A CAD viewer is a java-based infrastructure component that uses autodesk to open DWF format as its raw format. CAD stands for Computer-Aided Drafting. Other variations include the CAD/CAM which stands for Computer-Aided Drafting/Computer-Aided Manufacturing.
As software, CAD produces files in an immense variety of formats which are mostly complex and barely supported by other computer applications. CAD files contain design of objects whether real or virtual.
They are more than just shapes, like the ones seen on manual drafting of technical and engineering drawings. The output of CAD files present information such as the materials, processes, dimensions, and tolerances based on application-specific conventions.
The software is also used to design figures and curves in 2D space, curves, surfaces, and solids in 3D objects. It is widely used in many applications to produce computer animation for special effects in movies, advertising, and technical manuals.
In order for these files to be viewed, separate software is needed to allow you to view them as they are. Such software is designed as a file viewer which is installed in your computer.
A CAD viewer is tailored to be integrated in applications, or they can be used as a distributed viewer of CAD files and collaboration tool that installs on-the-fly on any web browser or platform.
There are software that read files from different computer operating systems-like Linux, Solaris, Mac, and Windows-and through various web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Netscape Navigator, and Internet Explorer.
Some of the file formats supported by CAD file viewers include AutoCAD DWG/DXF, Microstation DGN, Hewlett-Packard HP-GL/2 and Adobe PDF/Postscript/AI. The viewer can also read files with formats such as SVF, GIF, TIFF and JPEG.
You can even convert drawings into other formats in a few ways: open and convert relevant files by originating application, use a conversion utility, and use CADViewer Enterpriser Version.
The file viewer for CAD works by connecting to a particular web site that features those drawings. The browser opens a page containing the CADViewer applet code. Then the applet builds the CADViewer on the fly-in-the-browser window. The download starts and it displays the drawings on the viewer window.
As soon as the drawings are visible, you have the option to zoom in or out, pan around the drawing, or make additional marks or comments on the drawings that other users can review.
When you are finished, you simply open another page or quit the browser. At this time, the applet code is expunged and no residual files are left on the system. For you to use the file viewer designed for CAD files, your web browser must be java-enabled.
Some of the recent editions browsers include the java-capable such as the Netscape Navigator 3.x, Netscape Communicator 4.x and 6x, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x and 5.x.
For optimal results using the CAD viewer, the most recommended web browser is the Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x because it supports the latest Java and loads the pages quicker than the other competing web browsers.