"" I work in an industry where dwg is pretty much the industry standard. ""
Then you need to get happy with the proprietary control of that format by AutoDESK.
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"" Can I programmatically calculate the area of a rectangle or extract BOM text from a hardcopy? I submit not.""
Can you do it with the use of an AutoDESK product? I submit not as accurately. So there you are. You've chosen to embed your data in a format that is controlled by AutoDESK. You need to get happy with that choice or choose differently.
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"" Please tell me what market share Autodesk will lose by releasing the specifications to the dwg format? Do you honestly think that if they were to release the specifications that a solid chunk of their user base would jump ship to another CAD package? ""
Based on the number of postings here about INtellicad, I'd say yes a chunk of their users would jump. Based on the number of posters here that for some reason disdain big business, I'd say yes. Based on the number of posters that refuse to use any microsoft product in favor of poorer quality open source programs I'd say yes. Based on the number of posters wanting cheap software and going to LT then complaining it won't do lisp, I'd say yes.
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"" Last time I checked pdf and dwg were both file formats for
storing information.""
Well there you go then, save your data as a pdf and all is golden right? no need for open source DWG.
But hey, that's just me.
Randall Culp
Civil-Structural Design Technician
(aka CADaver)