Contents

Click the book icon next to the topic you want to see.

About Autodesk View

Using Online Help

Basic Viewing

 	Zooming, Panning, and Restoring Views

 	Paper and Model Space

 	Using the Clipboard

 	Paging through multiple-page TIFF images

 	Manipulating Bitmaps

 	Setting View Options

 	Previewing Before Printing

 	Printing

 	Sending Documents from View

 	Viewing Text and Spreadsheet Documents

Viewing AutoCAD Drawings

 	Working with AutoCAD Drawings (measuring, comparing, converting, and redlining)

Advanced Markup

Integrating Autodesk View with Other Applications

Supported File Formats

Keyboard Shortcuts

Troubleshooting


About Autodesk View
About Autodesk® View

Autodesk View is an easy-to-use tool for viewing and checking AutoCAD drawings and related documents. Autodesk View 2.0 is the official AutoCAD viewer, using technology developed for AutoCAD Release 14.

The transition from paper to online viewing is eased with Autodesk View’s high-performance real-time pan and zoom. The size of your computer monitor or laptop screen is no longer a limiting factor in your ability to view CAD data. While CAD drawings can be visually complex, View’s display controls and filters for layers, blocks, and xrefs let you focus on the information you need. When revisions are reviewed, you can sort and compare the differences with the Compare feature. Finally, View supports scanned legacy paper drawings and hybrid drawings.

View allows you to leverage your investment in PC and network technology for online and offline access, review and communication of design data. All features in View can be activated within the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser window for redlining and clicking drawings on the Internet. You can attach documents and redlines to email messages for easy workflow communication. Gather a drawing and its related documents into a folder for easy transporting to other sites. With support for over 225 file formats, all your project data can be viewed simultaneously. The network version’s floating license manager lets View become the standard tool for the team.

  See also


How Autodesk View Solves Your Viewing Problems
 About Autodesk® View

How Autodesk View Solves Your Viewing Problems

Autodesk View offers a variety of built-in solutions for file viewing and markup, as shown in the following examples:

"I frequently need read-only access to AutoCAD drawings, but I rarely need to create or edit them."

View supports the AutoCAD viewing functions. However, it is easier to learn, and more cost-efficient to use because it is not designed to edit or create drawings. Also, you can run it with much lower system requirements.

If you find that you need to edit an AutoCAD drawing and AutoCAD is installed on your system, you can use the Launch Editor feature to start AutoCAD and edit the drawing.

"I need to annotate drawings with graphics and text."

With View, you can draw or write instructions and comments in one or more redline layers over the existing drawing or raster file. The redlines you create are saved in separate files, and have no effect on the drawing itself.

"I have a large number of related drawings that I need to browse."

You can use the Tree View feature to browse through the directories on your system and quickly preview files before you open them.

View also allows you to hyperlinks related drawings. You can hyperlink a region of a drawing to another file, and then open the linked file by selecting the linked region.

"I need to check and redline files posted on the Internet."

While running Microsoft Internet Explorer®, if you choose a hyperlink to a .dwg or .dxf drawing on the Internet, View will launch inside the Internet Explorer application. You can then redline the file and attach it to an email message.

"I know these drawings are different versions, but I can't tell what's changed."

View has a comprehensive drawing compare feature. You can save the comparison results in a separate .dwg file.

  See also


What's New in Release 2.0
 About Autodesk® View

What's New in Release 2.0

The following features have been added in Release 2.0:

Support for AutoCAD Release 14, Autodesk Mechanical Desktop Release 2.0, AutoCAD LT 97, and the R14 .dxf (Drawing Interchange Format).

Support for AutoCAD Drawing Web Format (.dwf), a highly compressed file format that is easy to publish and view on the Web. You can browse Internet hyperlinks in AutoCAD drawings, redline files, and HTML documents.

 	Support for CAD Overlay, includng R14, ESP, and GSX (4.1 and 7.1).

Viewing and redlining of files over the Internet using Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Realtime pan and zoom with AutoCAD R14 display list and Whip! technologies.

Ability to send files from View to an email recipient or copy them into a folder. You can include externally referenced files, redlines, and attached images from hybrid files.

Improved raster file support, including large format raster scans (for example, CALS Group 4).

More accurate measurement with AutoSnap, using geometric points on objects.

New shortcuts menus.

HPGL/2 file support.

No-color display to highlight redlines.

Updated business formats viewing, including Microsoft Office 97 and double-byte Asian office documents.

License metering, which permits a group of workers to share a set number of licenses (network version only).

  See also


Basic Viewing

With Autodesk View, you can view and print CAD drawings, raster images, text, spreadsheets, databases, and more. For a list of supported file formats, see Autodesk View Supported Formats.

The following information applies to all file types:

Starting Autodesk View

Opening a document

Editing a document

Using View toolbars

Using the Autodesk View status bar

Using Tree View to browse for and preview files before opening them

Getting information about files

Closing a document

Exiting Autodesk View

For information specific to viewing AutoCAD .dwg files, see Viewing AutoCAD Drawings.


To start Autodesk View
 Basic Viewing

To start Autodesk View

Use one of these methods:

If you chose to create a shortcut on the desktop during installation, double-click the Autodesk View shortcut icon.

Drag and drop a file onto the Autodesk View icon.

Choose View from the Start menu.

Run aview.exe with the Windows Run command.

View displays the view and redline toolbars and only a few menus until you open a file.


To see information about the current file
 Basic Viewing

To see information about the current file

Use one of these methods:

On the File menu, click Properties.

In Tree View, right-click the file and click Properties on the shortcut menu.

The General tab in the Properties dialog box displays the location, file name, file type, file size, creation date, last modification date, and last accessed date for the document.

For .dwg files, the DWG tab displays information about the xrefs, blocks, and layers in the drawing, the release of AutoCAD that created the drawing, and whether it has a paperspace view.


To open a document
 Basic Viewing

To open a document

Use one of these methods:

Use the Open command.

Drag and drop a file onto the Autodesk View shortcut icon.

Use the Windows Run command and include a filename as a parameter.

When you open a document in View, the full set of menus displays in the menu bar. Viewing does not alter the file, but word processing documents, spreadsheets, and other nongraphic documents may not appear exactly as they would in the applications in which they were created. Opening a file turns on Zoom Rectangle.

If you see a message saying that View is unable to load a file, it could be for one of these reasons:

View does not support the file type.

An error may have occurred in reading data from the file. Try opening the file again.

The file may be damaged. If this is the case, you will not be able to open the file.

If you open another file, it displays in a separate window on top of the first. You can switch between the files by selecting the one you want from the bottom of the Window menu. You can have any number of files open at once.

Also available on the Window menu are options to turn on Tree View, cascade and tile your windows, and arrange icons for minimized windows at the bottom of the main window.


To open a document with the Open command
 Basic Viewing

To open a document with the Open command

1	On the toolbar, click [image] or on the File menu, click Open.

2	In the File Open dialog box, select the file.

3	Click Open.


To start the editor for the current document
 Basic Viewing

To start the editor for the current document

On the File menu, click Launch Editor.

The file is closed in View, the editor launches, and the document is displayed in the editor’s window. If the editor is AutoCAD and you installed the AutoCAD redlining import tool, the Redline menu and toolbar will be present.


Using Autodesk View Toolbars
 Basic Viewing

Using Autodesk View Toolbars

The view and redline toolbars are the default toolbars. View has nine other toolbars you can display for easy access to commands. To display a list of available toolbars, click the right mouse button anywhere on a toolbar except on one of its buttons.

You can customize toolbar options.

You can dock a toolbar by dragging it to a toolbar area on the top, bottom, left, or right of the screen. Make a floating tool palette of any docked toolbar by dragging it out of the toolbar area.


To set toolbar options
 View Toolbars

To set toolbar options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under Application Settings, click Toolbar.

3	Change any of the toolbar options.

4	Click OK.

The toolbar options you set remain in effect for subsequent sessions.


Toolbar Options

Toolbars	Turns each toolbar on or off.
	View
	Redline
	Print	Print, Print Options, Print Preview
	Help	Help Topics
	Edit	Undo, Copy Selection, Delete, Edit Item
	Zoom	Zoom Rectangle, Zoom Realtime, Pan, Zoom In, Zoom Out, Zoom Extents, Previous
	View 3D	Custom View Direction, Stored Views, Paper/Model, Top View, Bottom View, Left View, Back View, SW Isometric, SE Isometric, NE Isometric, NW Isometric
	Tree View	Tree View, Bring to Front, Refresh
	Display	Layers, Blocks, Xrefs, No Color
	Measure	Distance, Perimeter, Area, Create Redlines
	Snap	Endpoint, Midpoint, Intersection, Center, Quadrant, Tangent, Perpendicular, Insert, Node, Nearest, Snap Magnet, Snap Marker
	Page	Previous Page, Next Page, Go To Page
Show ToolTips	Controls the display of ToolTips. If ToolTips are on, the name of a toolbar button displays when the cursor is over the button.
You can also turn toolbars on or off by clicking the right mouse button in a toolbar area of the View window and choosing a toolbar from the shortcut menu.


The View Toolbar

The view toolbar controls the viewing functions described in Basic Viewing and in Viewing AutoCAD Drawings. Click an icon in the illustration below to see the tool name.


The Redline Toolbar

The redline toolbar controls the redline functions described in Redlining a Drawing. Click an icon in the illustration below to see the tool name.


Using the Status Bar
 Basic Viewing

Using the Status Bar

The Autodesk View status bar displays (from left to right) the message area and the current X and Y coordinates of the cursor. The message area gives you information about currently selected items, including the measurements produced by the Perimeter, Distance, and Area commands. The X and Y coordinates use the display units defined for the current image.

You can control the display of the status bar.


Using Tree View
 Basic Viewing

Using Tree View

Tree View lets you browse through your file system to preview, convert, or open files. You can use the Explore option to open Window Explorer or File Manager to copy, delete, rename, or move files or folders.

You can:

Turn on Tree View

Turn off Tree View

Select and preview a file in Tree View

Open a file from Tree View for full viewing and redlining

Convert a .dxf or .dwg file in Tree View

Update the file display in Tree View

Manage files from Tree View

When you turn on Tree View, a new window opens that displays a folder tree representing your file system. The right side of the window displays a preview of the selected file. Fewer options are available for the Tree View window than for a viewing and redlining window. However, you can set display options in Tree View that will also take effect in the viewing and redlining windows.

Display the Tree View toolbar for buttons that turn Tree View on or off, bring the Tree View window to the front, and refresh the file list. You can display the Tree View window alongside one or more windows in which you have opened files for viewing and redlining, but you can open only one Tree View window at a time.

For many drawing files, you can zoom or pan the preview. For AutoCAD drawings, you can switch to a thumbnail view or use the measurement commands.

Press the right mouse button on a drive, folder, or file name in Tree View to display a shortcut menu. The shortcut menu includes the Properties option, which displays information about the selected item, such as its size and the date it was modified.

While Tree View is displayed, you can press the right mouse button on a drive, folder, or filename to see a shortcut menu with appropriate choices for the selected item.


To turn on Tree View
 Using Tree View

To turn on Tree View

On the Window menu, click Tree View.

If Tree View is on but not visible, use one of these methods to move the Tree View window to the front:

Click the Bring To Front button on the Tree View toolbar.

Click Tree View on the list of open windows at the bottom of the Window menu.

If you exit View while a Tree View window is active, the Tree View window will be active the next time you start View.


To turn off Tree View
 Using Tree View

To turn off Tree View

Use one of these methods:

On the Window menu, click Tree View again to turn it off.

On the Tree View toolbar, click the Tree View button.


To select and preview a file in Tree View
 Using Tree View

To select and preview a file in Tree View

1	To display the folders and files on a different drive, use one of these methods:

Click the plus sign (+) next to one of the drive icons in the left-hand pane of the Tree View window. To hide the files again, click the minus sign (-) next to the drive.

Right-click the drive name and click Open on the shortcut menu. To hide the files again, click Close on the shortcut menu.

2	To display the files in a folder, use one of these methods:

Click the plus sign (+) next to the folder name in the left-hand pane of the Tree View window. To hide the files again, click the minus sign (-) next to the folder name.

Right-click the folder name and click Open on the shortcut menu. To hide the files again, click Close on the shortcut menu.

Use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to navigate among files and folders. The RIGHT ARROW key opens a folder if a closed folder is selected. The LEFT ARROW key closes an open folder, or selects the parent folder of a closed folder or a file. You can also type a letter to select the next file or folder beginning with that letter.

3	To filter the display to show only files of a particular type, click the arrow next to Files Of Type (above the folder tree) and choose a file type.

4	Click a file name to display a preview of that file in the right-hand pane of the window. You can use all the pan and zoom commands. For AutoCAD files, you can use the measurement commands. To use the arrow keys for panning, first click in the right-hand pane. You cannot redline in Tree View.


To open a file from Tree View
 Using Tree View

To open a file from Tree View

Use one of these methods:

Double-click the file name on the left side of the window.

Right-click the file name and click Open on the shortcut menu.

On the File menu, click Open and select the file.

To edit the file instead of opening it in View, select the file and click Launch Editor on the File or shortcut menu.


To convert a .dwg or .dxf file in Tree View
 Using Tree View

To convert a .dwg or .dxf file in Tree View

Select the file and click Convert on the File or shortcut menu.

For information on converting files, see Converting Between .dwg and .dxf.


To update the file display in Tree View
 Using Tree View

To update the file display in Tree View

Use one of these methods:

Press F5.

On the Tree View toolbar, click the Refresh icon.

Refresh checks for new drives, folders, and files and displays them without changing which drives or folders are open.


To manage files from Tree View
 Using Tree View

To manage files from Tree View

Right-click a folder and click Explore on the shortcut menu.

Explore starts Windows Explorer, with the selected folder as the current directory. You can use Explorer to copy, move, delete, or rename your files and folders, and use many other file management features. To open a file in View, right-click a file of a type supported by View, and then click Autodesk View on the shortcut menu.


To close a document
 Basic Viewing

To close a document

Use one of these methods:

On the File menu, click Close.

Press CTRL+F4.

Click Close on the Window menu.

To close multiple windows, you can choose Close All on the Window menu.


To exit Autodesk View
 Basic Viewing

To exit Autodesk View

Use one of these methods:

On the File menu, click Exit.

Press ALT+F4.


Zooming, Panning, and Restoring Views

You can change your view of a document by zooming, panning, or returning to the previous view. Along with the ability to zoom and pan the image from point to point, View provides Realtime options for interactive zooming and panning. If necessary, you can clean up a view by redrawing it.

You can do the following:

Zoom in to magnify a smaller portion of the file

Zoom out to see more of the file at a smaller magnification

 	Zoom in to the view in realtime mode

Zoom to a portion of the file

Zoom to extents

Zoom to fit the window

Pan the view

Pan the view in realtime mode

View a drawing as it was last saved in its native application

View a raster file at its actual size

Restore the previous view

Redraw the view

Cancel operations

 	Regenerate the display after an operation is interrupted


To zoom in (increase magnification)
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To zoom in (increase magnification)

Use one of these methods:

On the toolbar, click [image].

On the View menu, click Zoom> In.

Press PLUS ( + ) on the keyboard.

Right-click and click Zoom In on the shortcut menu.

The magnification doubles each time you zoom in. You can zoom in and out repeatedly during point-to-point zooming without waiting for the operation to conclude.


To zoom out (reduce magnification)
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To zoom out (reduce magnification)

Use one of these methods:

On the toolbar, click [image].

On the View menu, click Zoom> Out.

Press MINUS ( - ) on the keyboard.

Right-click and click Zoom Out on the shortcut menu.

The view is reduced 50 percent each time you zoom out. You can zoom in and out repeatedly during point-to-point zooming without waiting for the operation to conclude.


To zoom in realtime
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To zoom in realtime mode

1	Use one of these methods:

On the toolbar, click Zoom Realtime.

On the View menu, click Zoom> Realtime.

Right-click and click Zoom Realtime on the shortcut menu.

2	Click the left mouse button and drag the cursor vertically. Move the cursor up to zoom in on the image. Move the cursor down to zoom out from the image. The greater the distance that you drag the cursor, the greater the zoom factor.

Display Lists must be turned on for realtime zooming to be available.


To zoom to a portion of the file
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To zoom to a portion of a file

1	Do one of the following:

On the toolbar, click

On the View menu, click Zoom> Rectangle.

Right-click and click Zoom Rectangle on the shortcut menu.

2	Click to indicate the first corner of a rectangle and drag to define the rectangle.

The image within the rectangle is enlarged to fill the window.


To zoom to extents
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To zoom to extents

Use one of these methods:

On the toolbar, click

On the View menu, click Zoom> Extents.

Right-click and click Zoom Extents on the shortcut menu.

Note: For AutoCAD drawings only, you can also zoom to the limits of the drawing.

Zooming to extents differs according to the file type.

AutoCAD drawings	The area containing objects.
HPGL plot files	The edges of the paper you have specified in the Options dialog box. See To set HPGL options.
Raster images	The bounds of the bitmap.
For other kinds of images, extents are not defined and the command is unavailable.

If the extents stored with the drawing are incorrect, you can zoom to fit the window and display the entire drawing.


To zoom to fit the window
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To zoom to fit the window

On the toolbar, click [image], or on the View menu, click Zoom> Fit to Window.

Note: For AutoCAD drawings only, you can also zoom to the limits of the drawing.

If you redline outside the extents of a drawing or raster image, zooming to fit to the window displays both the base drawing and the redline. If a drawing was created in AutoCAD Release 11 or earlier and the full drawing doesn’t display, use Fit to Window to recalculate the drawing’s extents.


