Preview of .dwfx works in design review, not in autodesk viewer.

[awatt]

I have an autocad file that publishes a .dwfx visualization file on check-in.

When the Vault Client preview window is set to use design review, the drawing shows up. 👍

When the Vault Client preview window is set to use Autodesk viewer, it shows a blank sheet.👎

When I open the .dwfx file in design review standalone, it shows up. 👍

When I upload the .dwfx file to the online Autodesk viewer, it shows up. 👍

Vault Pro 2024, AutoCAD 2024, Both with all updates.

I have attempted to attach the problematic file, but it tells me the content type does not match the extention.

"The attachment's 700.dwfx content type (model/vnd.dwfx+xps) does not match its file extension"

[gandhey]

Hello @awatt ,

Please share the file to : [email protected]

Regards,

Yogeshwar

(Vault team)

[awatt]

Shared, along with the .dwg file.
Also to be mentioned, the .dwfx files are produced locally by different machines, not the job processor.

[awatt]

*ping*

[CGBenner]

@gandhey 

Hello sir!  I just wanted to check in and see if you received the file shared by @awatt ?

[awatt]

Ping^2

[gandhey]

Hello @awatt , @CGBenner 

Sorry I haven't received the data yet.

regards,

Yogeshwar

[awatt]

Re-sent on 6/5 to [email protected]

[lauri_barnhart]

Hello @awatt, we appreciate you posting your question.

Just checking in - has your issue been resolved?

If you've resolved this issue, please share it. It will help other community user find a solution to similar problems.

If not, please provide an update so other members can jump in with further suggestions.

Best,

[awatt]

No updates nor solutions to report.

[gandhey]

Hello @awatt and @CGBenner ,

Apologies for the delay in response.

I have received the files/ tested the data and replied to @awatt in the email thread and will continue to investigation/discussion in the same. And report findings/conclusion here once we have the same.

Regards,

Yogeshwar

(Vault team) 

[awatt]

I've run some more tests.

The visualization file is valid when created by the Job Processor, although it doesn't have the formatting usually controlled by AutoCAD.

When the first of several paperspace layouts is active, and the autocad visualization file options say generate the paperspace layouts, the first page is returned as blank, and the other pages render normally.

When model space is active, and the autocad visualization setup is told to generate the paperspace layouts, an error is returned, and nothing renders visible.

So the problem may be more AutoCAD than Vault. Although the difference between the two autodesk .dwfx viewers seems odd.

[awatt]

Here's a copy of Setup.dwg that we use in user/AppData/Roaming/Autodesk/AutoCAD 2024 Vault Addin/

We're using it on 20+ workstations, so far with identical behavior on all.

Changing between DWFX ePlot (XPS Compatible) and DWF6 ePlot didn't seem to help.

The behavior I stated earlier regarding model or paperspace being active at publish time doesn't seem to be consistent beyond just not working.

We're also having the same viewing problem with the viewer in the web client.

[awatt]

I've decided the 'wrong file type' error is associated with an intermittent network or antivirus issue, and is often resolved by simply trying again. So I'll not worry about that for the time being.

As for the blank page, I haven't yet narrowed it down for all drawings. In the instance shown, changing the font file in the text style from a .shx to .ttf took care of it. (I tried various .shx files, so it's not just one.)

Starting a new file and printing some .shx type text will publish & display a .dwfx correctly. Copying and pasting a few items of text from the offending drawing into a new one with existing text styles can also publish correctly. But copying & pasting or inserting the entire drawing doesn't work.

In another problematic file I wasn't able to narrow down the exact entity that wouldn't display. I would move entities in model space until the paperspace viewport displayed corretly. Then moving ANY entity into the viewport would break it. I've never seen that behavior before. It's almost like the viewport was 'full' & couldn't render any more.

But again, this only happens in the Vault preivew window and the Web client.

[johannes.bauer]

@awatt I suggest you open up a support case so a support person can work with you on that.

[awatt]

The issue of Setup.dwg was resolved. The visualization file publishing settings were reset, and overwriting the Setup.dwg file on first check-in after opening AutoCAD is normal behavior.

As for the issue of blank pages and errors, Autodesk has created this bit of documentation:

Dwfx published through AutoCAD check-in to Vault 2024 shows up as blank in the Autodesk Viewer