Add option for DWF creation with Vault Job Processor using AutoCAD instead of DWG TrueView

[pvillella-CAP]

Autodesk Vault ONLY uses DWG TrueView for the publishing of all DWF previews.

However, we find TrueView much slower to publish these DWFs when compared with AutoCAD or the AutoCAD core console.  Also, there are some things that TrueView simply can't do that AutoCAD can do.

We have found some drawings open just fine with AutoCAD but TrueView has trouble with them and will crash or just "spin" endlessly.

We have several dedicated machines serving our our job processors and they all have the full version of AutoCAD on them.  I would prefer to use full AutoCAD for all publishing jobs, rather than using the stripped down TrueView.

This is currently not possible with Vault, but it seems like it would be an easy thing to allow.

I know that I'm not the only one who would like this option, since this exact question was posted in the forum last year.  The response from Autodesk was simply that it "is not possible" to use AutoCAD instead of TrueView.

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Vault-PDF-DWF-crea...

Please add a setting that allows the administrator to easily choose between TrueView or AutoCAD for DWF publishing rather than having to use the API or a custom publish job to do so.

Thank you,

Patrick

[ihayesjr]

@pvillella-CAP 

Thank you for posting the idea. If this is enabled, you must purchase an AutoCAD license for each Job Processor machine you use. Are you willing to pay for an AutoCAD license?

Also, regarding these DWGs you are having problems with, have you created a support request to see if these issues can be resolved?

What version of Vault are you currently using?

[pvillella-CAP]

Hi Irvin,

Yes, I'm aware that a license is required to use AutoCAD to publish. We have other custom jobs that are part of our Vault workflow that require AutoCAD and even AutoCAD Map to publish DWFx files that include object data.  So, we already have additional licenses purchased, exclusively for job processor use.  I understand that many (or even most) Vault setups may not have full AutoCAD on their JPs, so DWG TrueView is the best option.  Since we already have full AutoCAD, we'd love to just be able to use it instead.

We're using 2022 products currently but will be moving to 2024 shortly. 

I have opened support tickets in the past for some of the drawings that can give TrueView issues but we've figured out some of the limitations and work around them.

In particular, there are some formats of TIF files (referenced by the drawing) that full AutoCAD can handle without issue but will make TrueView crash immediately on opening.  I've found that if I save the TIF using a different format, I can resolve that issue.

Another issue I encounter (rarely, thankfully) is if a drawing contains any Map alias that isn't a valid location. Some Map users set up an alias to reference locations. If that alias is not a valid location on the job processor, TrueView dies.  Again, you can open it in AutoCAD without an issue.

Those particular issues are actually rare for us.  The more concerning problem is that it is just taking considerably longer to publish the DWF (using TrueView) than it takes to publish the DWFx (using AutoCAD).

When I monitor the job processor, I will see the AutoCAD console open and publish the DWFx in less than a minute. Then, it kicks off the DWF publish job which uses TrueView, running headless so I can't see what's going on.  In a best case scenario, the DWF publish takes 2 or 3 minutes.  In a worse scenario, TrueView will be "working" on the job for 20 minutes, even an hour or more.  I have no visibility into what's happening. I can only see TrueView processing in the Task Manager. No errors in the logs and the job will *eventually* finish.  At least with the AutoCAD core console, I can see a bit more what's going on and if there are errors.  

I'm happy to do a call or screenshare with you if you'd like learn more about our environment.

Thank you,

Patrick

[ihayesjr]

How big are your TIFF files?

[pvillella-CAP]

Most drawings do not have any TIFF files but the ones that do have large images, spanning the background of the drawing. File size is only a couple of MB.

[JohnEvansAEC]

@pvillella-CAP May I suggest not going to 2024, and heading straight to 2025? We had various problems with automated publishing in 2024, and had a developer's ticket in on it (which was dropped). We just held on for 2025 and all the issues seem to have been resolved in this latest release.

[pvillella-CAP]

@JohnEvansAEC, thank you for the tip. I appreciate it.  I usually hold off on going with the latest release because, like you, we often find that there are things that need to get worked out, especially for customers that are doing anything custom, or even using the Autodesk Vault Add On (VAO) tools.  Also, jumping up that many releases means we'll also have to upgrade all of our CAD apps since they can only connect to a Vault 2 releases newer.  That makes the Vault upgrade a lot more effort since we then have lots of machines and apps to upgrade.  

However, if you've been able to get your issues in the 2024 version resolved in 2025, I'll definitely give that a go!

Thank you,

Patrick