To pan the view
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To pan the view

Use one of these methods:

On the toolbar, click [image], or on the View menu, click Pan. Then click two points to indicate the direction and distance to pan.

Press the appropriate arrow key.

Use the scroll bars.

Panning pulls the drawing in the direction you specify without changing the size of the view. During point-to-point panning, you can pan again without waiting for the redraw to conclude.

You can pan with the arrow keys or scroll bars regardless of whether the Pan command is active.

Pan remains active until you choose another command or turn off Pan. If you turn off Pan, you turn on Zoom Rectangle.


To pan the view in realtime mode
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To pan the view in realtime mode

1	Turn on display lists.

2	On the toolbar, click [image], the View menu, or the shortcut menu, click Pan.

3	Drag the cursor and the image will follow it.

With realtime panning you can move the image more interactively. As you move the cursor, the drawing image pans quickly, with very fast redraws.


To view a drawing as last saved in its native application
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To view a drawing as last saved in its native application

On the View menu, click As Saved.


To view a raster file at its actual size
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To view a raster file at its actual size

On the View menu, click Actual Size.

Actual Size sets the magnification so that one pixel in the file is equal to one pixel on the screen.


To restore the previous view
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To restore the previous view

On the toolbar, click [image], or on the View menu, click Previous.

The previous view is the last view before you zoomed or panned the drawing.


To redraw the view
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To redraw the view

Use one of these methods:

On the View menu, click Redraw.

Press F5.


To cancel a screen drawing operation in progress
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To cancel an operation in progress

Use one of these methods:

Press the right mouse button

Press ESC.


To regenerate the display
 Zooming, Panning, Restoring

To regenerate the display

Use one of these methods:

Press SHIFT + F5 to regenerate the display, for example if the loading of a file is interrupted before it is complete.


Paper and Model Space

Model space is the view in which you define your drawing in AutoCAD. Paper space is a virtual space on which you can arrange a set of model space views. There is at most one paper space view per drawing, and it exists only if you create it in AutoCAD before the drawing is saved. An example of a paper space view is the traditional four-part 2D drawing showing top, front, right, and ortho views of a 3D subject. If a drawing is in paper space when it is saved, it opens in paper space.

Paper space is available for non-AutoCAD files. For a nongraphic file, paper space is equivalent to layout mode.

You can turn paper space on or off.


To turn paper space on or off
 Paper and Model Space

To turn paper space on or off

Use one of these methods:

On the toolbar, click

On the View menu, click Paper Space.

Right-click and click Paper Space on the shortcut menu.

If the paper space view is on, the Paper Space command in the View menu is checked. If it's unchecked, you are in model space.


Using the Clipboard

You can copy part of a document to the Windows Clipboard and then paste it into another document. If you copy a graphic region that contains redlines, the redlines are also copied. The type of document—graphic or nongraphic—determines how you select what to copy and the order in which you perform the steps. You can do the following:

Copy a graphic region to the Clipboard

Copy a text block to the Clipboard

Set Clipboard options

Note: You can also send a file to a folder or a mail recipient.


To copy to the Clipboard
 Using the Clipboard

To copy a graphic region to the Clipboard

1	On the Edit menu, click Copy Image.

2	Do one of the following:

To copy the entire view, press RETURN.

Drag the cursor to draw a selection rectangle around the region to copy. When the rectangle is finished, the region is copied to the Clipboard.

You can set an option that determines whether the region is copied as a metafile or a bitmap.


To copy a text block to the Clipboard
 Using the Clipboard

To copy a text block to the Clipboard

1	Drag the cursor across lines of text to define the selection to copy.

2	On the Edit menu, click Copy, or right-click and click Copy on the shortcut menu.

You can set options that control how data is copied to the Clipboard.


To set Clipboard options
 Using the Clipboard

To set Clipboard options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under Application Settings, click Clipboard.

3	On the Clipboard page, set the options you want.

4	Click OK.

The options you set remain in effect for subsequent sessions.


Clipboard Options

Option	Description
Copy as Bitmap	The bitmap format holds raster data only.
Copy as Metafile	The metafile format can hold both vector and raster data.
Copy as Table	The selection (from a spreadsheet or database file) is copied to the Clipboard as a table.
Copy Using Optimized Tabs	The copy includes a tab between each spreadsheet cell or database field that has information in it.
Copy Using Tabs	The copy includes a tab between each spreadsheet cell or database field.


Multiple-Page TIFFs

Fax documents and scanned documents can be saved as multipage TIFF images. For these kinds of documents and word-processing or other nongraphic files, you can move from one page to the next or go to a specific page. When you print such a document, you can specify a range of pages to print.


To page through multiple-page TIFF images
 Multipage TIFFs

To page through multiple-page TIFF images

Use one of these methods:

On the View menu, click Next Page or Previous Page.

Press the PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN keys on your keyboard.

On the View menu, click Go To Page and enter a page number.

Press CTRL+G (for Go To Page) and enter a page number.


Manipulating Bitmaps

You can manipulate bitmaps as follows:

Rotate a bitmap

Flip a bitmap (turn it upside down)

Mirror a bitmap (flip it along its vertical axis)

Invert the colors of a black and white bitmap


To rotate a bitmap
 Manipulating Bitmaps

To rotate a bitmap

1	Display a bitmap.

The Rotate commands are unavailable for all other file types.

2	On the View menu, click Rotate, then 90, -90, or 180.

The 90 and 180 settings rotate the bitmap clockwise. The -90 setting rotates the bitmap counterclockwise.


To flip a bitmap
 Manipulating Bitmaps

To flip a bitmap

1	Display a bitmap.

The Rotate commands are unavailable for all other file types.

2	On the View menu, click Rotate> Flip.

The image is flipped from top to bottom around the horizontal axis.


To mirror a bitmap
 Manipulating Bitmaps

To mirror a bitmap

1	Display a bitmap.

The Rotate commands are unavailable for all other file types.

2	On the View menu, click Rotate> Mirror.

The drawing is mirrored from left to right around the vertical axis.


To invert a black and white bitmap
 Manipulating Bitmaps

To invert a black and white bitmap

1	Display a black and white bitmap.

This command applies only to binary raster images (one bit per pixel). It is unavailable for other file types.

2	On the Display menu, click Invert Colors.

Pixels that were previously black are now white, and vice versa.


Setting View Options for All Document Types

You can set options that control how Autodesk View displays files, for example, the fonts used to display text documents, and the way files are sorted in an archive.

For graphic files, you can set general viewing options, such as:

HPGL Viewing Options

Color and width for pens on the screen and for printing on Windows printers

Links Options

For nongraphic files, you can set:

Text/Data Options

The Text/Data options control the display of database, spreadsheet, word processing files,and archive files.

You can set options specific to AutoCAD drawings, including the following:

Options specific to .dwg and .dxf files

 	Options for viewing 3D solids

 	Options that determine how related files are loaded

 	Options that set measurement units

 	An option that turns display lists on or off

You can set markup preferences, including the following:

Note Options

Redline Options

You can also set application settings, including the following:

Screen Options

The Screen options control the display of the application window.

Clipboard Options

Toolbar Options

Notification Options

 	File Association Options

 	File Association Options for AutoCAD files

By configuring file associations, you can specify that files with certain file extensions will open in View when you double-click them in Windows Explorer or File Manager. You can also specify whether AutoCAD files display in Internet Explorer using a plug-in or using View.


To set HPGL Options
 Setting View Options

To set HPGL options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under General Viewing, click HPGL.

3	On the HPGL page, set the options you want.

4	Modify pens, if desired.

5	Click OK.

Settings on the HPGL page are saved for subsequent sessions of View.

The HPGL settings control how an HPGL drawing is displayed in View and printed on a Windows printer. To change line width, line style, and color for printing, see To set pen options.

View notifies you if an HPGL file contains instructions that are not supported. To turn off future notification, select the option labeled “Don’t Display This Warning in the Future” in the notification message. You can also use the Options command to do this.


HPGL Options

Option	Description
Plotter Model	Sets the plotter model and paper size to view HPGL plot files at the proper scale. These files are generated for a specific plotter model and paper size.


To modify a pen
 Setting View Options

To modify a pen

1	On the HPGL page of the Options dialog box, select a pen.

2	In the Color list, click a pen color.

3	Enter a pen width.

4	Click Apply.


To set screen options
 Setting View Options

To set screen options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under Application Settings, click Screen.

3	On the Screen page, set the options you want.

4	Click OK.

The options you set remain in effect for subsequent sessions.


Screen Options

Option	Description
Background Color	Sets the background color of the application window to black, white, or gray.
Show Scrollbars	Controls whether scrollbars are displayed.
Show Status Bar	Controls whether the status bar is displayed.


To set text and data options
 Setting View Options

To set text and data options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under General Viewing, click Text/Data.

3	On the Text/Data page, set the options you want.

4	Click OK.

The options you set remain in effect for subsequent sessions.


Text/Data Options

Option	Description
Default Font	If no font is specified, View uses the default font. To change the default font, click Change and select a font, style, and size.
View Unknown  Files As	Specifies the character set for displaying text files. To change the character set, choose one from the list.
Archive	Provides sort options for files contained within an archive, for example, a ZIP file. To change the sort option, choose one from the list.
Show Gridlines	For database files and spreadsheets, sets whether record and field (row and column) borders are drawn.
Print Labels	For database files and spreadsheets, sets whether field (column) titles are displayed.


To set notification options
 Setting View Options

To set notification options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under Application Settings, click Notification.

3	On the Notification page, set the options you want.

4	Click OK.

The options you set remain in effect for subsequent sessions.


Notification Options

Option	Description
Notify When AutoCAD Font File Not Found	Displays a message whenever a font specified for an AutoCAD drawing is not found. The message lets you specify a substitute font, which is added to the font map so that substitution is automatic in the future. You can also turn off future notification by selecting the option labeled “Don’t Display This Warning in the Future” in the notification message.
Notify When AutoCAD Xref Or Raster File Not Found	Displays a message whenever an xref or attached image file specified for an AutoCAD drawing is not found. You can also turn off future notification by selecting the option labeled “Don’t Display This Warning in the Future” in the notification message.
Notify When Skipping AutoCAD ARX objects	Displays a message that notifies you that the drawing you are opening contains objects that cannot be displayed in View.
Notify When Unsupported HP-GL Instructions Found	Displays a message whenever an unsupported HPGL instruction is found.


To set file association options for non-AutoCAD files
 Setting View Options

To set file association options for non-AutoCAD files

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under Application Settings, click File Types.

3	In the File Types section of the Options dialog box, select the file types you want to open in View when you double-click them in Windows Explorer or File Manager. Then click the right arrow button.

The file types appear in the Open With View list.

The File Types list contains all file formats supported by View except .dwg, .dxg, .dwf, and .red. The .red format (for redlines) is associated with View by default.

4	To disassociate a file type from View, select it in the Open With View list and click the left arrow button.

The file type returns to the File Types list.

5	To configure file associations for .dwg, .dxg, and .dwf files, click the Registry Tool button and follow the steps for associating AutoCAD files.

6	When the Open With View list contains the desired file types, click OK.


To set file association options for AutoCAD files
 Setting View Options

To set file association options for AutoCAD files

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under Application Settings, click File Types.

3	Click the Registry Tool button.

You can also click the Registry Tool button if you choose Configure in the dialog box that displays the first time you run View.

You can also start the Autodesk View Registry Tool in the following ways:

In the Windows Startup menu, click Autodesk View> Autodesk View Registry Tool.

At the Windows Run command line, enter c:\Program Files\Autodesk View\aviewreg.

If you installed Autodesk View in a different location, enter that path instead.

Right-click the View icon on the right side of the Windows taskbar and click Open.

The icon will be in the taskbar if you have run the Registry Tool during the current session or if you added a shortcut for the Registry Tool to the Startup folder.

4	Click the tab for the file type to configure: .dwg, .dxg, or .dwf.

5	For .dwg, choose whether you want files to open in AutoCAD or in View when double-clicked. If you have both AutoCAD Release 13 and Release 14 installed, you can choose which release to associate with .dwg.

For .dxf and .dwf, you can choose whether or not to open files in View when you double-click them.

For all three file types, the Other option will be selected if the file type is already associated with an application other than those listed.

6	For all three file types, you can choose whether you want them to display in Internet Explorer using an ActiveX control (a plug-in), or using View as a document object server.

The DwgX plug-in option is available once you have installed the plug-in. Check our web site, www.autodesk.com/view, to download the DwgX plug-in.

The DwgX and Whip! plug-ins have a limited set of View commands, whereas using View as a document object server provides complete View functionality.

The Whip! Plug-in option is available once you have installed the plug-in. Check our web site (www.autodesk.com/whip) to download the Whip! Plug-in.

View runs in browsers that are document object containers. Netscape Navigator 4.0 (or earlier) is not a document object container. You must use the DwgX plug-in to display AutoCAD files in Netscape Navigator.

7	Click OK.

AutoCAD modifies the registry settings for .dwg file types each time it is run. The registry tool reminds you that the .dwg registry setting has been changed by flashing the View icon in the right side of the taskbar. The registry tool remains running as a separate application, accessible from the taskbar. You need to run the tool to reset it if you want double-clicked .dwg files to open in View.


To set up a shortcut for the Registry Tool in the Windows Startup folder
 Setting View Options

To set up a shortcut for the Registry Tool in the Windows Startup folder

1	Use Windows Explorer to find the Autodesk View directory.

2	Right-click the Registry Tool icon and click Create Shortcut.

The shortcut, labeled “Shortcut to aviewreg.exe” appears in the same directory.

3	Drag and drop the shortcut icon to the Startup folder.

In Windows 95, the Startup folder is in c:\windows\start menu\programs. In Windows NT, the Startup folder is in c:\profiles\username\start menu.

4	Right-click the shortcut icon and click Properties.

5	Click the Shortcut tab.

6	In the Target box, at the end of the path, outside the quotes, type a space and then enter -hide.

For example, in Windows 95, the entry in the Target box would be “C:\Program Files\Autodesk View\aviewreg.exe” -hide if View is installed in its default location.

The -hide parameter keeps the Registry Tool from displaying when you start Windows. The tool is available as an icon on the taskbar.

7	Click OK.


Previewing Before Printing

Use the Print Preview feature to make sure that documents are set up to print properly. Print Preview displays the current orientation, margins, and magnification for printing. You can:

Preview a print setup

Zoom in to the preview

Zoom out of the preview

Print from the preview window

Close the preview window


To preview a print setup
 Previewing a Page

To preview a print setup

On the File menu, click Print Preview.

You can click the preview image to zoom in or out on the document, depending on which button is available. If both are available, View repeats your last action.

If the print setup is acceptable, you can print from the preview window.


To zoom in to the preview
 Previewing a Page

To zoom in to the preview

On the preview toolbar, click Zoom In, or click the preview.

The magnification doubles each time you zoom in. After you have zoomed in as far as possible, the Zoom In button becomes unavailable.


To zoom out of the preview
 Previewing a Page

To zoom out of the preview

On the preview toolbar, click Zoom Out, or click the preview.

The magnification is reduced by 50 percent each time you zoom out. After you have zoomed out as far as possible, the Zoom Out button becomes unavailable.


To print from the preview window
 Previewing a Page

To print from the preview window

1	On the preview toolbar, click Print.

2	In the Print dialog box, set system print options as needed.

3	Click OK.


To close the preview window
 Previewing a Page

To close the preview window

On the preview toolbar, click Close.


Printing Documents

Use these basic steps to print a file:

Set Autodesk View print options as needed.

The Autodesk View print options determine the view you print and the layout, color, and pen styles of the printed view. Print options are set independently for graphic and nongraphic files. For example, if you change the pen colors for a .dwg file, the change applies to all graphic files but not to nongraphic files.

Set Windows system print options as needed.

When you print a document, you can set Windows system print options, which are set through the Print dialog box (a feature of Windows) rather than the Print Options dialog box (a feature of Autodesk View). These options include paper orientation and the range of pages to print. The options available depend on your version of Windows and choice of printer.

Preview a page before printing

Choose the Print command

If you have problems with printing, see Troubleshooting.


To set print options specific to Autodesk View
 Printing Documents

To set print options specific to Autodesk View

1	On the File menu, click Print Options.

You can also click Print Options on the preview toolbar when you’re in Print Preview.

2	Select the print view.

The view is printed related to the image rectangle.

3	You can also set:

Page layout options

Pen and color options

You print the background of a drawing as black or white. You can print the lines that constitute the drawing in color or in black and white. If you are printing a .dwg or .dxf file, you can map the pens for the drawing to custom colors and specify a line type and width for each pen.

4	Click OK.


To set page layout options
 View Print Options

To set print view options

1	On the File menu, click Print Options.

2	In the Print Options dialog box select the view to print from the following options:

Current View	Fits the current view within the image rectangle. If the image rectangle has a taller (or wider) aspect than the current view, and the current view shows less than the entire drawing, then the image rectangle shows more of the current drawing in the taller (or wider) directions than the current view.
Fit Extents	Scales the drawing so its extents fit within the image rectangle.
Named View	Fits a named view of the drawing within the image rectangle. If no named views are defined, this option is unavailable.
To Scale	Specifies the scale of drawing units to paper units. The drawing units are defined in the drawing. The paper units are defined in the Print Layout dialog box.  For example, if the drawing units are feet and the paper units are inches, and you specify 1 in both text boxes of the To Scale option, the drawing prints at 1 inch = 1 foot, or at a scale of 1:12. The drawing is centered on the image rectangle. Only the parts of the drawing that fit in the image rectangle are visible.
3	Click OK.


