Protect Drawing File

[Anonymous]

Hey Folks,

I would like to be able to send a .dwg file that is locked and protected.  Is there a way to lock out a file where no one can edit the drawing but still be able to open the drawing in AutoCAD?

I've been given one once before but I cannot seem to recreate the process.  All of the third party applications I've come across seem to be pretty convoluted when it comes to the recipients process for viewing the file.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Dear John Vellek,

Thank you for your valuable solution.

[Anonymous]

MINSERT is a delaying tactic, one merely needs to WBLOCK the block from the block library to have full access to the content.

[Anonymous]

I realize this an old post and I'm coming to the party a little late but its close to the situation I'm in.

We are a small and new firm. We are currently collaborating with a few other small firms that we have a great personal relationship with but as we grow so will our network. 

I will need to send the file to, lets just say, landscape firm, for example. What would be the best way for them to add in their portion of the project without jeopardizing what we have done?

We want it easy for them to add what they need to, and extremely difficult to change what we've done. Is DWF the best way or is there a better option?

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymouswrote:

I realize this an old post and I'm coming to the party a little late but its close to the situation I'm in.

We are a small and new firm. We are currently collaborating with a few other small firms that we have a great personal relationship with but as we grow so will our network. 

I will need to send the file to, lets just say, landscape firm, for example. What would be the best way for them to add in their portion of the project without jeopardizing what we have done?

We want it easy for them to add what they need to, and extremely difficult to change what we've done. Is DWF the best way or is there a better option?

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Other firms should be doing their work in their own files. Your files are probably going to be used for background or informational purposes, not for generating your design documentation. In a collaborative environment, information should flow freely. Anything you do to try and "protect" your files will probably make them hard to work with. Sometimes companies need to make changes because your standards don't work with theirs. If it is too hard to work with your files, they may not come back for future projects. If they make unauthorized changes, then you will be less likely to work with them again. If they make changes that cost you money, then you shouldn't work with them again and some sort of legal action is in order.

Ask yourself what you are really trying to protect. Is it the design? Is it all that work that's gone into your standards? Can anyone else do what you are doing? Trust me, no matter how special your work seems, there is someone else who is doing it just as well, and some can do it better. Even if they aren't as good as you, they are going think exactly like you and be proud of what they do. Most really aren't interested in your stuff beyond being curious. Things might be different for your area but the point here is that you really should allow the ones you work with to use your files in whatever fashion suits them as long as they aren't making unauthorized changes to the information. If they are, they will find a way to do it, no matter what you do to prevent it from happening.

The firms around here protect themselves with a simple .dwg release form that states the files are to be used in such and such a way and anything else is not authorized. That's it. They sign the form and they get a copy of the file. Sometimes logos, title blocks, and extraneous datum are stripped out, but that's it.

If you need to protect your files, don't send them out.

[dgorsman]

In addition to the release form, there's also procedural methods to identify what is the "drawing of record".  That's the only file which counts if there's a dispute over which is the correct one.  In cases where engineers are involved, these will have the appropriate stamp and either wet signature (paper and/or scanned document) or a digitally signed electronic document.  With more generic documents that's where the release form comes in.

[Anonymous]

Keep in mind this is my first experience with outside input on a project. 

From my engineer/boss/business owner to me:

"I want our drawings to look exactly how we do them no matter who prints them. At my previous company my CAD guy 'locked' our files. I don't know how he did that but that's what we need here."

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymouswrote:

Keep in mind this is my first experience with outside input on a project. 

From my engineer/boss/business owner to me:

"I want our drawings to look exactly how we do them no matter who prints them. At my previous company my CAD guy 'locked' our files. I don't know how he did that but that's what we need here."

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If it's for printing your drawings, send PDFs. CAD files are not necessary for printing purposes.

So, again, you need to determine what you are really trying to protect and ask how to do that. Locking CAD files really goes against the grain in a collaborative environment. Not a good idea on many levels.

[JDHdroy]

Didn't find the answer I needed. I think Adobe Acrobat has the best security. You can still open the file and view it, but you can control who prints, edits and other forms of security.

[microtecnologo]

Hello Rseybert,

I have read the answers to your question but not found any solution.

In fact, I am an independent developer in I faced this challenge 15 years ago and

until now I have developed a really efective software.

I know third party solutions which could be hacked for a cad developer.

Mine is developer proof.

Probably it is late, 3 years after your question.

microtecnologo@yahoo.com.mx

[RobDraw]

And your solution is?

