Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Autodesk Design Review 2012
After you create DWF files, whether with ePlot or PUBLISH, you or the recipient of your
DWF files can use Autodesk Design Review to view and print them. (Autodesk Design
Review 2012, the current release, is a free viewer from Autodesk.) If you send DWFs to
people without AutoCAD, they can download Design Review 2012 from Autodesk's Web
page,
www.autodesk.com
.
When you install AutoCAD 2012, the setup program, by default, installs Autodesk Design
Review 2012, as well. From your Windows desktop, choose Start⇒All Pro-
grams⇒Autodesk⇒Autodesk Design Review 2012 — or simply double-click a DWF file in
Windows Explorer to launch the viewer.
The Drawing Protection Racket
Whether you're sending DWG or DWF files, you may be concerned about their misuse
(that is, by the wrong people or for the wrong purposes); abuse (for example, modifica-
tion without your consent); or reuse (on other projects or by other people without due
compensation to you). AutoCAD has two features for securing your drawings when you
send them to others:
Password protection:
Enables you to lock a DWG or DWF file so that only those
who type the password that you've specified can open, insert, or xref it (AutoCAD
LT users can't apply a password, but they can open password-protected files. If
they know the password, of course!).
Add password protection to drawings only when you really need it:
• If you forget the password, you'll no longer be able to open the drawing.
Neither AutoCAD nor Autodesk has any magical way to extract the password
or unlock the drawing.
• After you password-protect a drawing, others can't insert the drawing as a
block or attach it as an xref.