To set page layout options
 View Print Options

To set page layout options

1	On the File menu, click Print Options.

2	In the Print Options dialog box, click Layout.

3	To set the units of measurement, click English (inches) or Metric (mm).

This units of measurement apply to the following:

The Margins and Size fields in this dialog box

The Paper Units for the To Scale option in the Print Options dialog box

The line width assignments in the Pen Assignments dialog box

4	To set the page margins, enter values in the Top and Left boxes, under Margins.

The margins settings position the image rectangle on the printed page. The right and bottom margins are whatever is left over.

5	Enter Paper Size values in the Width and Height boxes to define an image rectangle. The view you specify prints within the image rectangle.

6	To print a title on the page, enter it in the Title 1 and Title 2 boxes.

Title 1 and Title 2 are the first and second line of the title. To have the system date and time or the file name print in the title, enter them as variables:

System date	%Date%
System time	%Time%
File name	%File%
The title always appears just above the top left corner of the image rectangle. The title will not print if the top margin is too narrow to accommodate the title within the printer's image area.

7	To draw a border, click Draw Border.

The border will not print if the top margin is set too narrow to accommodate the title within the printer's image area. (See your printer documentation for the image area of your printer. It is often smaller than the maximum sheet size.)

8	To draw a drop shadow, click Drop Shadow.

You can print a drop shadow with or without a border.

9	Click OK.


To set pen options
 View Print Options

To set pen options

1	On the File menu, click Print Options.

2	In the Print Options dialog box, click Pens.

3	In the Pen Assignments dialog box, under Print Colors, choose one of the options:

Monochrome	Prints the drawing in black and white.
Default Colors	Prints the drawing using its original colors.
Custom Colors	Uses your remapped colors (see step 5, below). Custom Colors is available for .dwg, .dwf, and .dxf files only.
4	Under Background, click Black or White to set the background color.

5	To remap colors or to change the line type or line width for printing .dwg and .dxf files, click Advanced.

6	Click the line representing the pen to modify.

For each pen, you can specify a print color and either a line type or a pen width.

If View is running under Windows NT 4.0, you can change all three values.

7	The Modify Values area shows the current values for this pen. Change the values as desired.

If you select Custom Colors under Print Colors, you can map the color for this pen to any color supported by the AutoCAD 256-color palette. Click the Browse button and select a color

You can change the line type or line width for any pen, regardless of the Print Color type you specify.

8	Click Apply to apply any changes you made. If you click Set Defaults, the colors, pens, and so on are set back to their default settings.

9	Click OK.

These options affect printed appearance only.


To set system print options
 Printing Documents

To set system print options

1	On the File menu, click Print.

2	In the Print dialog box, adjust the options as needed.

If you are changing the paper orientation, you must also change the Width and Height values in the Print Layout dialog box.

3	Click OK.


System Print Options

Options in this dialog box depend on your version of Windows and current printer, but usually include orientation (Landscape and Portrait) and range of pages to print. For the full range of system print options, open your Print dialog box and its subordinate dialog boxes and review their contents.


To change the paper orientation
 Printing Documents

To change the paper orientation

1	On the File menu, click Print Options.

2	In the Print Options dialog box, click Layout.

3	Reverse the width and height values.

For example, if you are switching from portrait to landscape orientation and the portrait values are Width=7 and Height=9, make the values Width=9 and Height=7.

4	Click OK twice.

5	On the File menu, the view toolbar, or the preview toolbar, click Print.

6	Find the paper orientation options for your printer.

7	Click Landscape or Portrait.

In Landscape, the long edge is horizontal. In Portrait, the long edge is vertical.

8	Click OK.


To print a document
 Printing Documents

To print a document

1	Do one of the following:

On the File menu, click Print.

On the View or Print toolbar, click Print.

On the print preview toolbar, click Print.

Right-click and click Print on the shortcut menu.

2	In the Print dialog box, set system print options as needed.

3	Click OK.


Viewing Text and Spreadsheet Documents

Autodesk View can open a variety of document types.

When a text or spreadsheet file is displayed, you can:

 	Set general viewing options

 	Zoom, pan, and manage the view of the document

Copy selected information to the Clipboard

Set options related to the Clipboard

Print the document

Change options related to the document type

Turn paper space on or off

For a nongraphic document, paper space means layout mode.


Sending Documents from Autodesk View

You can send a file from View to a mail recipient or to a folder or drive. You can include all related documents, or choose just the host file. If the file is a drawing, you can include externally referenced files and attached image files. If a redline is currently open for the drawing, you can send the redline.

To use document mailing, you need any mail system compatible with the Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI). Microsoft Exchange® is one such mail system.


To send a document to a mail recipient
  Sending Documents

To send a document to a mail recipient

1	From the File menu, choose Send To> Mail Recipient.

2	In the Select Files to Send dialog box, choose to attach All Related Documents, or any combination of the document, redline, external reference, and attached image files you need.

Choose External Referenced Files to include xrefs and attached images.

3	Click OK.

If you have not configured your MAPI-compliant mail system, you will see a dialog box asking you to do so.

Your email system will present a blank email message form with the selected files attached.

4	Type and send your message.


To send a document to a folder
  Sending Documents

To send a document to a folder

1	From the File menu, choose Send To> Folder.

2	In the Select Files to Send dialog box, choose to send All Related Documents, or any combination of the document, redline, external reference, and attached image files you need.

Choose External Referenced Files to include xrefs and attached images.

3	Click OK.

4	In the Send to Folder dialog box, enter a folder or drive location to send the files to.

5	Click OK.


Viewing AutoCAD Drawings

You can use Autodesk View to:

Optimize View for AutoCAD drawings

Display AutoCAD views

Manage redline and xref files

Show or hide layers, blocks, and xref files

View AutoCAD objects created in other applications

These objects include ACIS objects, custom objects, and stored graphics.

View or redline a Mechanical Desktop drawing

Set viewing options for AutoCAD drawings


Optimizing Autodesk View for AutoCAD Drawings
 Viewing AutoCAD Drawings

Optimizing Autodesk View for AutoCAD Drawings

To optimize View for the display of .dwg files, you can set these options:

Turn on line types to display them as you would see them in AutoCAD.

Specify a font path to make sure View can find fonts specified in the AutoCAD drawings you open.

Specify an xref path to make sure View can find xrefs specified in AutoCAD drawings you open.

Set redlines to open automatically when you open their host drawings.


To enable View to show line widths as they appear in AutoCAD
 Optimizing View for ACAD Drawings

To enable View to show line widths as they appear in AutoCAD

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under CAD Viewing, click DWG/DXF.

3	On the DWG/DXF page, turn on Linetypes under Display.

4	Click OK.


Displaying AutoCAD Views
 Viewing AutoCAD Drawings

Displaying AutoCAD Views

When viewing AutoCAD drawings, you can make use of AutoCAD features, such as stored views, drawing limits, 3D viewpoints, and thumbnails, if they are included in your drawings.

Note: View cannot display the effects of the MLEDIT command on multilines, for example, or modifications to vertices or intersections.

You can:

Display stored views and change the UCS

You can store various views of a drawing in AutoCAD and then select them by name in View. You can specify AutoCAD named views, named UCS definitions, or named viewport configurations, but named views that contain a perspective view are not displayed correctly.

Zoom to limits

Drawing limits (or grid limits) define the rectangular boundary of the drawing area covered by dots when the grid is turned on in AutoCAD. The limits may not include the entire drawing because a drawing can include objects that extend beyond the limits. Limits are defined with the Drawing Limits command in AutoCAD and are not related to the paper size defined in View. See Zooming to Extents.

Use preset viewpoints

You can change the view direction to a standard orthographic or isometric three-dimensional viewpoint. These viewpoints have preset coordinates. You can also specify your own custom coordinates, or switch to World Plan view.

The Direction command is not available if the drawing does not contain any 3D information or if paper space is turned on. See Switching Between Paper and Model Space.

Specify a custom view direction

Use the Direction command to specify any three-dimensional viewpoint (X, Y, Z) from which to draw objects in a drawing. The Direction command is not available if the drawing does not contain any 3D information or if paper space is turned on.

Switch to World Plan view

This WorldPlan command sets the view direction to (0, 0, 1) and is also known as world coordinate system (WCS) plan view (top view). If you are viewing in model space, you must switch to WCS plan view to redline a drawing (add notes, links, or graphics).

View in paper or model space

Model space is the view in which you define your drawing in AutoCAD. Paper space is a virtual page on which you can arrange a set of model space views. There is at most one paper space view per drawing, and it exists only if you create it in AutoCAD before the drawing is saved. For non-AutoCAD drawings, paper space is equivalent to layout mode.

Display a thumbnail view

A thumbnail is a small bitmap version of an AutoCAD Release 13 or 14 drawing that was saved with the thumbnail option turned on.

A thumbnail takes less time to display than a full-size drawing, especially if the drawing is large. You can set up View to always open the thumbnail version of a drawing (if one exists) instead of the full-size drawing. If you open a drawing as a thumbnail, View does not open the xrefs for that drawing.

You can toggle between viewing the thumbnail and viewing the drawing. If the current drawing has no thumbnail, the Thumbnail option is unavailable.

You can view the thumbnail and the full-size drawing in separate windows.


To display a stored view or change the UCS
 Displaying AutoCAD Views

To display a stored view or change the UCS

1	On the toolbar, click [image] or on the View menu, click Stored Views.

You can also right-click and click Stored Views on the shortcut menu.

2	Under Section in the Stored Views dialog box, click Named (AutoCAD named views), UCS (user coordinate system), or Viewports to specify the set of names for the list.

The viewports within a configuration are listed under Views and are assigned numbers.

3	To limit the list of names, enter a string containing wild-card characters and click Apply.

4	Choose a view, viewport, or UCS and click OK.


To view a drawing's limits
 Displaying AutoCAD Views

To view a drawing's limits

On the View menu, click Zoom> Limits.

If the drawing limits are left at the default setting, this command may display an empty window.

You can also zoom to fit to the window.


To change to a preset viewpoint
 Displaying AutoCAD Views

To change to a preset viewpoint

On the View menu, click Direction, then click one of the choices.

Each choice represents a set of coordinates:

Preset menu item	Coordinates
World Plan	0, 0, 1
Top	0, 0, 1
Bottom	0, 0, -1
Front	0, -1, 0
Back	0, 1, 0
Left	-1, 0, 0
Right	1, 0, 0
SW Isometric (Southwest)	-1, -1, 1
SE Isometric (Southeast)	1, -1, 1
NE Isometric (Northeast)	1, 1, 1
NW Isometric	-1, 1, 1
You can also specify your own coordinates, or choose World Plan View directly.


To change the direction of the view
 Displaying AutoCAD Views

To change the direction of the view

1	On the View menu, click Direction> Custom, or right-click and click View Direction on the shortcut menu.

2	Enter the X, Y, and Z coordinates for a 3D viewpoint.

The viewpoint and the point (0, 0, 0) define the viewing axis.

3	To rotate the view about the viewing axis, enter a twist angle in degrees.

Usually, the X and Y axes define a plane parallel to the floor, and the Z axis is vertical. For example, to change to the top orthogonal viewpoint, specify the coordinates 1, 1, 1.

You can also choose preset coordinates for many commonly used views.


Sample coordinates and corresponding views

Coordinates	Views
0, 0, 1	Top view
1, 0, 0	Right view
-1, 0, 0	Left view
1, 1, 1	Top orthogonal view


To switch to WCS plan (World Plan) view
 Displaying AutoCAD Views

To switch to WCS plan view

On the View menu, click Direction>WorldPlan, or right-click and click World Plan on the shortcut menu.


To toggle between viewing the thumbnail and the full-size drawing
 Displaying AutoCAD Views

To toggle between viewing the thumbnail and the full-size drawing

On the View menu, click Thumbnail.


To turn on the thumbnail option in AutoCAD
 Displaying Thumbnails

To turn on the thumbnail option in AutoCAD

For AutoCAD R14

1	In AutoCAD, click Preferences on the Tools menu.

2	In the Preferences dialog box, click the General tab.

3	Turn on Save Thumbnail Preview Image.

4	Save the drawing.

For AutoCAD R13

1	In AutoCAD, click Preferences on the Options menu.

2	In the Preferences dialog box, click the Render tab.

3	In Raster Preview Options, click BMP.

4	Save the drawing.


To display a thumbnail and a full-size drawing simultaneously
 Displaying Thumbnails

To display a thumbnail and a full-size drawing simultaneously

1	Open the drawing to view.

2	On the Window menu, click New to open a new window on the same drawing.

3	On the Window menu, click Tile to position the windows side by side.

4	On the View menu, click Thumbnail to display the thumbnail in one window. Leave Thumbnail off for the other window.


Managing Xrefs, Redlines, and Font Files
 Viewing AutoCAD Drawings

Managing Xrefs, Redlines, and Font Files

For each AutoCAD drawing you open, View searches for all related external reference (xref) files and AutoCAD compiled shape (.shx) font files, if it can find them. The base drawing for which a redline or xref is created is called a host drawing.

A redline is a separate file containing marked-up information for a host drawing. If a drawing has a redline, View can open it when you open the drawing or not.

You can specify whether View opens xrefs by default.

To find an xref, View searches as follows:

1.	View searches the path specified in the host drawinghost_drawing_def.

2.	View searches the directory that contains the drawing you are opening.

3.	View searches the xref search path listed on the Load page of the Options dialog box.

4.	View searches the AutoCAD R14 project path and the AutoCAD support directory.

5.	If View still cannot locate the xref file, View notifies you. You can then cancel the loading of the file, attempt to locate the missing xref file, and move it to a location where View can find it.

To find a font file, View searches as follows:

1.	Checks the font map, a list containing information for mapping PostScript and other font files.

2. 	Searches the directory where it is installed.

3. 	Searches the Fonts/Shapes search path listed on the Load page of the Options dialog box.

4. 	If a font is not found, substitutes the font with txt.shx.

  See also


To open redlines automatically
Xrefs, Redlines, and Font Files

To open redlines automatically

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	In the Options dialog box, under Markup, click Redline and set the options specific to auto-loading redlines.

3	To use your settings for subsequent sessions, turn on Set As Default.

4	Click OK.

You can also set other redline options.


Options for Auto-Loading Redlines

Save Path	The default path for redlines you create in View.
Extension	The default file name extension for redlines (.red).
Auto-Load Redlines	Specifies that, when you open a drawing, View will open its associated redline file if that file can be found in the Save Path location or on the host drawing’s path. The way you name redline files affects Auto-Load.
Allow Paper Space Redlining	Turn this option off to restrict redlining to model space plan views. You can view paper space redlines in AutoCAD by installing the AutoCAD Integration tool (installation is automatic in View 2.0).


To open xrefs automatically
 Xrefs, Redlines, and Font Files

To open xrefs automatically

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	In the Options dialog box, under CAD Viewing, click Load.

3	Under Xrefs, in the Search Path box, enter one or more paths, separated by semicolons.

4	Click OK.

You can also set other load options.

Note: View does not open xrefs when you are in Thumbnail view.


How AutoCAD Fonts are Handled in View
 Xrefs, Redlines, and Font Files

How AutoCAD Fonts are Handled in View

View does not support TrueType or PostScript fonts directly. Instead, you map them in the font map to equivalent .shx fonts. The View font map is already set up for many fonts, and you can add, delete, or change entries. View does not change the drawing itself when it substitutes fonts, but only the way the drawing is displayed.

The following table show types of fonts available in AutoCAD and how these fonts are supported in View:

Type of font	Extension	Support
AutoCAD font	.shx	Supported directly
AutoCAD symbol file	.shx	Supported directly
Unicode font	.shx	Supported directly
Big font	.shx	Supported directly
TrueType font	.ttf	Uses font mapping
PostScript Type 1	.pfa	Uses font mapping (with converted .shx file)
PostScript Type 2	.pfb	Uses font mapping (with converted .shx file)
Important: Big Font is a special type of shape definition to accommodate Asian language alphabets. You can map Big Font to another Big Font, or an .shx font to another .shx font, but do not mix them by mapping a .shx font to bigfont.shx, or vice versa. You can redline using Big Font.

  See also


Handling Missing Fonts
 Xrefs, Redlines, and Font Files

Handling Missing Fonts

You can add paths to the search path used to locate fonts.

If View cannot find a suitable font, it displays a message. You can then specify a substitute font, which creates a new font map entry so the substitution will be automatic next time.

If you don’t set up View to notify you of missing fonts, View uses txt.shx for all missing fonts. To use a different default font, copy the .shx font file you want to use to [drive]:\Program Files\Autodesk View\txt.shx.

  See also


To enable View to find fonts for drawings
 Dealing with Missing Fonts

To enable View to find fonts for drawings

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	In the Options dialog box, under CAD Viewing, click Load and set the option specific to font-loading.

3	Click OK.

  See also


Options specific to font loading
Option specific to font loading

Fonts/Shapes Search Path	The path View uses to open .shx files. Enter one or more paths, separated by semicolons.


To specify a substitute when a font is not found
 Dealing with Missing Fonts

To specify a substitute when a font is not found

1	In the message box that informs you of the missing font, click Font Map.

The Edit DWG Font Map dialog box is displayed.

2	In the Substitute With box, specify the substitute font.

The information is added to the font map so the substitution will be automatic the next time.

3	In the Edit DWG Font Map dialog box, click OK.

You can cancel notification about missing fonts by selecting the option Don’t Display This Warning in the Future in the notification message. If you turn off notification, View uses txt.shx for all missing fonts. To use a different default font, copy the .shx font you want to use to [drive]:\Program Files\Autodesk View\txt.shx. You can also use the Options command to turn off notification.