[microtecnologo]

 It is really complicated to explain but surely it works well enough. Actually I would like to sell my cad tool to somebody who is needing it but  I notice you are working in a different direction. By the way some years ago I have developed a command to draw a wire way duct al allonga conveyor which saves a lot of drawing hours but Autodesk did not want to buy that work.Probably cause it is particularly especific and just a few persons could be interested.

[RobDraw]

I'm not interested in locking .dwg files but others coming to this thread are looking for a solution, not empty promises.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> It is really complicated to explain but surely it works well enough

Please send me a locked file ... which is in my understanding: I can open and view (and plot) this DWG-file in every official/public viewer, but I can't edit the content using AutoCAD.

- alfred -

[RobDraw]

Good idea @Alfred.NESWADBA !

[microtecnologo]

Oh, I understand, you are looking for some explanation of some procedure to protect the drawings, but I have to tell you that there is no procedure that a common user can apply effectively and pass all the tests. Just read the answers accumulated for 3 years and discover that none provides a concrete solution. I do not offer empty promises, I offer a product to those who really want to buy it. I do not offer chair of all the implications that I applied to develop it because they will not understand me. A cell phone user simply wants the best without bothering to investigate how their components are made.Also my answer was for the user who asked who now maybe does not need such a tool.

[microtecnologo]

  That's a good idea! Instead of discussing the way my software works and showing that a software is not replaced with a user procedure!
   I require that you send to me any of your drawings and then I will return it the next day to your email, where I will tell you how you will open it.
You can send that same file to other users that you want them to see but not edit.

  my email is:

       microtecnologo@yahoo.com.mx

       My name is Fernando

[Anonymous]

With all due respect, this sales pitch smells a little fishy.  You might have better odds at peddling your "software" if it has an Autodesk stamp of approval, not a "send me your file and I'll convert it for you scheme"... through the forums none-the-less.

The intent of this post, three years ago, was to investigate the possibility of locking a .dwg in a manner that would prevent other outside users from hijacking standards/proprietary blocks built buy the design firm.  The objective was find that solution within AutoCAD itself via a command or a script not a third party program.

The main challenge is that Autodesk does not support the "Entertainment Industry" like other big names such as Nemetscheck does with their Vectorworks: Spotlight program and various add-ons.  This means that none of the content that comes stock with AutoCAD is of any use for this industry.  Any all all content created by production companies, including the company I work for, try to lock down their drawing files as much as possible to prevent time/money from going down the drain.  The tiresome battle of trying to make this work has played a huge role in our firms decision to jump the AutoCAD ship and utilize Vectorworks as the main drafting solution.

Along with many other key features, Vectorworks has instituted a workflow model called "Project Sharing".  It allows multiple users to work in the file simultaneously over a shared network drive or cloud sharing service such as Dropbox or BOX.  One of the key features of Project Sharing is the ability to set user permissions, allowing the file to be shared with outside vendors/contractors who's permissions are set as low as open/view.  This has helped us combat the issue of handing over proprietary symbols/standards.

Telling you all this isn't a huge help to the issue at hand within the AutoCAD realm.  Its simply letting you all know that the technology is out there and I hope that Autodesk can catch up.  Many of the Entertainment Design firms that were previously long time users of AutoCAD have recently jumped ship for a drafting solution that supports our industry in the same way that AutoCAD supports the various industries it does.

Best of luck to you all.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> That's a good idea! Instead of discussing the way my software works

Please find the file >>>here<<<. It's a simple file created during a Civil 3D training class.

- alfred -

[RobDraw]

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@microtecnologo wrote:
Oh, I understand, you are looking for some explanation of some procedure to protect the drawings, but I have to tell you that there is no procedure that a common user can apply effectively and pass all the tests. Just read the answers accumulated for 3 years and discover that none provides a concrete solution. I do not offer empty promises, I offer a product to those who really want to buy it. 

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This makes no sense at all. You are not only contradicting yourself but you are not even offering any proof of a product or service.

Who are these "common" users that you are referring to? Do you think "common users" would be your target market? Your customers would be advanced users that want to protect their work which cannot be done even if you can lock files.

Are you requiring them to share their unlocked file with you in order to get it locked? That in itself is like shooting yourself in the foot.

Why would anyone buy a product that has not been proven to work? You can't even offer up a "locked" file that, according to what you said in your post, is not even possible, but you can do it. This isn't the lottery where people spend money on the chance it might work. They need proof.

Still nothing but empty promises. I agree it sounds fishy.

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The intent of this post, three years ago, was to investigate the possibility of locking a .dwg in a manner that would prevent other outside users from hijacking standards/proprietary blocks built buy the design firm. 

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Which is an exercise in futility for a number of reasons.