Hi everyone, Derek Wielkopolski here. As the Support Manager and AutoCAD Application Specialist for Ideate, Inc. I see many of our customers in the AEC industry looking to utilize technology even more to further collaborate and stream line workflows. Mobile devices and web applications are key areas that have progressed rapidly in the last couple of years. Autodesk acknowledged this computing shift and as a result answered with AutoCAD WS for AutoCAD 2012. AutoCAD WS was first introduced with the release of AutoCAD for Mac 2011. Now it’s also included with AutoCAD 2012 and all AutoCAD based products, such as AutoCAD Architecture 2012 and AutoCAD MEP 2012.
AutoCAD WS is an online service that allows you to share and upload drawings online to other users without having to transfer or access the physical file. Once the file has been uploaded users can use the WS online application to view, modify the drawing, and download it. But WS doesn’t stop there. Autodesk also developed the AutoCAD WS iPhone and iPad apps so now your .dwg files are truly mobile and can go where you go. Both apps give you full editing and viewing capabilities through each device’s unique iOS multi touch environment.
Once a drawing is opened in AutoCAD 2012 it can be shared with other users by uploading it online by clicking on the Upload button on the new Online tab in the ribbon. Once the drawing has been uploaded it can be shared with other users. The invited users can then open the drawing in any web browser such as Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari; even if they don’t own a copy of AutoCAD.
The web application is amazingly fast and responsive. Zooming and panning feel as if you were actually working in AutoCAD. The tools are fully functional and included and in a similar ribbon like environment; keyboard shortcuts are even the same! Users are able to draw lines, arcs, copy mirror, dimension, add text, even modify layer settings and xrefs. Throughout the work session all users have the ability to save the drawing as a .dwg, .dxf, even as a .jpg or .png. And because WS is a web application all users working in the drawing see others’ edits and changes as they happen in real time. It even includes a communication tool for chatting taking collaboration even farther.
Drawings aren’t just accessed through the AutoCAD WS web application, but can also be opened using the AutoCAD WS iPhone and iPad apps. Now you can take your drawings virtually anywhere and use the same viewing and editing capabilities of the online service but in the unique and the easy to use iOS environment.
AutoCAD WS for AutoCAD 2012 brings project members even closer with its powerful collaboration abilities. Using the WS iPhone or iPad app unlocks your AutoCAD drawings from your computers and puts those files in the palm of your hand.
Try it out today. autocadws.com
You’ll be amazed at what it can do!
Don’t forget to look through other great features our Ideate Technical Team has found in the new 2012 releases for Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, Civil 3D, Navisworks and more: ideateinc.com/2012
Derek WielkopolskiTechnical Support Manager/Application Specialist
Derek holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Roger Williams University, Rhode Island. He is experienced working within the AEC industry from concept design through construction administration for both small and large scale projects. As Ideate’s Support Manager he ensures a timely and quality response to support requests and questions. Follow Derek on Twitter: @dwielk
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