  See also


Font Mapping
 DWG/DXF options

To change the font map

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	In the Options dialog box, under CAD Viewing, click DWG/DXF.

3	Click Font Map.

Font mapping allows you to substitute fonts for drawings that specify fonts that View does not have or cannot use. The font substitution affects the display of the drawing in View only, and does not change the drawing itself. If you map a font here, it will be mapped for all drawing files you open. You can add, edit, or delete a font entry.

Important: Big Font is a special type of shape definition to accommodate Asian language alphabets. You can map one Big Font to another Big Font, or one .shx font to another .shx font, but do not mix them by mapping an .shx font to bigfont.shx or vice versa.

4	To add a font entry, deselect any selected font entries and click Add, then follow steps 5 through 7.

To edit an existing entry, select the entry and click Edit and follow steps 5 through 7.

To delete an entry, select it, click Delete, and click OK to exit the dialog box.

5	If you are adding or editing a font entry, in the Referenced Font text box, type the file name of the font being replaced.

6	If you are adding or editing a font entry, under Substitute With, type or select the file name of the substitute font.

To specify a substitute font that is not in the list, click Browse and select a font file from the Substitute Font dialog box.

If you type the font name, type its full path name unless the font file is in the Program Files\Autodesk View\fonts directory or on the font path (if any) entered as the Fonts/Shapes Search Path on the Load page of the Options dialog box.

7	Click OK in all the dialog boxes to exit.

  See also


Controlling What You See in AutoCAD Drawings
 Viewing AutoCAD Drawings

Controlling What You See in AutoCAD Drawings

You can show or hide layers, blocks, and external references. You can filter the lists of these objects with wild-card characters. If the file you are viewing is not an AutoCAD drawing, the commands outlined here are not available.

You can do the following:

Show or hide layers

Show or hide blocks

Show or hide external references

Use wild-card characters to filter the choices in a list


To show or hide a layer
 What You See in AutoCAD Drawings

To show or hide a layer

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Display menu, click Layers.

You can also right-click and click Layers on the shortcut menu.

2	In the Layers dialog box, select the layers to display, or choose an option.

3	Click OK.

By default, Autodesk View displays the layers (except frozen layers) that were visible when the drawing was last saved in AutoCAD. The Layers dialog box lists only the layers that contain objects.

You can also choose to show or hide layers in xref files. These display in the list of layers as [xrefname]|[layername].


Layers Options

Option	Description
Display All	Displays all layers.
Hide All	Hides all layers.
Invert All	Hides layers that are displayed and displays layers that are hidden. This option quickly identifies the layers that are currently hidden in the drawing.
Filter	Limits the names in the layer list when you enter a wild-card character string and click Apply. The filter itself doesn’t affect what layers are displayed or hidden in the drawing.
Hide Frozen Layers	Removes frozen layers from the layer list. In AutoCAD, a frozen layer is inaccessible, so you should choose this option.


To show or hide blocks
 What You See in AutoCAD Drawings

To show or hide blocks

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Display menu, click Blocks.

2	In the Blocks dialog box, select the blocks you want to display or choose an option.

3	Click OK.

By default, all blocks are visible. The objects section of the drawing is also treated as a block, so you can turn off all objects except the blocks you want to display.


Blocks Options

Option	Description
Display All	Displays all blocks.
Hide All	Hides all blocks.
Invert All	Hides displayed blocks and displays hidden blocks.
Filter	Limits the names in the block list when you enter a wild-card character string and click Apply. The filter itself doesn’t affect what blocks are displayed or hidden in the drawing.


To show or hide xrefs
 What You See in AutoCAD Drawings

To show or hide xrefs

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Display menu, click External References.

2	In the External References dialog box, select the xrefs to display or choose an option.

3	Click OK.

By default, all xrefs are visible if Autodesk View finds them when opening the host drawing.


External References Options

Option	Description
Display All	Displays all opened xrefs.
Hide All	Hides all xrefs.
Invert All	Hides displayed xrefs and displays hidden xrefs.
Filter	Limits the names in the xref list when you enter a wild-card character string and click Apply. The filter itself doesn’t affect what xrefs are displayed or hidden in the drawing.


Using Wild-Card Characters
 Viewing AutoCAD Drawings

 What You See in AutoCAD Drawings

Using Wild-Card Characters

In the Layers, Blocks, External References, and Stored Views dialog boxes, you can use wild-card characters to filter the objects listed.

To match a wild-card character itself, precede the character with a backslash ( \ ).


Wild-Card Characters

Character	Matches	Example
*	Any sequence of  characters (zero or more)	A* displays entries that start with A. *ABC* displays entries that contain ABC in that order.
?	Any one character	???S displays 4-character entries that end in S.
[SET]	Characters within the brackets (a hyphen indicates a range)	[A,1]* displays entries that start with A or 1. [J-M]* displays entries that start with J, K, L, or M.
[!SET] or [^SET]	Any character except those within the brackets	[!OBL]* displays entries that don't start with O, B, or L.


Viewing Objects Created in other Applications
 Viewing AutoCAD Drawings

Viewing Objects Created in Other Applications

When you create a drawing in AutoCAD, you can include objects created in other applications. Autodesk View cannot display all these objects because the application in which they were created is not available. You may be able to display these images in View if you can make the application available to View, or save the objects with the host drawing with stored graphics enabled. When you save ACIS and custom objects in AutoCAD with stored graphics enabled, View uses the stored graphics instead of original data to display the object.

If View cannot display an object, it notifies you. You can turn this notification off.

View handles objects created with other applications as follows:

Object	Description	How displayed in View
ACIS objects	Objects created using ACIS libraries—usually 3D solids	Displayed using ACIS libraries
Custom objects	Objects created in applications running on top of AutoCAD	Displayed if you saved the objects with stored graphics enabled
OLE objects	Objects created in another application and included in an AutoCAD drawing using OLE	Cannot be displayed


To enable stored graphics
 Viewing Objects Created in Other Applications

To enable stored graphics

1	Open the drawing in AutoCAD.

2	For AutoCAD R13, at the command prompt, enter saveimages 1.

For AutoCAD R14, at the command prompt, enter proxygraphics 1.

3	At the command prompt, enter regen.

4	Save the drawing.

The SAVEIMAGES or PROXYGRAPHICS setting is saved in the drawing header.

View notifies you if a drawing you are opening contains objects it cannot display.


Viewing or Redlining a Mechanical Desktop Drawing
 Viewing AutoCAD Drawings

Viewing or Redlining a Mechanical Desktop Drawing

Drawings created with Autodesk Mechanical Desktop (AMD) can contain information about solid objects that is not available in AutoCAD itself. If you have AMD Release 1.2 or later, you can view this information as intended if you save the drawing with stored graphics enabled. In ADM Release 2.0, the stored graphics feature is enabled by default.

To view drawings created with earlier releases of AMD, you must first save a flattened copy of the original AMD drawing. You will not be able to view solid objects that are not supported by AutoCAD. Saving a drawing in this way has no effect on the original AMD drawing.

You can redline a flattened AMD drawing. In AMD, you can attach redline drawings as xrefs to the original AMD drawing in drawing mode. To position a redline properly when you attach it as an xref, make its insertion point (0, 0, 0).


To save an AMD drawing with stored graphics enabled
 Viewing AMD Drawings

To save an AMD drawing with stored graphics enabled

1	Open the original drawing in Autodesk Mechanical Desktop Release 1.2 or later.

2	In AMD 1.2, at the command prompt, enter saveimages 1.

In AMD 2.0, at the command prompt, enter proxygraphics 1.

3	At the command prompt, enter regen.

4	Save the drawing.

The SAVEIMAGES or PROXYGRAPHICS setting is saved in the drawing header and you can view the solid objects properly in Autodesk View.


To flatten an AMD drawing
 Viewing AMD Drawings

To save a flattened copy of an AMD drawing

1	Open the original drawing in Autodesk Mechanical Desktop.

2	Switch to drawing mode using the Create View option on the Drawing menu.

You can also use the AMMODE command.

3	In drawing mode, define the views you want to see.

4	At the command prompt, enter amdwgout.

5	In the AutoCAD Designer "Flat" Drawing dialog box, type a name for the new 2D drawing and click OK.

6	Select the views to be included in the new 2D drawing and press RETURN.

When you redline the flattened drawing in View, switch to World Plan view first.


To redline an AMD flat drawing
 Viewing AMD Drawings

To redline an AMD flat drawing

1	Open the flat drawing in View.

2	On the View menu, click Direction> WorldPlan, if you are not in that view already.

3	Create redlines as you would in any AutoCAD drawing.


Setting AutoCAD Drawing View Options
 Viewing AutoCAD Drawings

Setting Viewing Options Specific to AutoCAD Drawings

The options on the DWG/DWF, Units, Load, Display List, and 3D-Solid pages of the Options dialog box affect your view of AutoCAD drawings.

.dwg and .dxf Options

These options manage the handling and display of .dwg and .dxf files.

Units Options

The Units options set the format and precision of measurement units.

Load Options

The Load options help View find related files when you open an AutoCAD drawing. These options also specify certain defaults used when a drawing is opened.

Display List Options

A display list is a two-dimensional representation of a drawing view that is stored in memory. Using a display list speeds up zooming, panning, and redrawing.

Realtime zooming and panning are enabled with Display Lists turned on.

3D-Solid Options

The 3D-Solid options let you determine how to display wireframe models. This page is displayed only if you installed the ACIS libraries.


To set DWG/DXF Options
 AutoCAD Drawing Options

To set DWG/DXF options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	In the Options dialog box, under CAD Viewing, click DWG/DXF.

3	On the DWG/DXF page, change the options as necessary:

Font Map	Show Attributes
Arc and Circle Smoothness	Display
Note: To see line types as you would in AutoCAD, select Linetypes under Display.

4	To use your settings for subsequent sessions, turn on Set As Default.

5	Click OK.


Display

You can toggle any of the following display options.

Option	Description
Fill	Turns the display of area fills on or off.
Linetypes	Turns the display of linetypes on or off. You must turn this option on to see linetypes as they would appear in AutoCAD.
Width	Turns the display of wide polylines on or off. If off, wide polylines display as narrower lines.


Show Attributes

An attribute is a set of data stored with a block. When visible, an attribute looks like a text label.

Option	Description
As Saved	Displays attributes that were visible when the drawing was saved, and hides attributes that were hidden.
All	Displays all attributes, even the ones that were hidden when the drawing was saved.
None	Hides all attributes, even the ones that were visible when the drawing was saved.


Arc and Circle Smoothness

This option sets the number of points used to define circles and arcs when displaying drawings. The minimum number is 4 and the maximum is 99. If you have drawings with large circles or arcs that look faceted, try a larger number. The fewer the points, the more circles and arcs look like polygons, but the faster they are drawn.


To set units options
 AutoCAD Drawing Options

To set units options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under CAD Viewing, click Units.

3	On the Units page, set the options as necessary.

4	To use your settings for subsequent sessions, turn on Set As Default.

5	Click OK.


Units Options

Option	Description
Use Drawing Defaults	Uses the units that were in effect when the current drawing was saved in AutoCAD. If this option is turned on, the other options are unavailable.
Decimal Precision	Sets the number of digits (0 to 8) for display to the right of the decimal point. Available only for Scientific, Decimal, or Engineering formats.
Fractional Precision	Sets the smallest fraction to display. Available only for Architectural or Fractional formats.
Format	Sets units format.


To set 3D-Solid options
 AutoCAD Drawing Options

To set 3D-Solid options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under CAD Viewing, click 3D-Solid.

This page is visible only if you installed the ACIS libraries when you installed View.

3	On the 3D-Solid page, change options as necessary.

4	To use your settings for subsequent sessions, click Set As Default.

5	Click OK.


3D-Solid Options

Option	Description
Wire-Frame	Choose Isolines or Facet to represent the wireframes of the objects you are viewing. Isolines use simple lines, arcs, or circles to represent a frame. The smaller the Isolines setting, the fewer lines are used. Specify an integer from 1 to 128. Facet uses an array of triangles or quadrilaterals to represent a frame. Specify the number of facets used by entering a number from 1 to 3000.
Fill	If you chose Facet above, turn on this option to fill the facets of the wireframe.


To set load options
 AutoCAD Drawing Options

To set load options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under CAD Viewing, click Load.

3	On the Load page, change options as necessary.

4	Click OK.


Load Options

Option	Description
ESP/GSX Hybrids	Use these options only if you are viewing drawings created with CAD Overlay GSX or CAD Overlay ESP. You can enter the directory where your .res resource files are stored, so that View can find them. Turn on the Enable Autopaste option to view correlated raster and vector images in the same document (if you’re viewing a hybrid file). Turn on Use Resource Directory Before Using Image Directory if you want View to search for resource files in the resource directory before searching the directory containing the raster image file.
Initial View	Sets whether the initial view of a file is the last view saved in AutoCAD or the drawing’s extents. The default is As Saved.
Allow File Sharing	Sets whether files can be shared with other users over a network. For example, if this option is on, one person can edit a drawing in AutoCAD while another redlines it in View. Turning off File Sharing speeds up file loading.
Use Thumbnail When Present	Opens a thumbnail view, if one exists, instead of the full-size drawing. Once the drawing is opened, the Thumbnail command in the View menu toggles the view from thumbnail to full-size drawing.
Fonts/Shapes Search Path	Specifies the directory or directories where View looks for .shx font files if they aren’t in the View directory. Enter one or more paths separated by semicolons.
XRefs Search Path	Specifies the directory or directories where View looks for xref files if they are not in the location specified by the host drawing. Enter one or more paths separated by semicolons.
Load Raster Images in DWG Files	This option controls the display of AutoCAD Release 14 image objects. If the option is off, only the outline of the image displays. If it is on, the image itself displays. If View cannot find a raster file that you are trying to open, View notifies you. You can turn off this notification.


To set display list options
 AutoCAD Drawing Options

To set display list options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under CAD Viewing, click Display List.

3	On the Display List page, set the Enable option.

Enable turns display list generation on or off. When this option is off, zooming, panning, and redrawing reference the original drawing file and are slower.

4	To use your settings for subsequent sessions, turn on Set As Default.

5	Click OK.

Note: To regenerate the internal display list for a DWG or DXF file, press SHIFT+F5.


Keyboard Shortcuts

Keys	Action
F1	Display Help
SHIFT+F1	Context Help
CTRL+O	Open File
CTRL+D	Duplicate redline marks
CTRL+C	Copy measurement to Clipboard
CTRL+X	Cut
DEL	Delete
CTRL+V	Paste
CTRL+Z	Undo
+	Zoom In
-	Zoom Out
END	Zoom Extents
F5	Redraw the Screen
SHIFT+F5	Regenerate view or Regenerate Display List (if Display List is on)
HOME	The view last saved in application (for drawings)
CTRL+P	Print
CTRL+N	Next note
PAGE DOWN	Next page
PAGE UP	Previous page
CTRL+HOME	First page of multipage document
CTRL+END	Last page of multipage document
F6	Switch to next open window in View
SHIFT+F6	Switch to previous open window in View
DOWN ARROW	Pan down
UP ARROW	Pan up
LEFT ARROW	Pan left
RIGHT ARROW	Pan right
TAB	Next control in a dialog box
CTRL+TAB	Next pane or window, or next tab in a tabbed dialog box
SHIFT+TAB	Previous pane or window
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB	Previous tab in a tabbed dialog box
CTRL+R	Rotate 90 degrees right
CTRL+U	Rotate 180 degrees
CTRL+L	Rotate 90 degrees left
CTRL+F	Flip
CTRL+M	Mirror
CTRL+I	Invert Colors
CTRL+S	Save File (redline)
CTRL+F4	Close Window
ALT+F4	Close Application


Troubleshooting

If a problem arises while you are using Autodesk View, use these topics to look for solutions:

AutoCAD issues

Redlining issues

Printing issues

Display issues


AutoCAD Issues
 Troubleshooting

AutoCAD Issues

All the linetypes in my AutoCAD drawing show as continuous. Also, I don’t see any fills or line widths.

Arcs and circles in my AutoCAD drawings are not as smooth as I’d like.

The fonts I use in my AutoCAD drawings don’t appear in View.

View tells me it can’t find the xref attached to my drawing.


All the linetypes in my AutoCAD drawing show as continuous. Also, I don't see any fills or line widths.

You can optimize View for the display of AutoCAD drawings.


Arcs and circles in my AutoCAD drawings are not as smooth as I'd like.

You can adjust how arcs and circles are displayed and printed by increasing the Arc and Circle Smoothness value on the DWG/DXF page of the Options dialog box. Circles and arcs will be smoother, but View may run slower.


The fonts I use in my AutoCAD drawings don't appear in Autodesk View.
The fonts I use in my AutoCAD drawings don't appear in View.

If the fonts in your AutoCAD drawings are not .shx fonts, View can’t display them. However, you can use the font map feature to map PostScript or TrueType fonts to appropriate .shx fonts.

If the fonts are outside the search path, you can set the font search path to find them.

If the fonts referenced by your drawing are not installed on your system, you must install them.


View tells me it can't find the xref attached to my drawing.

AutoCAD assigns a path to the xref and stores the path location in the host drawing’s .dwg code. If the xref is located in one of the AutoCAD support paths, AutoCAD doesn’t store the exact path name and View cannot find the xref file. To fix this problem, follow one of these procedures:

Put the host drawing and the xref drawing in the same directory before you open the host drawing in View.

In AutoCAD, when you attach the xref, select the P (Path) option to specify the actual path to the drawing before you save the host drawing.


Redlining Issues
 Troubleshooting

Redlining Issues

When I try to redline a drawing in ISO mode, I get the message, “Unable to redline in 3D. Switch to plan view.”

