would like to open it
with
> > > > AutoCAD
> > > > > > >and
> > > > > > >> >not having to install a separate application. Your
> suggestions
> > > are
> > > > > > >greatly
> > > > > > >> >appreciated.
> > > > > > >> >
> > > > > > >> >Thanks in advance,
> > > > > > >> >Jonathan
> > > > > > >> >
> > > > > > >> >
> > > > > > >> >
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >>
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
Message 27 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

yeah right 🙂
--
Dave Jones
Member of the Autodesk Discussion Forum Moderator Program

"Dave Alexander" wrote in message
news:17D35496702D033FAD6B1707DD080CA0@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> That's okay, I like to think of Dave Jones as my mentor and I am flattered
> to be confused with or mistaken for him.
>
> Dave Alexander
> ps. Hi Dave.
>
> "Mark Scacco" wrote in message
> news:0D366BBDEE65258A1268A559EFD12EDB@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Sorry. I didn't realize two different "Dave"s had replied. I am
> referring
> > to Dave Alexander's answer.
> >
> > --
> > Mark Scacco
> > Scacco Consulting, Inc.
> >
> >
(snip)
Message 28 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Hey Dave,

There is a whole list of people in the newsgroups that I follow and read
after and you happen to be one of them.

Dave Alexander
"Dave Jones" wrote in message
news:49D42C8168A90FCDD8EE585191829ABF@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> yeah right 🙂
> --
> Dave Jones
> Member of the Autodesk Discussion Forum Moderator Program
>
> "Dave Alexander" wrote in message
> news:17D35496702D033FAD6B1707DD080CA0@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > That's okay, I like to think of Dave Jones as my mentor and I am
flattered
> > to be confused with or mistaken for him.
> >
> > Dave Alexander
> > ps. Hi Dave.
> >
> > "Mark Scacco" wrote in message
> > news:0D366BBDEE65258A1268A559EFD12EDB@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > Sorry. I didn't realize two different "Dave"s had replied. I am
> > referring
> > > to Dave Alexander's answer.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Mark Scacco
> > > Scacco Consulting, Inc.
> > >
> > >
> (snip)
>
>
Message 29 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

We gave in with there demand. We are sending them the files but we are
taking our disclaimer, logo and PE stamp off. I'm still looking for a
better solution to this problem. Thank you all for your great ideas and
suggestions!

"Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
news:164B944E5622AE8CEF75AFEC3A8DB2E2@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Is there a way to protect or lock a drawing file so that the files can not
> be change? The only thing that I want my customers to do is opening the
> drawing files, zoom in and out, pan around and plot. Does anybody know of
> such a program that I can buy or download? I've tried CADlock, but this
is
> not what I was really looking for. CADlock would do everything that I was
> looking for but the only problem is that it would change the extension to
> dwx. You can not open a CADlock file without having to download or
> installing the program. My clients would like to open it with AutoCAD and
> not having to install a separate application. Your suggestions are
greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Jonathan
>
>
>
Message 30 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

well, geee , thanks Dave...
--
Dave Jones
Member of the Autodesk Discussion Forum Moderator Program

"Dave Alexander" wrote in message
news:13ED25CC5E56831AC53777AEE59D09BF@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Hey Dave,
>
> There is a whole list of people in the newsgroups that I follow and read
> after and you happen to be one of them.
>
> Dave Alexander
> "Dave Jones" wrote in message
> news:49D42C8168A90FCDD8EE585191829ABF@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > yeah right 🙂
> > --
> > Dave Jones
> > Member of the Autodesk Discussion Forum Moderator Program
> >
> > "Dave Alexander" wrote in message
> > news:17D35496702D033FAD6B1707DD080CA0@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > That's okay, I like to think of Dave Jones as my mentor and I am
> flattered
> > > to be confused with or mistaken for him.
> > >
> > > Dave Alexander
> > > ps. Hi Dave.
> > >
> > > "Mark Scacco" wrote in message
> > > news:0D366BBDEE65258A1268A559EFD12EDB@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > > Sorry. I didn't realize two different "Dave"s had replied. I am
> > > referring
> > > > to Dave Alexander's answer.
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Mark Scacco
> > > > Scacco Consulting, Inc.
> > > >
> > > >
> > (snip)
> >
> >
>
>
Message 31 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Aren't there any Lisp Gurus here that can write a reactor attached to the
AutoCAD model object that would not allow the modification or creation of
any entities?

