Frequently
Asked Questions
about CADViewer
We've anticipated the questions that would be asked by a majority
of CADViewer users, and have grouped them according to whether the
user is a Web publisher (who is making
drawings available) or an end user (who wants
to view those drawings.)
For CADViewer users
- How does the CADViewer work?
-
Any end-user who wants to view one or more large-format drawings,
connects to a particular Web site that features such drawings. After
the browser opens a page that contains the CADViewer applet code,
the applet then "builds" the CADViewer on the fly in the
browser window, then downloads and displays a drawing in the viewer
window.
-
Once the drawing is visible, the end user can zoom in or out, pan
around the drawing, then make additional marks or comments on the
drawing that others can review.
-
When the end user is finished, they simply open another page or quit
the browser, at which time the applet code is purged and no residual
files are left on their system.
-
Do all Web browsers work with the CADViewer applet?
-
The key to using the CADViewer is having a Java-enabled Web browser.
Most recent-edition browsers are Java-capable, including Netscape
Navigator 3.x, Netscape Communicator 4.x and 6.x, and Microsoft
Internet Explorer 4.x and 5.x.
-
Does CADViewer work better with certain browsers?
-
We recommend Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x as the best Web browser
for use with CADViewer as it supports the latest Java and loads
pages more quickly than competing browsers.
-
How to increase the memory in Java applets for loading large
drawings in CADViewer?
-
Use the instructions in this link:
http://www.cadviewer.com/documentation/How%20to%20Increase%20the%20Java%20Applet%20Memory%20Limit.pdf
-
What operating systems and platforms are supported?
-
You can take advantage of the CADViewer on any operating
system/platform on which a Java-enabled Web browser has been
installed. This includes all Windows 9x and NT operating systems,
all recent Mac OS versions, and several versions of UNIX and Linux.
-
Are there any Java-capable Web browsers that can be used in a
Windows 3.1 environment?
-
Internet Explorer 4.0 is the only Java-capable browser that runs on
Windows 3.1
-
Do I need to download and install the CADViewer?
-
No separate download or installation is needed if your computer is
connected to a Web server or another desktop computer with the
proper software installed. In other words, you can connect to a
neighbor's computer or to a remote Web server and if the proper
publishing preparations were completed, your Web browser will create
and use the CADViewer automatically.
-
What if I upgrade or change Web browsers?
-
This will not affect your ability to use the CADViewer and its
features. The next time you open a page or site that uses the
CADViewer, a fully operational CADViewer will be installed in your
browser, enabling you to view and annotate drawings.
-
Can I make use of the CADViewer on my own computer?
-
Yes, although you must consider whether or not you want to activate
the redlining features, which require a Perl script and Perl
compiler on your computer. For information on such an installation,
click LINK. To publish drawings that you can view, you must first
create an HTML file that includes the <applet> tag. You must
then link the applet to a drawing or a collection of drawings that
are stored locally -- by editing the applet parameters. You can then
open this HTML file in a browser, at which time the viewer will
start automatically and display the default drawing.
For CADViewer Web publishers
- How do I install the CADViewer
on my Web server?
-
The process involves the installation of Perl (if not already
present), and the copying of a key collection of resource files into
a CADViewer directory. You must then prepare a collection of
drawings in either .DWF or .SVF formats, then copy those files into
a linked directory on the Web server. After circulating or
publishing the main URL to your CADViewer directory, your system is
ready for use.
-
For more information, click the "Installing CADViewer"
link in the left-hand column.
-
How do I set up the CADViewer to display .DWF, .SVF, .GIF, .JPEG
drawings?
-
You simply add an <applet> tag and relevant parameters to an
HTML file, indicating the drawing name.
-
Do I need my own Web server in order to publish my drawings for
other CADViewer users?
-
Not at all. Your desktop computer can serve the CADViewer and
drawing files to other users. For more information, click the
"Installing CADViewer" link in the left-hand
column.
-
Onto what Web servers can I install the CADViewer?
-
The CADViewer files and resources will work on any Web
server—including a "local" Web sharing volume on
your own computer. Click "Installing CADViewer" for more
information.
-
Do I need to change mime-type settings on my server?
-
No. No change is needed to support DWF.
-
Do the DWF drawings need any modification?
-
No. No changes are neededÑprovided you do not compress the
files. The CADViewer cannot expand and then publish compressed
files.
-
Can the CADViewer run as a stand-alone application or do I always
need to use a Web server?
-
The CADViewer can run via a Web server over the internet or as a
stand-alone application. Users who share drawings through the file
system might simply copy the CADViewer to a shared directory.
-
Do
I need to install Perl on my Web server?
-
If you do not wish to save drawing or redline file to the server,
then you do not need to install Perl. Perl or other server side
software such as Servlet Container, PHP, is required, if you want to
permit users to save their redlines or drawing as separate files.
-
What drawing file formats does the CADViewer support?
-
The CADViewer currently opens files in two formats : .DWF (AutoCAD),
.SVF, .GIF, .TIFF, and .JPEG. You can convert drawings in other
formats in three ways:
-
Open and convert relevant files by means of the originating
application.
-
Use a conversion utility (such as Tailor Made Software Ltd. line of
conversion applications to open and convert files either one at a
time or in batches.)
-
Use CADViewer Enterprise Version
- For
more information on these options, go to the Tailor Made Software
Ltd. Web site and review the product information on the complete
line of Tailor Made Software Ltd image conversion software
applications.
-
How is the CADViewer different from "Whip!" ?
-
The differences are many and include the following:
-
CADViewer is a Java applet, and does not need any installation on
the client.
-
As a 3Mb file (3,000Kb), Whip! requires a separate download and
installation, and is not suitable for occasional use.
-
Whip! (produced by AutoDesk) does not provide redlining features.
-
Whip! will only run on Windows. As potential audiences use diverse
browsers and operating systems, this becomes an important point.
-
CADViewer adds only 85Kb to the memory requirements for Internet
Explorer and 100Kb for Netscape Navigator/Communicator.
-
Whip! "enables" only one client while the CADViewer
"enables" an entire Web site.
-
Whip! must be reinstalled on the user's computer every time a
browser is upgraded, or when the .DWF format changes. (By contrast,
only the CADViewer server software must be updated when this
occurs.)
-
To place DWF drawings on a web site using the Whip!, a mime type
must be set on the server, which may pose a serious obstacle for
some Web publishers.
- Can I remove unused buttons on
the tool bar menu?
-
Yes, you can remove any button on the tool bar as you wish.
Actually, you need to add buttons to the toolbar and only buttons
that you add will be on the toolbar. To add a button on the tool
bar, you need to add a line to the *.cfg file similar to the
following line:
-
toolbaricon=zoomwindow;zoomwindow.gif
- Can I change the icon images in
the toolbar?
-
Yes, you can change the icon images. As in the above example, if you
use your image myzoomwindowImage.gif then you only need to change as
follow:
-
toolbaricon=zoomwindow;myzoomwindowImage.gif
- How to increase the memory in
Java applets for loading large drawings in CADViewer?