I checked the Auto-Load Redlines option, but my redline file doesn’t load when I open my drawing.


When I try to redline a drawing in ISO mode, I get the message "Unable to redline in 3D. Switch to plan view."
When I try to redline a drawing in ISO mode, I get the message, "Unable to redline in 3D. Switch to plan view."

You must switch to plan view to redline the drawing. When you finish redlining, choose As Saved from the View menu to display the drawing in the original model space in which it was saved.


I checked the Autoload Redline option, but my redline doesn't load when I open my drawing.
I checked the Auto-Load Redlines option, but my redline file doesn't load when I open my drawing.

You must set the Auto-Load option before opening the host drawing.

If you have done that, the problem may be that View cannot find your redline files. Make sure the Save Path option is set properly. If this options is not specified or is invalid, the Auto-Load Redlines option has no effect and you’ll have to open your redline files manually.


Printing Issues
 Troubleshooting

Printing Issues

When I print from View, part of the drawing is clipped.

When I try to print, I get a “Not enough memory” message.

When I try to print, I get no printout from my printer.


When I print from View, part of the drawing is clipped.

For each dimension, the image size plus margins (as defined in the Print Layout dialog box) should not exceed the size of the paper you are printing on. Try decreasing these values.

The printing parameters documented here and the defaults in the program are suggested values. Your printer's optimal values may differ. Try changing the values.

Use Print Preview to verify that the drawing will print as expected.


When I try to print, I get a "Not enough memory" message.

If you are printing an AutoCAD drawing, it may help to turn off display lists.

The display list is a 2D rendition of a drawing or a view of a drawing that is stored in memory. Using a display list speeds up zooming, panning, and redrawing, but it uses up memory you may need for other operations.


When I try to print, I get no printout from my printer.

If your other programs cannot print either, the problem may be with the cables connecting your printer to your computer or to a power source. If other programs print properly, your problem might be an outdated printer driver. Some older versions of printer drivers do not work properly with Autodesk View. Contact your printer manufacturer for the latest version of the Windows printer driver.


Display Issues
 Troubleshooting

Display Issues

I can only see links when my cursor passes over the linked area and I want to view them all the time.


I can only see links when my cursor passes over the linked area and I want to view them all the time.

You can set the Links options to Visible to display links without having to move the cursor over them.


Glossary

A  B  C  D  E  F - G  H  I - K  L  M  N  O  P- Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X - Y Z

3D Model

A

ACIS

arc and circle smoothness

As Saved view

attached image

B

block

C

callout

Cascade

chords

custom objects

D

display list

drawing limits

.dwg

.dwf

.dxf (Drawing Exchange Format)

E

extents

F-G

facets

font map

H

handle

host drawing

HPGL

hyperlink

I-K

image rectangle

isolines

L

layer

limits

link

M

metafile

model space

N

note

O

ortho view

P-Q

pan

paper space

perimeter

plan view

proxies

R

raster

redline

S

shortcut menu

.shx

stored graphics

stored view

T

thumbnail

toolbar

U

Universal Naming Convention (UNC)

Universal Resource Locator (URL)

user coordinate system (UCS)

V

vector

view direction

viewports

W

wireframe

world coordinate system

world plan view

X-Y

xref

Z

zoom


3D Model

A 3D drawing representing a three-dimensional object. You can view the drawing in model space from any direction, and you can use AutoCAD to arrange a selection of such 3D views on a virtual page called paper space. See model space, paper space, and viewports.


ACIS

A set of libraries for creating and displaying 3D solid objects. Objects created using these libraries are called ACIS objects. To view them, you must include the ACIS libraries in your Autodesk View installation, or you must first save them in AutoCAD with stored graphics enabled.


arc and circle smoothness

In an AutoCAD drawing, circles and other curved figures are made up of polygons. The edges of these polygons are known in AutoCAD as chords. If many chords comprise the polygons, circles look smoothly round. If fewer, circles look faceted. Although smooth circles look better, they take longer to draw.


As Saved view

The last model space view of a drawing that you displayed in AutoCAD before saving the drawing.


attached image

A raster image linked to a drawing through a path name or data management document ID.


block

One or more AutoCAD objects grouped to create a single object. In a drawing with many instances of the same item, it is convenient to draw the item as a block and then repeat the block as needed. See also xref.


callout

A redline graphic composed of text and an arrow.


Cascade

A command on the Window menu that arranges multiple open windows in an overlapped fashion.


custom objects

In AutoCAD Release 13, developers can create custom objects in applications running on top of AutoCAD, Such objects are visible in View only if they were saved in AutoCAD with stored graphics enabled. AutoCAD users may refer to these objects as proxies or custom entities.


display list

A representation of a drawing or a view of a drawing that is stored in memory. Display lists allow AutoCAD and Autodesk View to speed up operations like panning, zooming, and refreshing the screen. Display lists are especially useful for three-dimensional drawings, where full geometric data is not needed for display purposes. However, display lists can use a lot of memory, making other operations slower. Autodesk View keeps several display lists that you can turn on or off independently.


drawing limits

The user-defined rectangular boundary of the drawing area covered by dots when the grid is turned on. Also called grid limts.


.dwg

The AutoCAD drawing file format. AutoCAD drawings have a .dwg filename extension.


.dwf

The AutoCAD drawing web format. A highly compressed file format that is created from a DWG file. DWF files are easy to publish and view on the Web.


.dxf (Drawing Exchange Format)

An ASCII or binary file format for exporting AutoCAD drawings to other software packages or for importing drawings from other software packages.


extents

A drawing boundary defined by the smallest rectangle you can draw that includes all the objects in a drawing. The extents and limits boundaries are mutually independent.


facets

A method of wireframe construction that uses an array of triangles or quadrilaterals to represent a frame.


font map

A file that specifies the .shx font View can substitute for a non-.shx font specified in the drawing, because View can display .shx fonts only. A set of .shx equivalents for common PostScript fonts is included with View, and the font map is preset with this information. You can add, delete, or change entries in the font map.


handle

A unique alphanumeric tag for an object in the AutoCAD database.


host drawing

The base drawing for which a redline or xref is created.


HPGL

Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language.


hyperlink

A region of a drawing that is dynamically connected to another file. You can use redline tools in View to define hyperlinks. When you double-click a link region, the linked file opens in another window.


image rectangle

The area on the page in which the view you specify will print. This area is defined by the values you enter for Width and Height in the Print Layout dialog box, and is positioned on the page according to the Top and Left margin settings.


isolines

A method of wireframe construction that uses simple lines, arcs, or circles to represent a frame.


layer

A transparent overlay, analogous to an acetate in a traditional drawing. Layers allow logical grouping of data. You can view layers individually or in combination.


limits

A drawing boundary that corresponds to the edges of the paper when you print the drawing in AutoCAD. The limits and extents boundaries are mutually independent.


metafile

A graphic file which, unlike a bitmap or raster file, contains vector information, which can be scaled and printed without loss of resolution.


model space

The 3D coordinate space for a 3D model. In model space, you can view the model from any direction. A model space view is any view of the 3D model in model space. An AutoCAD drawing opens in the view in which it was saved. See also 3D model and paper space.


stored view

A view that is given a name and saved in AutoCAD for later use.


note

A way of adding text to drawings. Notes support more characters than the Text command. A note icon looks like a slip of paper. Double-click the note icon to read the note.


ortho view

Any oblique view of the 3D model. An ortho view is also known as an orthogonal projection.


pan

To scroll a document so you can see other parts of it.


paper space

A virtual page on which you can arrange a set of model space views. A drawing has at most one paper space view, and it exists only if you create it. Paper space is used for creating a finished layout. An example of a paper space view is the traditional four-part 2D drawing showing top, front, right, and orthogonal views of a 3D subject. If a drawing is in paper space when it is saved in AutoCAD, it opens in View in paper space.  See also 3D model and model space.


perimeter

The total length of the inside and outside loops of a region. View does not calculate the perimeter of solids.


plan view

The top view.


raster

A bitmapped image.


redline

To mark up a document with graphics or text. The markup is stored in a separate file and does not change the original. You can viw the drawing and its redline at the same time in AutoCAD or View.


shortcut menu

Many shortcut menus are available in View for convenient access to commands. These shortcut menus display when you click the right mouse button.

Commands on shortcut menus vary, depending on the type of file you’re viewing and where the cursor is located. If you’re viewing a file produced in a business application, such as a word processing, spreadsheet, or presentation program, the commands on the shortcut menu may be different than the ones described here.


.shx file

The font format for AutoCAD and Autodesk View. If a drawing you open specifies non-.shx fonts, View substitutes either the default font, txt.shx, or an .shx font specified by the font map.


stored graphics

Representations of custom objects or ACIS objects that allow View to display them. If a drawing containing custom objects was not saved with stored graphics enabled, View cannot display the custom objects in that drawing. ACIS objects can also be displayed using the ACIS libraries, if you installed them in View.


txt.shx

The default .shx font used if View cannot find any specified fonts, or if you specify Simple as the Text option on the DWG/DXF page of the Options dialog box. The txt.shx file is stored in the \Program Files\Autodesk View directory. You can replace the default txt.shx font with an .shx font of your choosing.


thumbnail

A small bitmap of an AutoCAD Release 13 or 14 drawing. An AutoCAD drawing has a thumbnail if it was saved with the thumbnail feature enabled. In View, you can display a thumbnail instead of the drawing itself when you open the drawing or while you view the drawing. Thumbnails take less time to display than a full-size drawing, especially if the drawing is large.


Tile

A command on the Window menu that arranges multiple open windows in a nonoverlapped fashion.


toolbar

A collection of buttons you can click to activate View commands, instead of using a menu option or keyboard shortcut.


Uniform Naming Convention (UNC)

A descriptive location name for files or resources, independent of their location on a system or network. Server names, share or volume names and directory names are used, rather than disk drive letters.


Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

The address for a page on the World Wide Web.


user coordinate system (UCS)

A model space system defined by the user for a particular 3D drawing. Defining such a system can be more convenient than using the world coordinate system (WCS). Like the WCS, a UCS is defined by mutually perpendicular X, Y, and Z axes. A UCS can have its origin at any point in the WCS and can be oriented to the WCS at any angle. You can define as many user coordinate systems as needed.


vector

A mathematical object with precise direction and length but without specific location.


view direction

The point in model space from which the view looks toward the origin and the 3D model.


viewports

A bounded area in a paper space view that functions as a window onto a particular view of the 3D model. A paper space view is an assembly of one or more viewports. See also model space.


wireframe

A 3D object model that uses a network of interconnected lines to represent surfaces. See isolines and facets.


world coordinate system (WCS)

The default model space coordinate system, defined by X, Y, and Z axes. Typically, the X and Y axes represent the ground plane and the Z axis measures vertical distance.


world plan view

The top view in the world coordinate system (WCS). This is the view direction (0, 0, 1 ), the view looking down the Z axis toward the origin. It is also known as WCS plan view.


xref (external reference)

A drawing file included in another drawing by reference. For example, in a drawing of a building with four identical elevators, a drafter could include by reference four separate instances of a single elevator drawing stored in a separate file. When the elevator drawing is updated and the host drawing is reopened, the elevator xrefs are also updated. Autodesk View cannot display a complete drawing if its xref drawings are not available.


zoom

To enlarge or reduce the view of a document. When you zoom in, you see a close-up view. When you zoom out, you see an overview.


Loading DWF Files from the Network

When you load a .dwf file from the network, a progress meter displays to show you how long it will take to load the file. To cancel the download operation, click Cancel.


Working With AutoCAD Drawings

You can perform the following operations on AutoCAD drawings:

 	Measure distances, perimeters, and areas

 	Snap to geometric points on objects to increase precision while measuring

 	Compare revisions of AutoCAD drawings

 	Convert between .dwg and .dxf formats

 	Create, edit, and manage redlines

 	Use graphics to mark up a drawing

 	Add text to a redline

 	Set redline options, such as layers and colors


Measuring Distances, Perimeters, and Areas
 Working with AutoCAD Drawings

Measuring Distances, Perimeters, and Areas

The Distance, Perimeter, and Area commands measure AutoCAD drawings. The measurements are displayed in drawing units. You can measure distances and areas in raster files, too. These measurements are made by taking into account resolution information stored in the image file.

Use object snap to measure with greater accuracy than picking points visually.

Important: When you measure a 3D drawing in model space, you are really measuring a projection of the drawing onto the 2D viewing plane. To avoid inaccurate measurements, set the viewing angle so that the element you are measuring is in a parallel plane, or use object snap. Elements in a .dwf file that are not parallel to the viewing plane cannot be measured accurately.

For any measurement command, double-clicking while the command is active is the same as clicking the first point again to end the measurement. You can cancel a measurement at any time by pressing the ESC key.

You can measure the following:

Distance

Perimeter

Area

You can create redlines from any of the measurement tools .


To measure a distance
 Measuring Drawings

To measure a distance

1	On the toolbar or the Tools menu, click Distance.

2	Click the beginning point.

To constrain the measurement direction to horizontal or vertical, hold down the SHIFT key while you drag.

In top view (WorldPlan), you can hold down the CTRL key to retain the last Z coordinate. This allows you to measure in a plane. In a 2D drawing, this has no effect.

3	Click the end point to conclude the measurement, or right-click to cancel the measurement.

The distance displays at the left end of the status bar. To copy it to the Clipboard, press CTRL+C.

The Distance command remains active until you click another command or click Distance again to turn it off.


To measure a perimeter
 Measuring Drawings

To measure a perimeter

1	On the toolbar or the Tools menu, click Perimeter.

2	Click the beginning point.

To constrain the measurement direction to horizontal or vertical, hold down the SHIFT key while you drag.

In top view (WorldPlan), you can hold down the CTRL key to retain the last Z coordinate. This allows you to measure in a plane. In a 2D drawing, this has no effect.

3	Click other points along the perimeter.

The left end of the status bar displays the accumulated distance. To copy it to the Clipboard, press CTRL+C.

4	Double-click or click again on the beginning point to conclude the measurement.

The Perimeter command remains active until you click another command or turn the command off by pressing ESC or by clicking Perimeter again.


To measure an area
 Measuring Drawings

To measure an area

1	On the toolbar or the Tools menu, click Area.

2	Click the beginning point.

To constrain the measurement direction to horizontal or vertical, hold down the SHIFT key while clicking the beginning point.

In top view (WorldPlan), you can hold down the CTRL key to retain the last Z coordinate. This allows you to measure in a plane. In a 2D drawing, this has no effect.

3	Click other points to define an area.

4	To close the area, double-click or click the first point again.

The left end of the status bar displays the measurement. To copy it to the Clipboard, press CTRL+C.

The Area command remains active until you to click another command or click Area again to turn it off.


To create redlines from a measurement tool
 Measuring Drawings

To create redlines from a measurement tool

Use one of these methods:

On the Measure toolbar, click Create Redlines.

On the Tools menu, click Object Snap. On the Snap Mode tab, turn on Create Redlines from Measurement.


Picking Geometric Points on Objects
 Working with AutoCAD Drawings

Picking Geometric Points on Objects

If your measurements need to be exact, you can use the geometry of an object to pick points, without having to know the coordinate. Using this feature, called Obejct Snap, is more accurate than picking points visually. For example, you can snap to the center point of a circle, the midline of a polyline, or the intersection of two lines.

You can preset your object snap options in the Object Snap Settings dialog box, or you can use the Snap toolbar to set them in the middle of a measurement. You can select any combination of options or buttons.

The cursor changes to an aperture box when snap is turned on. The snap point on an object will be the eligible point on the object closest to the cursor. For example, if Endpoint snap is on, and you click toward one end of a line, the rubber-band line attached to the cursor snaps to the end of the line it is closest to.

No object snaps are active until you set them. You can set them individually for each view of each drawing you have open. You can also set default obejct snaps for subsequent sessions of View.

You can use most of the object snaps you use in AutoCAD R14:

Endpoint

Midpoint

Intersection

Center

Quadrant

Node

Insertion

Perpendicular

Tangent

Nearest


To turn on object snap
 Snapping to Geometric Points

To turn on object snap

Use one of these methods:

On the Snap toolbar, click the object snaps you want to activate.

On the Tools menu, click Object Snap. In the Object Snap dialog box, click the Snap Mode tab and turn on the snaps you want to activate.

Snaps include:

Endpoint

Midpoint

Intersection

Center

Quadrant

Node

Insertion

Perpendicular

Tangent

Nearest


Endpoint

Snaps to the closest endpoint of a line or an arc. If an object has thickness, you can snap to the edges of 3D solids, bodies and regions.


Midpoint

Snaps to the midpoint of a line or an arc. On infinite lines, Midpoint snaps to the first point defined (the root). If a line or arc has thickness, you can snap to the midpoints of the regions. Midpoint also snaps to the edges of 3D solids, bodies, and regions.


Intersection

Snaps to the intersection of two lines, circles, arcs, or splines. You can also use Intersection to snap to the corners of objects that have been given thickness. If two thickened objects extend in the same direction and have intersecting bases, you can snap to the intersection of the edges. If the objects have different thicknesses, the lesser thickness defines the intersection point.

Intersections of arcs and circles that are part of a block (a group of objects that are treated as a single object) work only if the block has been uniformly scaled. Line intersections within blocks work normally.

Intersection works with the edges of regions and curves, but not with edges or corners of 3D solids.


Center

Snaps to the center point of a circle, arc, or ellipse. Center also snaps to the centers of circles that are part of solids, bodies, or regions. When you snap to the center, select a visible part of the arc, circle, or ellipse.