Just a thought. I would write it but I've not messed with reactors yet.
Maybe I'll try.

Kevin


"Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
news:164B944E5622AE8CEF75AFEC3A8DB2E2@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Is there a way to protect or lock a drawing file so that the files can not
> be change? The only thing that I want my customers to do is opening the
> drawing files, zoom in and out, pan around and plot. Does anybody know of
> such a program that I can buy or download? I've tried CADlock, but this
is
> not what I was really looking for. CADlock would do everything that I was
> looking for but the only problem is that it would change the extension to
> dwx. You can not open a CADlock file without having to download or
> installing the program. My clients would like to open it with AutoCAD and
> not having to install a separate application. Your suggestions are
greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Jonathan
>
>
>
Message 32 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

I sent the man a lisp file that will do what he asks. If you want to check
it out I can e-mail it to you. Send me an e-mail and I'll reply with the
file attached.


Kevin wrote in message
<5CFC2B164F3138A915026AD2D103881F@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb>...
>Aren't there any Lisp Gurus here that can write a reactor attached to the
>AutoCAD model object that would not allow the modification or creation of
>any entities?
>
>Just a thought. I would write it but I've not messed with reactors yet.
>Maybe I'll try.
>
>Kevin
>
>
>"Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
>news:164B944E5622AE8CEF75AFEC3A8DB2E2@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
>> Is there a way to protect or lock a drawing file so that the files can
not
>> be change? The only thing that I want my customers to do is opening the
>> drawing files, zoom in and out, pan around and plot. Does anybody know
of
>> such a program that I can buy or download? I've tried CADlock, but this
>is
>> not what I was really looking for. CADlock would do everything that I
was
>> looking for but the only problem is that it would change the extension to
>> dwx. You can not open a CADlock file without having to download or
>> installing the program. My clients would like to open it with AutoCAD
and
>> not having to install a separate application. Your suggestions are
>greatly
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Jonathan
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Message 33 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Not true!!! You can't save a dwf as a dwg, unless the dwg is in the same dir
as the dwf.
If you're on a common network that could be an issue.
If you email a dwf you'll be safe.

"Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
news:2D796346B1CE5E9692F9916B396622EE@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> That is a good idea but we don't want them to modify the file as well. They
> can get the DWF file and convert it to DWG format.
Message 34 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Not true!!! !!!

DWF to DWG converter, http://www.intelcad.com/pages/dwfin/main.htm


"Sam Hochberg" wrote in message
news:27E91ACC5CF4BAC2701EED2F36E37D3A@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Not true!!! You can't save a dwf as a dwg, unless the dwg is in the
same dir
> as the dwf.
> If you're on a common network that could be an issue.
> If you email a dwf you'll be safe.
>
> "Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
> news:2D796346B1CE5E9692F9916B396622EE@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > That is a good idea but we don't want them to modify the file as well.
They
> > can get the DWF file and convert it to DWG format.
>
>
>
Message 35 of 35
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

OOPS....forgot about those kinda things!

"Dan Allen" wrote in message
news:F9C533324E2B1422FD6F3828BECEA67E@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Not true!!! !!!
>
> DWF to DWG converter, http://www.intelcad.com/pages/dwfin/main.htm
>
>
> "Sam Hochberg" wrote in message
> news:27E91ACC5CF4BAC2701EED2F36E37D3A@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > Not true!!! You can't save a dwf as a dwg, unless the dwg is in the
> same dir
> > as the dwf.
> > If you're on a common network that could be an issue.
> > If you email a dwf you'll be safe.
> >
> > "Jonathan Ho" wrote in message
> > news:2D796346B1CE5E9692F9916B396622EE@in.WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> > > That is a good idea but we don't want them to modify the file as well.
> They
> > > can get the DWF file and convert it to DWG format.
> >
> >
> >
>
>

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