Binding Image into DWG

Anonymous · ‎03-09-2018

Hi Im looking to bind an image file into a dwg. e.g. JPG

Is this possible to do in MAC LT ?

I've found this post that suggests using PASTESPEC but this command does not seem to exist in MAC LT ? - https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/simplecontent/content/binding-im...

Only other workaround i can think of is making it a PDF and binding that way? Anyone have any suggestions

Thanks

Tom

john.vellek · ‎03-09-2018

Hi @Anonymous,

Unfortunately, binding an image file is not possible on a Mac as this relies on OLE technology which is part of the Windows environment.

What is in this image? Is it something you can vectorize and then insert?

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

John Vellek

Join the Autodesk Customer Council - Interact with developers, provide feedback on current and future software releases, and beta test the latest software!

Autodesk Knowledge Network | Autodesk Account | Product Feedback

john.vellek · ‎03-12-2018

Hi @Anonymous,

I am checking back to see if my post helped you with your problem or question. If you have an image that suits itself to being a vector drawing, I am happy to try and convert it for you. Please mark my post as the solution if it resolved the issue or give me a bit more detail on this issue so we can continue to work towards getting this solved.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question.

John Vellek

Join the Autodesk Customer Council - Interact with developers, provide feedback on current and future software releases, and beta test the latest software!

Autodesk Knowledge Network | Autodesk Account | Product Feedback

RMHartmann · ‎08-20-2018

I periodically check the AutoCAD Mac forums to see if image embedding can somehow be enabled in AutoCAD for Mac...

I get that in AutoCAD for Windows it is possible because OLE, and that "OLE technology ... is part of the Windows environment," and for this reason is not possible on Macs. However, as AutoCAD for Mac has improved greatly over the years, I keep hoping. The lack of an OLE compatible embedding feature is one of the few things that still gets in the way of seamless sharing of DWG files between Windows and Mac users.

I looked for an AutoCAD Mac "Ideas" list on Autodesk's website to request this feature, but could not find the list, so I am posting this idea here: If bringing OLE to Mac is hopeless, how about turning it around -- could there someday be a way to embed images on the Mac side that would be compatible with the Windows side?

Anonymous · ‎10-31-2018

it's almost 2019 and we still can't open OLE or attach images on Mac... When is this getting resolved?

john.vellek · ‎10-31-2018

HI @Anonymous,

I doubt OLE will ever work on the Mac side of things as it is really a Windows-based technology.

I agree however that a means to do this would be very helpful.

I encourage you to contact the product team directly. If you have additional comments specific to the software or its functionality for future consideration, please use the Product Feedback page. How to provide feedback on Autodesk products goes into more detail.

Another great option is to participate in the AutoCAD Customer Council. This is an opportunity for our customers to partner with the AutoCAD development team to improve future releases of AutoCAD by giving continuous feedback on ideas, designs, and early builds.
In order to get involved email autocad.beta@autodesk.com or autocad.lt.council@autodesk.com

John Vellek

Join the Autodesk Customer Council - Interact with developers, provide feedback on current and future software releases, and beta test the latest software!

Autodesk Knowledge Network | Autodesk Account | Product Feedback

maxim_k · ‎10-31-2018

Hi Guilherme,

>>>>it's almost 2019 and we still can't open OLE or attach images on Mac... When is this getting resolved?

I'm afraid - never. That is because OLE technology is a part of operating system (OS) and it is not available in macOS.

Do you find the posts helpful? "LIKE" these posts!
Have your question been answered successfully? Click 'ACCEPT SOLUTION' button.

Maxim Kanaev
Architect
MARSS

MacACAD | Linkedin

Etiquette and Ground Rules of Autodesk Community

Anonymous · ‎10-31-2018

Understandable, but no other form of binding image into DWG on Mac is what I don't fully comprehend.

dgorsman · ‎10-31-2018

OLE doesn't work that great for "embedding images" on the Windows side either.

Trying to shoehorn that amount of data (even with good compression, such as PNG) into a DWG file is difficult without the file size bloating up like a week-old corpse in the tropics. And it's not *that* helpful given that existing image file formats are available with appropriate viewers and editors.

----------------------------------
If you are going to fly by the seat of your pants, expect friction burns.
"I don't know" is the beginning of knowledge, not the end.

pendean · ‎11-01-2018

Amen!

RMHartmann · ‎11-02-2018

..."bloating up like a week-old corpse in the tropics." Hah, good analogy (albeit a little gross)...

I totally agree that the inefficiency that currently exists with image embedding is a concern, but I would say that embedding images is helpful for title block logos if nothing else.

I have worked on projects that did not allow any attachments or xrefs, yet still wanted DWG format, so everything had to be embedded or "bound" (or do we say "binded" as past tense of the "bind" command for xrefs?). Anyway, the title block logos got embedded using one of our Windows work stations, but we actually had PDFs in many sheets before we were made aware of the requirement. So then we had to convert the PDFs to JPGs because even Windows can't embed PDFs. That was annoying.

Maybe by confining the image file type to PDF or some other, we could have a cross-platform image embedding solution in order to simplify DWG distribution. That's really my hope: forget the Windows-specific OLE embedding method -- come up with a method that is more efficient and can be used on either Mac or Windows.

j.gonzalez.f.8 · ‎07-23-2021

2021 and still nothing ole images

pendean · ‎07-23-2021

@j.gonzalez.f.8 OLE is a WindowsOS feature/ability https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-for-mac/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticle...

"MAC OS has no OLE ability. AutoCAD for MAC has no OLE, since it is not found in the MAC OS. Applications linking is done at the OS level: otherwise every application will need custom code for each specific other program and the nightmare of coding will grow exponentially and then really be unstable."

Now you know.

maxim_k · ‎07-23-2021

Hi @j.gonzalez.f.8 ,

FYI - in AutoCAD 2021 for Mac and later versions you can see OLE images inserted into the drawing in AutoCAD for Windows.

Do you find the posts helpful? "LIKE" these posts!
Have your question been answered successfully? Click 'ACCEPT SOLUTION' button.

Maxim Kanaev
Architect
MARSS

MacACAD | Linkedin

Etiquette and Ground Rules of Autodesk Community

Anonymous · ‎10-04-2021

You can see OLE inserted but can you actually embed images in Autocad for Mac?

maxim_k · ‎10-04-2021

Hi @Anonymous,

>>>>>You can see OLE inserted but can you actually embed images in Autocad for Mac?

No

Do you find the posts helpful? "LIKE" these posts!
Have your question been answered successfully? Click 'ACCEPT SOLUTION' button.

Maxim Kanaev
Architect
MARSS

MacACAD | Linkedin

Etiquette and Ground Rules of Autodesk Community

j.gonzalez.f.8 · ‎08-04-2022

excelent thank you

RMHartmann · ‎08-10-2022

@j.gonzalez.f.8

This other thread has additional info about OLE support for embedding images in Mac version. There is a process that has to take place on a Windows PC to make images visible on Mac:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-for-mac-forum/ole-visibility-in-autocad-autocad-lt-2021-for-m...