Quadrant

Snaps to the closest quadrant of an arc, circle, or ellipse (the 0-, 90-, 180-, and 270-degree points). The location of the quadrant points for circles and arcs is determined by the current orientation of the UCS. If the arc, circle, or ellipse is a member of a rotated block, the quadrant points rotate with the block.


Node

Snaps to a point object drawn with the POINT command. Points included in a block can function as convenient snap points for attachment locations.


Insertion

Snaps to the insertion point of a block, shape, text, attribute (which contains information about a block), or attribute definition (which describes the characteristics of the attribute). If you select an attribute within a block, View snaps to the insertion point of the attribute, not the block. Therefore, if a block consists entirely of attribtues, you can snap to its insertion point only if that point coincides with an attribute insertion point.


Perpendicular

Snaps to the point on an object that forms a normal (or perpendicular) alignment with another object, or with an imaginary extension of that object. You can use Perpendicular with objects such as lines, circles, ellipses, splines, or arcs. Select a reference point on the drawing before using Perpendicular.

When you use the Perpendicular object snap to specify the first point of a line or circle, you construct a line or circle that is perpendicular to the object you select. When you use it to specify the second point of a line or circle, View snaps to a point that creates a normal from that object to the first point selected.

When you use Perpendicular with spline curves, the object snap returns points on the spline where the normal vector passes through the specified point. The normal vector on any point on a spline is the vector perpendicular to the tangent at that point. If the specified point lies on the spline, then the Perpendicular object snap returns that point as one of the object snap points. In some cases, when working with spline curves, it isn’t obvious where the Perpendicular object snap points are. There may be some instances where no Perpendicular snap point exists.

A Perpendicular snap to arcs and circles that belong to a block works only if the block has been uniformly scaled and the object’s thickness direction is parallel to the current view plane. The normal created for 3D splines is relative to a plane defined by the tangent of the curve at the snap point.


Nearest

Snaps to a point object or the location on another type of object that is nearest to the specified point.


Tangent

Snaps to the point on a circle or arc that, when connected to the last point, forms a line tangent to that object. Select a reference point on the drawing before using Tangent.

Tangents with arcs and circles that are part of a block work only if the block has been uniformly scaled and the object’s thickness direction is parallel to the current view plane. For both splines and ellipses, the other point you specify must be on the same plane as the snap point.


To set snap options
 Snapping to Geometric Points

To set snap options

1	On the Tools menu, click Object Snap.

2	In the Object Snap dialog box, click the Snap Mode tab and set any options you want.

3	Click the AutoSnap tab and set options to customize Snap using AutoSnap.

4	Click OK.


Snap Options
Object Snap Options

Select Settings	Turn on or off any of the object snaps. You can clear the current settings by clicking Clear All.
Aperture Size	You can adjust the aperture (cursor) size by moving the slider bar (larger is to the right).
Create Redlines from Measurement	You can create redlines from the measurement rubberbands. If the file is read-only, this option is not available.
Measure in Paper Space Only	This option forces all measurement units to paper space. For example, in a paperspace drawing with a title block and a viewport of a floor plan, if you measure an object in paper space, you get paper space measurement units by default. If you measure in the viewport, you get model space measurement units by default (for example, the actual width of a hallway). If you turn on the Measure in Paper Space Only option and you measure the hallway, you get the width of the hallway as it would appear on a paper plot.
Set As Default	Saves your snap option settings for subsequent sessions of View.


AutoSnap Options

Magnet	Makes the cursor move to the closest eligible point for snapping, witin the aperture. When the snap magnet is turned on and the cursor is pulled to a snap point, the XYZ values in the status area reflect the actual snap point in WCS plan view.
Marker	Marks the closest eligible pointfor snapping as you move the cursor.
Marker Size	You can adjust the size of the marker using the slider bar.
Marker Color	You can choose the color of the marker. The default is yellow.


Comparing Revisions
 Working with AutoCAD Drawings

Comparing Revisions

You can:

Compare two drawings

Set up layers for the comparison results window

View the comparison statistics

Save the comparison results

The Compare command displays the differences between two revisions of any AutoCAD .dwg file created with any release of AutoCAD since Release 9. The drawings you compare do not have to be created with the same release of AutoCAD. Compare does not work for .dxf files. You can use Compare to consolidate changes that were made independently to the same original drawing or to help you determine which drawing version contains a given set of changes.

The drawings you compare can be any size, but the Compare operation can take several minutes if the drawings are large. Statistics for the comparison are displayed in the Comparison Statistics dialog box.

Objects on frozen layers are ignored in the Compare operation if Hide Frozen Layers is turned on in the Layers dialog box.

When you close the new drawing, you can save or discard it.

Before you use Compare, open both drawings in View. For the comparison to work properly, the drawings must meet the following conditions:

One drawing must be an ancestor of the other, or the two drawings must have a common ancestor.

Object handles must be turned on in both drawings (AutoCAD R12 drawings and earlier).

Object handles must have been turned on in the first drawing before changes were made to produce the second (AutoCAD R12 drawings and earlier).

Note: Object handles are always turned on in drawings created in AutoCAD Release 13 and later.

Autodesk View is not designed to compare certain items.


Items Autodesk View cannot compare
Items View cannot compare

View does not compare the following:

ACIS objects

Custom objects

OLE objects

Header variables and settings

Table records (for example, layer and linetype definitions)

Block definitions

Xref contents when comparing the host files.


Viewing Comparison Statistics
 Viewing AutoCAD Drawings

 Comparing Revisions

Viewing Comparison Statistics

In addition to displaying a new drawing, View also displays a message that summarizes the comparison results. The comparison statistics include the number of:

Objects compared

Changed objects

Unchanged objects

Objects that could not be compared

The comparison statistics message alerts you if the comparison result was incomplete or reached the limit you set.

If the drawings you are comparing were created in Release 12 or earlier, the comparison results drawing is saved in Release 12 format. If either of the drawings you are comparing was created in Release 13 or 14, the comparison results drawing is saved in Release 14 format.


To turn on object handles in a drawing
 Comparing Revisions

To turn on object handles in a drawing

With the drawing open in AutoCAD, at the command prompt enter handles ON.

The setting is saved with the drawing.

This procedure applies only to AutoCAD Release 12 and earlier. In Release 13 and later, the HANDLES variable is read-only and object handles are always on.


To compare two drawings
 Comparing Revisions

To compare two drawings

1	Open the drawings to compare.

2	On the Tools menu, click Compare.

3	Select drawing A and drawing B to compare.

The comparison result drawing is displayed in the same view (for example, plan or model space) as drawing A. If you compare the two drawings in which a block definition has changed, the result drawing displays the affected blocks as they are defined in drawing A.

4	Set compare options.

5	Set Compare Properties to choose what to display in the comparison results drawing.

6	Click OK.

To cancel the Compare operation before it is finished, press ESC.

The differences are displayed in a new drawing, with separate layers for objects that were added, deleted, changed, and unchanged. You can choose which layers to include.


Compare Options

Option	Description
Abort When Number of Differences Exceeds	Safeguards against comparing two unrelated drawings. If the Compare operation detects the number of differences you specify, it stops.
Compare Geometry Only	Specifies whether only geometry , such as the beginning and end points of lines, or all parameters, including layer, color, linetype, thickness, extrusion (UCS direction or normal to the plane), and extended entity data (Release 12 or earlier) or object data (Release 13 and later) are compared.


To choose what to display in the Compare results drawing
 Comparing Revisions

To choose what to display in the Compare results drawing

1	In the Compare dialog box, click Properties.

2	Select which layers the Compare results drawing will contain.

3	To change a layer’s name, type a new name in its Name text box.

4	To change a layer’s color, select a color from its Color box.

5	Click OK.


Layers for Comparison Operations

The Compare results drawing can display any or all of the following layers:

Type of Difference	Results Displayed
In A, Not In B	Displays any object in drawing A that was deleted in drawing B.
In B, Not In A	Displays any object that was added in B.
Changed In A	Displays any object in both A and B that was modified in one of the drawings. Shows objects as they appear in A.
Changed In B	Displays any object in both A and B that was modified in one of the drawings.  Shows objects as they appear in B.
Same in Both	Displays any object that is the same in B as it is in A.


To save the comparison results
 Comparing Revisions

To save the comparison results

1	Make the comparison results window the active window, if it isn't already.

2	On the Window menu, click Close.

View asks if you want to save the new drawing.

3	In the message box, click Yes.

4	In the Save As dialog box, specify a path and file name for the new file.

If the drawings you are comparing were created with Release 12 or earlier, the comparison results drawing is saved in Release 12 format. If either or both of the drawings you are comparing was created with Release 13 or 14, the comparison results drawing is saved in Release 14 format.

The default file name is a long file name unless you are logged onto a Novell server. If you do not specify an extension, View uses .dwg.


Converting Between .dwg and .dxf
 Working with AutoCAD Drawings

Converting Between .dwg and .dxf

You can use the Convert command to convert a .dwg file to .dxf or a .dxf file to the .dwg format. However, if you convert a .dwg file to .dxf and then convert the resulting file back again, you may lose data in the process.

When you convert a file, View creates a new file in the specified format. Files created with AutoCAD Releases 9 through 14 are converted to Release 14 files.

You can convert viewable objects only.


To convert a file
 Converting DWG/DXF

To convert a file

1	Open the file to convert.

You can also select the drawing to convert in Tree View.

2	On the File menu, click Convert.

3	Select the drawing to convert from the Drawing list.

4	Under Convert To, click DWG or DXF.

5	If you are converting to .dxf, set DXF Options.

6	Click OK.

7	In the Save As dialog box, enter a path and file name for the new file.

The default file name is a long file name. If you do not specify an extension, View uses .dwg.


.dxf Conversion Options
DXF Conversion Options

Option	Description
Accuracy	Specifies a precision of up to 10 places for floating-point numbers.
Binary	Creates a binary .dxf file. If this option is not checked, the converted file is an ASCII file.


Redlining a Drawing
 Working with AutoCAD Drawings

Redlining a Drawing

Redlining is a way to mark up a drawing without changing the drawing itself. The redline toolbar controls redlining functions. A redline is stored in a separate file from the drawing. View displays a redline as a transparent layer over the drawing. A drawing can have more than one redline associated with it.

You can redline a drawing in model space if plan view is selected, or you can redline it in paper space if a paper space view exists. Only redlines created in model space can be attached to AutoCAD drawings as xrefs. See Using Redlines in AutoCAD.

To see redlines clearly, you can turn off color in the drawing and display it in black and white, leaving the redlines in their own color. Only the current view is affected when you turn off color. You can have other windows open with views of the same drawing displayed in color.

You can do the following with redlines:

Create a new redline

View or edit a redline

Save a redline

Set redline options such as layers and colors

Use redline graphics

Use redline text

Move, copy, or delete a redline

Use redlines in AutoCAD


To turn color on or off
 Redlining a Drawing

To turn color off or on

On the toolbar or on the Display menu, click No Color.


To create a redline in an open drawing
 Redlining a Drawing

To create a redline in an open drawing

1	On the Redline menu, click Redline File> New.

If a redline for the drawing is already open, Autodesk View closes it, prompting you to save any changes first.

View prompts you to change to plan view if you are in a different model space view.

2	Click any redline command or toolbar option to begin redlining.


To view a redline
 Redlining a Drawing

To view a redline

1	On the Redline menu, click Redline File> Open, or right-click and click Redline Open on the shortcut menu.

2	In the Redline Open dialog box, select or browse for a redline file.

3	Click Open.

If a redline for the drawing is already open, Autodesk View closes it, prompting you to save any changes first.


To save a redline
 Redlining a Drawing

To save a redline

1	On the Redline menu, click Redline File> Save.

2	In the Redline Save As dialog box, enter a name for the redline and click Save.

You can create or open a redline file on the Internet, but you cannot save changes made to it. However, you can save the redline file as a temporary file on a local drive and email it.


Naming Redlines

By default, View names redlines Redline of parent.red, where parent is replaced by the name of the host drawing (without the file extension) and .red is replaced by the extension you specify. If your operating system does not support long file names, View uses the default name parent.red. This naming scheme is set up to work correctly with the Auto-Load feature.


To set redline options
 Redlining a Drawing

To set redline options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under Markup, click Redline.

3	On the Redline page, set the options.

4	To use your settings for subsequent sessions, turn on Set As Default.

5	Click OK.


Redline Options

Option	Description
Layer	Sets the current redline layer, to which new redline objects are added. The default redline layer name is REDLINE.  To create and change to a new layer, type a new name. To return to an existing layer, choose it from the list. Note: Multiple layers let you redline in more than one color, because redline objects use the layer color only. You cannot hide or show redline layers independently. You either view all redline layers or none.
Layer Color	Specifies the color for the current redline layer. The default is red. If you change the color, existing and new redline marks on that layer use the new color.
Highlight	Specifies the color that identifies a redline object as being selected.
Arrow Scale	Specifies the size of callout arrows relative to the current text size. For example, enter 1.0 to make the arrow the same size as a text character. See also Text Height.
Text Size	Specifies the default size for new redline text in drawing units. See also Text Height.
Save Path	The default path for redlines you create in View.
Extension	The default filename extension for redline files. By default, this is .red.
Auto-Load Redlines	Specifies that, when you open a drawing, View opens its associated redline file if that file can be found in the Save Path location or on the host drawing’s path. The way you name redlines affects Auto-Load, and affects whether you can open redlines with their host drawings in AutoCAD.
Allow Paper Space Redlining	If not checked, redlining is allowed only in model space plan view. You cannot view paper space redlines in AutoCAD.


Moving, Copying, and Deleting Redlines
 Redlining a Drawing

Moving, Copying, and Deleting Redlines

You can edit redlines in the following ways:

Select

Move

Copy

Delete

Undo any mistakes you make

Redraw the screen to clear the image


To select a redline objects
 Editing Redlines

To select a redline object

1	On the toolbar, click [image].

2	Click the object (its outline, not its interior).

To select more than one object, hold down SHIFT while you click each one, or draw a selection rectangle around a group of objects.


The Redline Toolbar


To move a redline object
 Editing Redlines

To move a redline selection

Drag it somewhere else.


To copy a redline object
 Editing Redlines

To copy a redline selection

Use one of these methods:

Hold down CTRL+D while you drag the selection.

On the Edit menu, click Duplicate, or right-click and click Duplicate on the shortcut menu. The selection is duplicated in the drawing immediately—it is not necessary to paste. You can then select and move the copy.


To delete a redline selection
 Editing Redlines

To delete a redline selection

On the Edit menu, click Delete, or press DEL.

Deleting redlines may leave marks on the image. To remove them, redraw the image.


To redraw the image
 Editing Redlines

To redraw the image

Use one of these methods

Press F5.

On the View menu, click Redraw.


To undo the most recent edit
 Editing Redlines

To undo the most recent edit

On the Edit menu, click Undo.

The name of the Undo command changes, depending on what you just did. For example, if you just deleted something, the command is Undo Delete. Click Undo again to undo the next most recent edit.


Using Redline Graphics
 Redlining a Drawing

Using Redline Graphics

To mark up a drawing, you can use

Lines

Circles

Clouds

Rectangles

Freehand lines

Redline graphics commands remain active until you choose another command.  While you are drawing, the cursor is a set of crosshairs.

Redlines don't have to be red. You can change the redline layer color.

You can also add text to a drawing.


To draw a line
 Drawing Graphics

To draw a line

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Redline menu, click Line.

2	Click to specify the start point.

Hold down SHIFT to constrain the line to a horizontal or vertical direction.

3	Click to specify the end point.

4	Click again on the image to begin another line.


To draw a circle
 Drawing Graphics

To draw a circle

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Redline menu, click Circle.

2	Click to specify the center.

3	Click again to specify the radius.

4	Click again on the image to begin another circle.


To draw a cloud
 Drawing Graphics

To draw a cloud

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Redline menu, click Cloud.

2	Click a sequence of points to draw a polygon around a region of interest.

3	To close the polygon, click again on the first point.

The polygon redraws as a cloud.

4	Click again on the image to begin another cloud.

You can also draw an inside-out cloud.


To draw an inside-out cloud
 Drawing Graphics

To draw an inside-out cloud

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Redline menu, click Cloud.

2	Click the first three points for the cloud, noting whether you are moving clockwise or counterclockwise.

3	When you click the fourth point, begin moving in the opposite rotation.

4	Continue in this rotation until you close the polygon by clicking again on the first point.

5	Click again on the image to begin another cloud.

This time, go the other way.


To draw a rectangle
 Drawing Graphics

To draw a rectangle

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Redline menu, click Rectangle.

2	Click to specify a corner.

3	Click to specify the opposite corner.

4	Click again on the image to begin another rectangle.


To draw a freehand line
 Drawing Graphics

To draw a freehand line

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Redline menu, click Sketch.

2	Hold down the left mouse button and drag.

3	Release the mouse button to finish the sketch.

4	Repeat steps 2 and 3 to draw another sketch.


Using Text with Redlines
 Redlining a Drawing

Using Text with Redlines

You can add plain text or callouts. Text begins at the upper-left corner of a text box that you draw. The text box defines the line width. If you need to add more than a few of lines of text, use a note instead.

You can define the height of new plain text and callout text with the Text Height command. Existing text in .dwg files is the height it was when the drawing was last saved in AutoCAD. Existing text in nongraphic files has a default height of 12 pixels.

You can also set an option that specifies the default text height for new plain and callout text.

You can:

Add text

Change text height for new text

Add callouts

Reposition callout text and arrows

Redline using Big Font


To add text
 Using Text with Redlines

To add text

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Redline menu, click Text.

