AutoCAD on the Go with AutoCAD WS

Imagine how convenient it would be if everyone always had the insanely expensive software that you need to open whatever project it is that you’re working on. Obviously we know that isn’t the case. We know how difficult and frustrating it can be to have a file that a client needs to see that we’re unable to open because we don’t have the software around. AutoCAD, which runs $3995 for the cheapest option isn’t something most people will have on their computer. It’s a very industry based software. That’s why the news that AutoDesk came out with software called AutoCAD WS for the web and mobile devices that allows anyone to view .DWG files and even do some basic editing is fantastic!

Home Screen

You have sign up for an account to get started. Once you’re logged in, you’re taken to the “messages” section where you get a quick overview of recent documents. You also have access to your account on that screen, and that’s where you’re able to send and read messages.

If you’re a heavy user, you’ll undoubtedly have a huge collection of files uploaded for ease of use. If that’s the case, you’ll want to check out the “drawings” section. That’s where you can get yourself organized. You can delete and move files, as well as create folders where you can organize everything.

Editor – Home Toolbar

Once you get into the editor, that’s when you really start to see the functionality of the application. This is where you’re able to view and edit the AutoCAD files, at least to some extent. The home toolbar provides the most popular functions from all of the other toolbars –

• Open/Save/Share Files
• Drawing lines and basic shapes
• A few annotation types
• Measurements and colors
• Layer management

You can also click on the elements in the drawing for further functionality

Editor – Drawing, Annotation and Insert Toolbars

The drawing toolbar offers the most basic drawing and transformation tools. You can draw in shapes like lines, polygons, arches, rectangles, circles and clouds. These tools are all accessible by clicking on them, or from the command line.

The transformation section of the toolbar offers scaling, rotation, reflection and flipping tools, all fairly straightforward. Certain element selections will also enable tools such as extend, trim and chamfer. Again, while this is not all of the tools available in the desktop version, it’s certainly enough to get by and do some quick edits at a meeting.

If you need to make some additional annotations, whether it be corrections or for clarification for another team member, there are limited tools available for this as well. Dimensions and leader lines are generally the most helpful annotation tools available. If you need a more organic annotation, you can add a free-form line or cloud with text. Additionally, in the insert toolbar you have the option to insert shapes or attach images for additional clarification.

Editor – View, Share and Output Toolbars

The view toolbar provides the tools necessary to view the document in great detail, including a pan and zoom tool. This is also the toolbar where you can change the layout mode (eg plan mode to section mode). If you need to do any layer management, this is the location. View mode options are available here, including CAD mode, greyscale and plot modes. There are additional editing and viewing options available, as well.

A great benefit of the AutoCAD WS programs is the ability to share a document that is both viewable and editable by others who don’t have the full AutoCAD desktop software. In the share toolbar, you can share the drawing with any email address. They will be able to view and, if you choose to set the permissions, edit the drawing. If they do have a copy of AutoCAD on their own, they can download the file and open it on their computer to view and edit.

The output toolbar gives you the option to save and download the document. You can also print the document to a connected plotter, which is great if you’re not able to print the document yourself and need to travel to a large-format printer. Finally, you can share the document via a link which directs anyone with that allows them to view the document and also to edit it if the permissions are set to allow that.

Final Thoughts

This is a suite of web apps that are extremely helpful. Editing and viewing complex documents on the go is a great benefit to any designer, architect or anyone else using AutoCAD. The web version offers a functionality that is a very similar but limited version of the actual AutoDesk software available for purchase. The ability to pull up a .DWG file at any time, from any computer with an internet connection is a much needed and very welcome ability. Of course the program has a lot of limitations. There are tools missing and that can be extremely frustrating, but it does what it was made to do very well, and that is provide a space for very basic editing and viewing of AutoCAD specific documents.