2008 v2 Compatibility Issues

[To_Hell_With_Duct-Dawg]

Does anyone else have a problem with the elimination of any backward compatibility? We have to coordinate with AutoCAD versions as early as 2002. The new stuff is great to use but how about the real world out there? How can I design in 2008 and not be able to send the drawings to other contractors? The real world out there needs to be able to overlay and coordinate. Navis only shows problems when all 3D drawings are loaded together. Coordination among contractors does not yet work this way.

We need some method for backward compatibility. HELP!!!!

[OCD]

I just checked available DD3D Viewers off QP website and they only have AutoCAD 2007 & 2008 compatibility. I don't have the latest release installed yet, so not sure if they added something. Also, I haven't tried opening DD3D drawing on an Vanilla AutoCAD without DD3D viewer/program to see what it actually shows.

The only suggestion I have for you is:

1. Use DuctDesigner 3D-Utilities-Convert to Solids...which is just the explode command, so be careful not to select your blocks with attributes (burst doesn't work on DD3D entities). MAKE SURE YOU DON'T SAVE OVER YOUR MASTER FILE, since you will loose DD3D properties. Then down save in AutoCAD save menu to desired level.

2. Send drawing out as DWF, but I don't think DWF works on AutoCAD 2002.

[To_Hell_With_Duct-Dawg]

I agree that a dwf is a good alternative for later versions of AutoCAD (2007 and 2008) that can use them as an overlay like an xref. This still does not address the need to share actual dwg files with other contractors. Any ideas on this issue?

[To_Hell_With_Duct-Dawg]

I see what you mean about the save as solids command. It does not help the file size much but it will send drawings to back earlier versions of AutoCAD.

Thanks for the tip. I forgot this or never knew it.

[OCD]

Sure you already know...for file size, ZIP or Compress file. The other trade should just be Xref'ing your drawing into theirs, so they wouldn't need any Architectural, Structural, etc. Could ask and send the minimum.

However, sometimes, the Mechanical is responsible for Architectural and Structural backgrounds...the other trades have it to easy. If this is the case then send a CD, send multiple emails or see if their company or yours has a FTP site or Buzzsaw account (sometimes the General has these available).