2	Click to specify the first corner of a line width box.

3	Click again to specify the opposite corner.

The width of the box defines the line width. The height of the box doesn't matter. If you specify a line width less than the minimum, the minimum width is used. If a single word exceeds the line width, the word will extend beyond the line width.

4	In the Redline Text dialog box, enter the text.

You can drag across text to select it and you can use the keyboard commands CTRL+X to cut, CTRL+C to copy, and CTRL+V to paste.

5	Click OK.


To add a callout
 Using Text with Redlines

To add a callout

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Redline menu, click Callout.

2	Click to specify the head of the arrow.

The size of the arrowhead depends on the current text height and arrow scale.

3	Click again to specify the tail of the arrow and set the first corner of the line width box.

4	Click to set the opposite corner of the line width box.

5	In the Redline Text dialog box, enter the text.

6	Click OK.

You may want to move the text to position it better at the end of the arrow. You can move the arrow in the same way.


To reposition the text or the arrow
 Using Text with Redlines

To reposition the text or the arrow

1	On the toolbar, click [image].

2	Select the text or arrow by clicking it.

To select multiple lines of text, click the first line and hold down the SHIFT key while you click the other lines.

3	Drag the selection to a new position.


To change text height for new text
 Using Text with Redlines

To change text height for new text

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Redline menu, click Text Height.

2	Click anywhere in the drawing window to specify the first corner of a text height box.

The height of the box determines the height of a lowercase x for new text.

3	Click again to specify the opposite corner.

The width of the box doesn’t matter. If the box height is less than the minimum height for text (12 pixels) then the minimum height is used. After you complete the box, it disappears. The new text height remains in effect until you change it again. You can also set an option that specifies the default text height.


Redlining with Big Fonts
 Using Text with Redlines

Redlining with Big Fonts

Autodesk View provides redlining features through the template file redline.eng, which is an AutoCAD Release 12 template drawing. View uses the ADME_REDLINE text style for redlining. This style is associated with the normal font text.shx. You can modify the style to suit your needs.

When you enter big font text for redlining, you must enter code to represent fonts or characters not supported by your operating system. You enter the code along with the redline text in the Redline Text dialog box. See Appendix A of the AutoCAD Release 14 User’s Guide for more information on the code for big font text.

If you don’t see the results you expect, one of the following may be the reason:

The Redline.eng file may not be modified correctly.

The normalfont.shx or bigfont.shx shape file may not be found. Copy them to the directory in .shx settings.

Fonts may be mapped to a different font, through the font map.

  See also


To modify the text style for redlining
 Redlining with Big Font

To modify the text style for redlining

1	Make a copy of redline.eng, located in the Autodesk View working directory.

2	Rename redline.eng to redline.dwg.

3	Load redline.dwg into AutoCAD.

4	In AutoCAD, enter the command style at the command line.

5	When you’re asked for a style name, enter ADME REDLINE. If a dialog box appears, choose the Type It option.

6	Enter the name and pathname (if necessary) of the normal font and the big font, using the following syntax: normal,big font. For example, enter:

romans,kanji or txt,c:\mydir\bigfont.shx

7	Accept the default values for all other parameters.

8	Save redline.dwg.

If you’re using Release 13 or 14, save the file in Release 12 format.

9	Rename redline.dwg to redline.eng.

  See also


To enter big font text for redlining
 Redlining with Big Font

To enter big font text for redlining

Use one of the following methods:

Unicode method: Enter \U+xxxx, where xxxx is the hexadecimal value of the Unicode character.

Multibyte method: Enter \M+nxxxx, where n is the multibyte code page ID and xxxx is the hexadecimal value of the multibyte character.

  See also


Using Redlines in AutoCAD
 Redlining a Drawing

Using Redlines in AutoCAD

You can view a redline by itself in AutoCAD or you can attach it as an xref to its host drawing and view the two together.

When you attach a redline as an xref, it displays with the drawing to which it is attached, but the redline is still an independent file. If you edit the redline document and then reopen the host drawing, the included redline image reflects your changes.

If you use AutoCAD Release 13 or 14 and you chose the AutoCAD Redlining Import Tool option from the Autodesk View Master Setup menu, redline viewing is enabled in AutoCAD. A Redline menu and toolbar are added to AutoCAD when you start it.

You can do the following in AutoCAD:

Display redlines

If you have a redline file for a flattened Paper Space AMD drawing, you must manually attach the redline as an xref on the ADMEREDLINE layer. (This restriction applies only to files created with releases of AMD prior to 1.2.) You cannot use the Display Redlines command for these types of redline files.

Important: Do not use the AutoCAD XATTACH command or its menu equivalent to attach a redline to an AutoCAD drawing.

Remove all redlines from the drawing

You can remove all redlines on the ADMEREDLINE layer. The  ADMEREDLINE layer itself is not removed.

List the path names for all currently displayed redlines

Read notes attached to the currently displayed redlines

Read link information for the currently displayed redlines

Hide model space redlines

You can hide model space redlines in viewports. This option works only when you’re in paper space.

Launch Autodesk View and display the current drawing

If Auto-Load is on for redlines, the redline file with the same name as the drawing is also displayed. The drawing remains open in AutoCAD.


Installing the AutoCAD Redlining Import Tool Option
 Redlining a Drawing

 Using Redlines in AutoCAD

Installing the AutoCAD Redlining Import Tool Option

If you want to display redlines in AutoCAD, choose the Install AutoCAD Redlining Import Tool option in the Autodesk View Master Setup program. Then follow online instructions to install the tool.

To install the redlining import tool for multiple installations of AutoCAD, use the Browse button to locate the appropriate AutoCAD directory during the installation of the tool. For example, you might want to install the redlining import tool for use in AutoCAD R14 and AutoCAD Mechanical.


To display a redline file in AutoCAD
 Using Redlines In AutoCAD

To display a redline file in AutoCAD

1	Use one of the following methods:

On the Redline menu or toolbar, click Display Redlines.

On the command line, enter aviewredlines.

2	In the dialog box that appears, select the redline file to open.

By default, only files with the extension .red are displayed, but you can change this manually.

3	Click OK.

The redline drawing is attached to the host drawing as an xref in the ADMEREDLINE layer. The view is changed to Zoom> Fit to Window.

Important: Do not save the host drawing while you have the redline drawing open. Use the Remove Redlines command before you save the host drawing. Otherwise, the Redline menu and toolbar options will no longer work when you open that drawing in AutoCAD. Distribute the redline and host drawing to others as separate files.


To remove all redlines from the ADMEREDLINE layer in AutoCAD
 Using Redlines In AutoCAD

To remove all redlines from the ADMEREDLINE layer in AutoCAD

Use one of these methods:

On the Redline menu or toolbar, click Remove Redlines.

On the command line, enter aviewremoveredline.


To list currently-displayed redlines in AutoCAD
 Using Redlines In AutoCAD

To list currently-displayed redlines in AutoCAD

Use one of these methods:

On the Redline menu, click List Redlines.

On the command line, enter aviewlistredlines.

The list is displayed on the command line.


To read notes in AutoCAD
 Using Redlines In AutoCAD

To read notes in AutoCAD

1	Use one of the following methods:

On the Redline menu or toolbar, click Read Note.

On the command line, enter aviewgetnote.

2	You are prompted to select the note. Click the outline of the note marker in the drawing.

Don’t click inside the note marker. In AutoCAD, you can select notes only by clicking their boundaries.

3	Press RETURN on your keyboard.

The contents of the note is displayed on the command line.


To view links in AutoCAD
 Using Redlines In AutoCAD

To view links in AutoCAD

1	Use one of the following methods:

On the Redline menu or toolbar, click Read Link.

On the command line, enter aviewgetlink.

2	You are prompted to select the link. Click the outline of the link marker in the drawing.

Don’t click inside the link. In AutoCAD, you can select links only by clicking their boundaries.

3	Press RETURN on your keyboard.

The pathname of the linked file is displayed on the command line.


To hide model space redlines in AutoCAD
 Using Redlines In AutoCAD

To hide model space redlines in AutoCAD

Use one of the following methods:

On the Redline menu, click Hide Modelspace Redlines.

On the command line, enter _hidemspaceredlines.

To redisplay model space redlines after hiding them, remove the redline file and then reopen it.


To launch Autodesk View from AutoCAD
 Using Redlines In AutoCAD

To launch View from AutoCAD

Use one of these methods:

On the Redline menu or the toolbar, click Launch Autodesk View.

On the command line, enter aviewload.


Advanced Markup

You can use notes to annotate drawings and raster images at length. You can connect individual drawings to each other and to other types of files with dynamic hyperlinks. Notes and hyperlinks are stored in the redline file.

See chapter 4 of the Autodesk View User’s Guide for an example of the use of notes and links to manage a process.

You can:

 	Annotate files with notes.

 	Use hyperlinks to allow quick reference between files.

 	Display redlines in AutoCAD.


Writing Notes
 Advanced Markup

Using Notes

Use a note instead of the Text command if you have more than a few words to write. You can attach a note anywhere in a drawing.

To read, move, copy, or delete a note, you must first select it. When you select a note, its color changes. You can edit notes only if the Selectable option is on. You can move notes only if the Selectable and Moveable options are both on.

You can do the following:

Create a note

Select a note

View or edit a note

Move, copy, or delete a note

Set note options


To create a note
 Using Notes

To create a note

1	On the toolbar or the Redline menu, click Add Note.

2	Click anywhere in the drawing to attach the note marker.

3	In the Note Text dialog box, enter a note.

4	Click OK.

A numbered note marker is displayed in the drawing.

5	Repeat steps 2 through 4 to continue creating notes.

6	Click Add Note again to finish creating notes.


To select a note
 Using Notes

To select a note

1	On the toolbar, click [image].

2	Click the note marker.

You can move, copy, or delete a selected note as you would any other redline object. You can edit notes only if the Selectable option is on. You can move notes only if the Selectable and Movable options are both on.


To view or edit the text of a note
 Using Notes

To view or edit the text of a note

1	Do one of the following:

On the toolbar, click [image]. Then double-click the note marker.

Select the note marker. Then, on the shortcut menu, click Edit.

2	In the Note Text dialog box, view or edit the note and click OK.


To move a note
 Using Notes

To move a note

1	On the toolbar, click [image].

2	Select the note and drag it somewhere else.

You can select and move notes only if the Selectable and Moveable options are on. You can use the same editing options for copying and deleting notes that are available for other redlines.


To set notes options
 Using Notes

To set notes options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under Markup, click Notes.

3	On the Notes page, modify the options.

4	Click OK.


Notes options

Option	Description
Marker Color	Specifies a color for the note. Select a color from the color palette. The default note color is yellow.
Visible	Makes note markers visible or hidden.
Selectable	Controls whether note markers are selectable. You can view or edit notes and move note markers only if the Selectable option is on.
Moveable	Controls whether note markers are moveable. Make note markers unmoveable to ensure that you don’t displace them when you double-click them. If the Selectable option is off, Moveable is unavailable because you cannot move an object without selecting it first.
Set As Default is always selected because the Note options in effect when you exit are always saved for the next session of View.


Hyperlinking
 Advanced Markup

Using Hyperlinks

You can define a region of a redline file as a hyperlink to another document. When you double-click the region, the linked document opens in a new window. For example, in a drawing of a passenger car, you might link the hood region to a drawing of the engine or tow a text document specifying the hood construction.

You can also open a linked file from a hyperlink in an AutoCAD R14 drawing that you are viewing.

To edit a link, you must first select it. You can select links for editing only if the Selectable option is on. You can move links only if the Selectable and Moveable options are both on. You select a link region differently, depending on whether the Dynamic Highlight option is on or off. For information on all these options, see To set link options.

You can do the following:

Define a link

Open the linked document

Select a link with Dynamic Highlight on

Select a link with Dynamic Highlight off

View or edit a link path

Move, copy, or delete a link


To define a link
 Using Hyperlinks

To define a link

1	On the toolbar, click [image], or on the Redline menu, click Add Link.

2	Click a sequence of points to draw a polygon around the region to link from.

Hold down SHIFT while drawing the polygon to keep its edges horizontal or vertical.

3	To close the polygon, click again on the first point.

4	In the Link To dialog box, select or browse for the file to link to.


To select a link with Dynamic Highlight on
 Using Hyperlinks

To select a link with Dynamic Highlight on

1	On the toolbar, click [image].

2	Move the pointer over the link region.

To cancel the selection, move the pointer outside the link region.

Dynamic Highlight is a link option.


To select a link with Dynamic Highlight off
 Using Hyperlinks

To select a link with Dynamic Highlight off

1	On the toolbar, click [image].

2	Click within the link region.

To cancel the selection, click outside the link region.

Dynamic Highlight is a link option.


To view or edit a link path
 Using Hyperlinks

To view or edit a link path

1	Select a link.

2	On the shortcut menu, click Edit.

3	View or change the path name of the document specified for this link in the Link To dialog box.

4	Click OK.


To open the linked document
 Using Hyperlinks

To open the linked document

Use one of the following methods:

Double-click the link region.

Click the link region and click Activate Item on the Edit menu.

The linked drawing opens in another window. If Confirm Load is on, View asks you to confirm the operation. You can open the linked document only if the Selectable option is on. Click Tile or Cascade on the Window menu to see all open windows.


To set link options
 Using Hyperlinks

To set link options

1	On the Tools menu, click Options.

2	Under General Viewing, click Links.

3	On the Links page, modify the options.

4	Click OK.


Links options

Option	Description
Highlight Method	Controls whether highlighted link regions are displayed as filled shapes (Area) or in outline only (Outline).
Visible	Controls whether link regions are visible. You can select link regions whether they are visible or not.
Dynamic Highlight	If this option is on, a link region is selected if the pointer lies within it. Dynamic Highlight is useful for locating invisible linked regions or for moving or copying a link region by dragging.  If this option is off, a link region is selected if you click within it. With Dynamic Highlight off, you must use menu commands to edit links, and the link region remains selected when the pointer moves on.
Selectable	Controls whether link regions are selectable.  You can activate and move link regions only when the Selectable option is on.
Confirm Load	If this option is on, you must confirm that you want to open a linked file each time you double-click a link or choose Activate Item for a selected link.
Moveable	Controls whether link markers are moveable. Make link markers unmoveable to ensure that you don’t displace them when you double-click them.  If the Selectable option is off, Moveable is unavailable because you cannot move an object without selecting it first.
Set As Default is always selected because the Link options in effect when you exit are always saved for the next session of View.


Autodesk View Formats
Autodesk View Supported Formats

Autodesk View supports the following format types:

Autodesk

Vector

Raster

Database

Spreadsheet

Word Processing

Presentation

Other


Autodesk Formats
 Autodesk View Supported Formats

Autodesk Formats

Format Type	Extension	Versions Supported
Autodesk Mechanical Desktop	AMD	Releases 1.1 and 1.2
AutoCAD Backup	BAK	Releases 9 through 14;  Release 13 and 14 ACIS
AutoCAD Drawing	DWG	Releases 9 through 14; Release 13 and 14 ACIS
AutoCAD Drawing Web Format	DWF	Release 13 IPX and Release 14
AutoCAD Drawing Exchange	DXF	Releases 9 through 14;  ASCII and binary
Autodesk Animation	FLC, FLI
CAD Overlay	IGS	4.1-7.2 (Releases 12 and 13) and S8 (Release 14)
AutoCAD Slide	SLD


Vector Formats
 Autodesk View Supported Formats

Vector Formats

Format Type	Extension	Versions Supported
Ami Draw	SDW
Computer Graphics Metafile	CGM
Corel Draw	CDR	2.0 through  6.0
Corel Draw Clipart	CMX
Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL)	HGL, HPG, PGL, PLT
IGES Drawings
Macintosh standard PICT and PICT2		1, 4, 8, 24 bit
Micrografx	DRW
Microsoft Windows Metafile	WMF


Raster Formats
 Autodesk View Supported Formats

Raster Formats

Format Type	Extension	Versions Supported
CALS CCITT Group 4	CAL	1-bit
Delrina WinFax  Group 3 and Group 4
Encapsulated PostScript  (Postscript Raster)  1 and 8 (Raster Only)	EPS	1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32 (Embedded TIFF)
GEM Image	IMG	1-bit
Graphic Interchange Format (CompuServe)	GIF
IBM IOCA	ICA	1-bit
Image Systems Group 4 data	IG4	1-bit
Image Systems Grayscale	IGS	8-bit
Image Systems Hybrid	RLC	RLC/RLC2, 1-bit
JPEG compressed; JFIF (JPEG File Interchange Format) Progressive JPEG JTIF (JPEG Tagged Image File Format)	JPG JFIF JPE	8-bit GS; 24-bit color 8-bit GS, 24-bit color
Kodak PhotoCD	PCD	All versions
LEAD Variants:  JPG, LEAD CMP;  LEAD 1-bit; LEAD 1JFIF (JPEG File Interchange Format); LEAD2JFIF; LEAD1JTIF (JPEG Tagged Interchange format)	CMP
Lotus Snapshot
MacPaint	MAC	1-bit
Microsoft Paint	MSP	1-bit
Multipage PCX	DCX
Multipage TIFF	MPT
Novell PerfectWorks	WPW	Release 2.0
OS/2 Bitmap	BMP	1, 4, 8, 24 RLE 1, 4, 8
Paintbrush	PCX	1, 4, 8, 24; CCIT/Fax, 1-bit Uncompressed, 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32; RLE: 1, 4, 8, 24
Photoshop	PSD	Release 3.0, 1, 8, 24
Portable Network Graphics	PNG	1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32
Raw Fax (no header) Group 3 and Group 4, 1D and 2D
Run length encoded bitmaps (Windows and OS/2)	RLE	1, 4, 8
Run length encoded PCX	RLE	1, 4, 8, 24
Run length encoded Targa	RLE	8, 16, 24, 32
SUN Raster	RAS	1, 4, 8, 24, 32
Tagged Image File Format (TIFF)	TIF, TIFF	Uncompressed: 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32 CMYK, RLE; CCITT/Fax, Group 3 1D and 2D, Group 4 LZW 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32
Targa	TGA	Uncompressed: 8, 16, 24, 32 RLE: 8, 16, 24, 32
Windows Bitmap	BMP	Uncompressed 1, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 32 RLE: 1, 4, 8
Windows Cursor	CUR
Windows Icon	ICO
WordPerfect Graphics	WPG	1, 4, 8 raster


