is any way to protect cad file to being changed or edit by anyone(except me).

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

i am working as a third party consultant , sometime client ask for cad drawing and change or edit it by themself.

i want to know is there is anyway to protect my cad to being changed.(in send them by email)

Regards

Rajiv

[BeKirra]

What you said - "...sometime client ask for cad drawing and change or edit it by themself."

Therefore, you can't protect your drawing files if you send them out.

Now many people convert DWG file into PDF format before sending out.

BTW AFAIK AutoCAD dwg files can be locked by password but it is not at a high protective level. - However this is not the option that you're looking for.

HTH

[Anonymous]

That i know, but sometime i reacive cad file which i cant edit(only i can measure it), i cant copy move from that file.

 that type of secruity i am asking ??

[BeKirra]

So your question was that you want to edit/modify the drawing files protected by someone else.

If this is the case, you have to ask the sender provide you a solution - give you a password or something that unlocks the files.

BTW occasionally some dwg files were set to "Read-only" in its "properties" when you received them by email. In this case you can untick the "Read-only" box and you will be happy.

HTH

[Anonymous]

noo friend i want to create that type of file that no one can edit it(except me or my system).

i hopw now its clear to you

[BeKirra]

Then go for PDF format or convert your dwg files to dwfx before sending out.

HTH

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> but sometime i reacive cad file which i cant edit(only i can measure it),

Can you upload such a drawing, would be interesting how (and if it's really) protected.

First try would be to save it as DXF and look into it 😉

- alfred -

[parkr4st]

as a consultant you are paid to provide them editable drawings?  and get paid for it? 

What is wrong with providing the client with what they request ?

Dave

[stephen.payne]

Quite a low level of security I'm afraid (but might fool them for a bit), after saving the file, right-click on it, go to properties, then select 'read only'.

But I think this solution may have been touched on already ^

[Kent1Cooper]

A Search of the Forums will yield quite a few other threads on this topic, where you will find all the points and suggestions made here, and more.

[wispoxy]

Use ETRANSMIT command, then

go to ----> Transmittal Setups ----> Modify

Under Actions check Prompt for Password.

From there you can extract your work in a customizable fashion. I would also recommend exploding everything

to make possible editing a very annoying process.

[ToanDN]

It really depends on how you contract with your clients. If I ever contracted a consultant for providing me with AutoCAD drawings as deliverables, I am pretty sure he would never be hired again should he provided me with anything less than fully editable DWGs.

[Patchy]

You can deter them but a guru still can still find a way to crack it.

Try to explode this and see:

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

nice sample 😉

- alfred -

[Patchy]

We have to exclude the Expert Elite too

[owen66]

so how did you lock it? i opened it in illustrator and exported to a DXF then opened in ACAD, but got a "read only" message. i copied and pasted to another dwg and it worked fine. just curious about what method you used.

[Patchy]

You can go here and get the DETER.VLX

http://rkmcswain.blogspot.com/2007/07/free-autocad-add-ons.html

OOPS, that link is broken, it was from dotsoft.com by TerryDotson

He deleted it.

[owen66]

thanks, i was curious what was actually going on, and found this thread:

http://www.cadtutor.net/forum/showthread.php?20429-deter.vlx

[Patchy]

I zipped it and post it here. If Terry come here and chew me out, I'll hide.

[Anonymous]

i have download deter but can you guide me how to use it to protect/lock my cad file