Database Formats
 Autodesk View Supported Formats

Database Formats

Format Type	Extension	Versions Supported
CEO Decision Base
Data Ease	DEZ	4.x
Dbase	DBF	Through 5.0
DEC DX		3.0 & below, 3.1, 4.x
First Choice		Through 3.0
Framework	FWK	3.0
Legacy		1.1
Microsoft Access	MDB	2.0
Microsoft Works		Windows 3.0, DOS and Macintosh through version 2.0
Navy DIF	DIF
Paradox	PDX	DOS through 4.0; Paradox for Windows
Q&A Database	QA	2.0
R:Base 5000	RBS	Through 3.1
R:Base System V	RBS	1.0
Reflex		Version 2.0
SmartWare II	SMD	1.02
Symphony		Through 2.0


Spreadsheet Formats
 Autodesk View Supported Formats

Spreadsheet Formats

Format Type	Extension	Versions Supported
Enable Spreadsheet	ENS	3.0, 4.0, 4.5
First Choice		Through 3.0
Generic WKS	WKS
Lotus 1-2-3	WK1	Windows through 5.0, OS/2 through 2.0
Microsoft Excel	XLS	Windows through 7.0 Macintosh 3.0 and 4.0
Microsoft Works		DOS through 2.0 Windows through 3.0 Macintosh through 2.0
Mosaic Twin		2.5
Multiplan		4.0
Novell PerfectWorks	WPW	2.0
PFS: Plan
Quattro and Quattro Pro		DOS through 5.0 Windows through 7.0
Smart Spreadsheet
SuperCalc 5		4.0
VP Planner		1.0


Word Processing Formats
 Autodesk View Supported Formats

Word Processing Formats

Format Type	Extension	Versions Supported
Ami and Ami Pro	AMI	Through 3.1
ASCII text	TXT	DOS 7-bit, 8-bit
ANSI	TXT	7-bit, 8-bit
DEC DX		Through 4.x
Enable	ENW, EN4	3.0, 4.x
First Choice		Through 3.0
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)	HTM	Through 3.0
IBM DCA/FFT
IBM DCA/RFT	RTF	All versions
IBM DisplayWrite		2, 3, 4, 5
IBM Writing Assistant		1.01
JustWrite	JW	Through 2.0
Legacy		Trhough 1.1
Lotus Manuscript	MANU	1.0, 2.0
Macintosh character set
MacWrite II	MCW	1.1
MASS 11	M11	Through 8.0
Microsoft Word DOS	DOC	Through 6.0
Microsoft Word for Windows (NT and 95)	DOC	Through 7.0
Microsoft Word for Macintosh		4.0 and 5.0
Microsoft WordPad
Microsoft Works DOS		Through 2.0
Microsoft Works for Windows		3.0 and 4.0
Microsoft Works for Macintosh		2.0
MultiMate	MM, MM4	Through 4.0
MultiMate Advantage	MM	2.0
MultiMate Note	MMFM
Novell PerfectWorks	WPW
Office Writer		4.0 through 6.0
PC-File	DOC	5.0
PFS: Write		A, B, C
Professional Write		Through 2.1
Q&A Write DOS		3.0
Q&A Write for Windows	JW	3.0
Rich Text Format	RTF	Through 2.0
Samna Word		Through IV+
Signature
SmartWare II
Sprint		1.0
Text	TXT	DOS 7 bit, 8 bit; ANSI 7 bit, 8 bit; Unicode
Total Word		1.2
Unicode	TXT
UUEncode	TXT
Volkswriter		1.0
Wang IWP		Through 2.6
Windows Write	WRI	Through 3.0
WordMARC		Through Composer Plus
WordPerfect DOS	WP	Through 6.0
WordPerfect for Windows		Through 7.0
WordPerfect for Macintosh	WP	Through 3.0
WordStar	WS	Through  7.0
WordStar 2000	WS2	Through 3.0
WordStar for Windows		1.0
XyWrite / Nota Bene		Through II Plus/3.0


Presentation Formats
 Autodesk View Supported Formats

Presentation Formats

Format Type	Extension	Versions Supported
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Acrobat	PDF
Corel Presentations		7.0
Freelance	FLW	Through 2.0 (Windows and OS/2) and Freelance 96 for Windows 95
Harvard Graphics  DOS Chart	HGS	2.x, 3.x
Harvard Graphics  DOS Presentation	HGS	3
Lotus	PIC
Microsoft Excel Chart	XLC	Through version 7.0
Microsoft Powerpoint	PPT	4.0 (Macintosh) and through 7.0 (Windows)
Novell Presentations		Through 3.0
PostScript	PS
WordPerfect Presentations


Other Formats
 Autodesk View Supported Formats

Other Formats

Format Type	Extension	Versions
DOS and Windows; Self-unzipping executables	EXE
LZA self-extracting compression	LZA
LZH compression	LZH
Microsoft Binder	OBD	7.0 and Binder 97
PKWare zip files	ZIP	Through 2.04g
UNIX compression and tar files
Windows Dynamic Linked Library	DLL


Controlling Autodesk View from Other Applications
Integrating View with Other Applications

You can launch Autodesk View with the Windows Run command using a variety of parameters. You can also send commands to Autodesk View from another application, using Windows DDE. Autodesk does not provide technical support for these methods.

 	Windows Run command parameters

 	Windows DDE commands

 	Using the Information command to retrieve block attributes or extended entity data for a selected block

 	Integrating View with Microsoft Internet Explorer


To open a drawing with the Windows Run command
 Integrating View

To open a drawing with the Windows Run command

Specify a file name with options using the following syntax:

[path]\aview.exe [options] [path]\[filename]

Click here to see an example that starts View, opens a named view of an AutoCAD drawing (DOMETOP), sets the default redline path, and displays the Print dialog box so you can print the drawing. The filename with its parameters must be all on one line. Long file names must be enclosed in quotes.


Command Line Options

Command	Parameter	Description
-Paper		Load the host drawing in paper space.
-Model		Load the host drawing in model space.
-Named	<Viewname>	Load the host drawing with the named view Viewname as the initial view.
-R		Load the host drawing in read-only mode. You will be unable to redline.
-RPath	<rpath>	Set rpath as default path for redlines.
-AutoRed		Auto-Load redline.
-Red	<redfile>	Load redline redfile.
-Ignore		Bypass all notifications and the Print dialog box. This parameter must precede the path name.
-Print		Print the view with default settings.
Important: Enclose long filenames in quotes.


Example command line

aview.exe j:\dwg\stpauls.dwg -print -named DOMETOP -RPATH c:\temp\redline


DDE and Autodesk View
 Integrating View

DDE and Autodesk View

You can use Autodesk View as a DDE Server and control it from another program, the DDE Client.

The following DDE parameters establish control:

DDE Application:	AutodeskView
Topic:	Control
Once control is established, the DDE commands can be issued.


DDE Commands

Command	Parameters	Description
APPCLOSE		Close the application
APPMAX		Maximize the application window
APPMIN		Minimize the application window
APPNORM		Restore application window to normal size (between maximized and minimized)
BATCHMODEON		Begin batch of calls (i.e. for printing)
BATCHMODEOFF		End batch calls
DEFAULT		Zoom default (as-saved view)
EXTENTS		Zoom extents
FILEOPEN	fname	Open a drawing to view
FILEPRINT	fname	Open a drawing to print
FILEREADONLY	fname	Open a drawing in read-only mode
FILEREDLINE	fname	Open a drawing to redline
LIMITS		Zoom limits
PANCENT	x y	Pan to new center point
PANDOWN		Pan down
PANFACT	fx fy	Pan by factors (1.0 = half screen)
PANLEFT		Pan to the left
PANRIGHT		Pan to the right
PANUP		Pan up
REDRAWOFF		Disable redraws (useful when batching commands)
REDRAWON		Enable redraws
SETINFOMODEON		Adds the Information menu item to the Tools menu in View.
SETINFOMODEOFF		Removes the Information menu item from the Tools menu in View.
SETMODEL		Use model space view
SETPAPER		Use paper space view (if available)
SETTITLE	app_title	Change application name in title bar
VIEWCLOSE		Close the active view window
VIEWMAX		Maximize the active view
VIEWMIN		Minimize the active view
VIEWNORM		Restore the active view to normal size (between maximized and minimized)
ZOOMFACT	n	Zoom by n factor (1.0 = same size)
ZOOMIN		Zoom in
ZOOMOUT		Zoom out


Using the Information Command
 Integrating View

Using the Information Command

The Information command allows you to retrieve block attributes and extended entity data (Xdata) for a selected block. Xdata is displayed in .dxf format. The command displays variable attributes (ATTRIBs following the INSERT), but not constant attributes (ATTDEFs) in the block definition. The Information command is not available for inserts that do not have Xdata.

The information command is added to the bottom of the Tools menu in View when you issue the DDE command SETINFOMODEON, and start View. The Information command is available only when an AutoCAD .dwg drawing is displayed.

See also Notes for Developers.


To retrieve block information using the Information command
 Using the Information Command

To retrieve block information using the Information command

1	On the Tools menu, click Information.

2	Click the block for which you want information.

When two blocks overlap, View finds the information for the top block. You cannot select a Release 13 or 14 group as a single block.

The information is returned to the calling application.


Notes for Developers
Integrating View

 Using the Information Command

Notes for Developers

The Information command uses View as both the data server and the client. As the data server, View provides DDE services using the application name Autodesk View and the topic Control. As the client, Autodesk View requests services from a server named INFO_MODE with the topic Information.

The server name INFO_MODE is stored in the View resource file. Unless you purchase the OEM version of View, you cannot change this name.

View invokes the DDEClientTransactionAPI and passes a command string containing the block data to INFO_MODE using the XTYP_EXECUTE transaction. This call is made using TIMEOUT_ASYNC.

You can issue the REDRAW command after retrieving the block information. You must issue the SETINFOMODEOFF command before terminating INFO_MODE.


Microsoft Internet Explorer Integration
 Integrating View

Microsoft Internet Explorer Integration

Autodesk View functions as an ActiveX document server. This means that the entire application can be activated in place in a client doc object container application, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer.

When View is activated in a doc object client frame, it operates as a single document interface (SDI). The File and Help menus are those of the client application, while the other menus and toolbars are View’s.


New Window

Use this command to open a new window with the same contents as the active window. You can open multiple windows. If you change the contents in one window, all other windows containing the same data reflect those changes. When you open a new window, it becomes the active window and is displayed on top of all other open windows. Use the Tile and Cascade commands on the Window menu to display multiple open windows.


Cascade

Choose this command from the Window menu to arrange multiple opened windows in an overlapped fashion.


Tile Horizontally/Vertically

Choose one of these commands from the Window menu to arrange multiple opened windows in a nonoverlapped fashion. Horizontally arranges the windows side by side. Vertically stacks the windows on the screen.


Arrange Icons

Choose this command from the Window menu to arrange the icons for minimized windows at the bottom of the main window.  If you see an open window at the bottom of the main window, some or all of the icons may not be visible because they will be underneath this window.


Close

Choose this command from the Control menu to close the current window.

Clicking the close icon is the same as choosing the Close command.

Note: If you have multiple windows open for a single document, the Close command on the document Control menu closes only one window at a time.  You can close all windows at once with the Close All command.


Close All

Choose this command from the Window menu to close all open windows.


Size

Choose this command from the Control menu to size the active window with the arrow keys. You can also drag the sides of a window to resize it.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.


To size the active window

1	Press one of the arrow keys (left, right, up, or down) to move the pointer to the border you want to move.

2	Press an arrow key to move the border.

3	Press ENTER when the window is the size you want.


Move

Choose this command from the Control menu to display a four-headed arrow so you can move the active window or dialog box with the arrow keys.

Note:  This command is unavailable if you maximize the window.


Minimize

Choose this command from the Control menu (or use the Minimize icon) to reduce the active window to an icon.


Maximize

Choose this command from the Control menu (or use the Maximize icon) to enlarge the active window to fill the available space.


Next Window

Choose this command from the Control menu to switch to the next open document window.  The next window is determined according to the order in which you opened the windows.


Previous Window

Choose this command from the Control menu to switch to the previous open document window.  The previous window is determined according to the order in which you opened the windows.


Restore

Choose this command from the Control menu to return the active window to its size and position before you chose the Maximize or Minimize command.


Open Windows

Currently open windows are listed on the Window menu. Choose a window name to display that window.


Recently Opened Files

Recently opened files are listed at the bottom of the File menu. Choose a file name to display that file.


Scroll Bars

Use the shaded bars along the right and bottom sides of the window to see another part of the view. Click in the bars or drag the scroll box in the direction in which you want to move.


Selecting a File or Destination

In any dialog box from which you can specify a file or a destination, you have the following options:

To specify a document or path on a different drive, select the drive letter from the Drives list. The contents of the selected drive or folder are displayed.

To specify a document or path on the displayed drive, double-click folders in the file list until you reach the folder you want, or the folder containing the document you want. To select a document, double-click it or type its name in the File Name box.

If there is a Files of Type box, you can limit the display of the file list to files that have the three-letter extension you specify.


Using Help

Getting Help Within the Application

To see Help for a particular menu item in an application, highlight the menu item using the arrow keys and press F1. To see Help for a particular dialog box, click the Help button in that dialog box.

Using the Online Help

Click Help Topics on the Help menu to see a list of topics preceded by "books." Click a [image] icon to read the topic.

Within Help topics, you can:

Get more specific information

Go back to a previous Help topic

Print Help information

Copy Help information

Bookmark Help topics

Annotate Help topics

Read late-breaking news about View

Find application version and copyright information

View or hide the tip of the day

Click the green underlined text to see procedures for the underlined item.

Using the Internet to Find Out About View

If you have Internet access, you can browse the View home page to get current information about View.


To browse the View home page
 Using Help

To browse the View home page

On the Help menu, click Home Page.

View launches the Internet browser on your system and links to the View home page.

If this menu item is unavailable, no Internet browser is installed on your system.


To see more specific information about the current topic
 Using Help

To see more specific information about the current topic

Do one of the following:

Click the >> button at the top of the Help topic window to see the next topic.

In a Help topic window, click the green, solid-underlined text (if any) to see procedures or more information.

In a Help topic window, click the green, dotted-underlined text (if any) to see a definition of the underlined item or a list of related options.


To go back to a previous topic in Help
 Using Help

To go back to a previous topic in Help

Do one of the following:

Click the Back button at the top of the Help topic window to see the last topic you viewed.

Click the << button at the top of the Help topic window to see the previous topic in Help.

Click a [image] button at the top of the Help topic window to see more general information about the current topic.


To print Help topics
 Using Help

To print Help topics

In the Help topic you want to print, click the Print button.

If the window you want to print does not have a Print button, select and copy the text to a word processor and print it from there.


To copy information from a Help topic
 Using Help

To copy information from a Help topic

1	In a Help topic window, select the text to copy.

2	From the Edit menu, choose Copy.

If the window in which you are copying does not have an Edit menu, press Ctrl+C instead.

3	In the document where you want the information to appear, click the place where you want to put the information.

4	From the Edit menu, choose Paste.


To add a bookmark to a Help topic
 Using Help

To add a bookmark to a Help topic

1	In a Help topic window, choose Define from the Bookmark menu.

2	Specify a name for the bookmark.

3	To return to the bookmarked topic, choose the bookmark name you specified from the Bookmark menu.


To annotate a Help topic
 Using Help

To annotate a Help topic

1	In a Help topic window, choose Annotate from the Edit menu.

2	Type any comments or notes you want to add.

When you are finished, a paper-clip icon appears at the top of the topic.

3	To read or edit the comments, click the paper-clip icon.


Definition

The definition or list of options pops up, without changing to a different topic.


Procedure

The procedure displays next to its parent window. To go back to the screen you were just reading, click here:


More specific information
 Using Help

More specific information

The new topic will display more details about the area covered by the previous topic. To go back to the "parent" topic, click the [image] button in the title area of this topic.


To read the readme file
 Using Help

To read late-breaking news about View

Open the Autodesk View readme file in Notepad.

You can print the readme file using the Notepad Print command.


To find out version and copyright information
 Using Help

To find out version and copyright information

Choose About from the Help menu.

The application version number and copyright information are displayed.


To view or hide the tip of the day
 Using Help

To view or hide the tip of the day

Choose Tip of the Day from the Help menu.

To have a new tip display each time you start View, turn on Show Tips on Startup. To see another tip, click Next Tip. To close the Tip of the Day window, click Close.


Pan


Tool type list


Realtime Zoom


Zoom Rectangle


Default Double-Click Tool list


Default list for the tool type


Zoom in


Zoom out


Layers


Distance


Blocks


External References


Fit to window


Area


Model/Paper space


Open


Send to email


Send to folder


Previous view


Perimeter


Select


Line


Circle


Sketch


Rectangle


Callout


Text


Text Height


Add Note


Add Link


Print


Named Views


Help


Cloud