Update on Painfully FED UP of technology, Or, How To View AutoCAD Files In A PDA

[Prevost]

After some searching and with help from Bruno Figueiredo, here are my findings on how to do it, and how much the cost would be...

Device / Software to Install / Total Price

Tungsten T3 / ZipCAD ($150)+File Converter ($50) = $600.00
Tungsten T2 / ZipCAD ($150)+File Converter ($50) = $500.00
Tungsten T3 / Acrobat Viewer (free)+ File Converter ($80) = $480.00
iPAQ 2215 / PocketCAD DWF Viewer ($30) = $410.00
Tungsten T2 / Acrobat Viewer (free)+ File Converter ($80) = $380.00
Tungsten E / ZipCAD ($150)+File Converter ($50) = $380.00
iPAQ 1935 / PocketCAD DWF Viewer ($30) = $280.00
Tungsten E / Acrobat Viewer (free)+ File Converter ($80) = $260.00
Dell X3 / PocketCAD DWF Viewer ($30) = ???

ZipCAD is a real CAD program for Palm OS, giving more funtions than those I'll need.

The file converters I took for comparison are standalone, needing no AutoCAD to run.

Also the trial of Acrobat Viewer for Palm left me with a so-so opinion. Following the screenshots, the version for PocketPC looks more user-friendly.

I am not considering memory cards (are not going to make difference between devices after all)

Will the Dell X3 beat all the prices??? I'm waiting Wednesday for the answer.

Any feedback on this?

Sorry for the absence of format...I don't know how to tab here :oops:

[Bruno Figueiredo]

Weren't those programs supposed to be free? The ones I told you about? Keep in mind that Acrobat Reader for PPC is a resource hog and painfully slow.

[townsendtribe]

Just as an FYI. Autodesk does make a viewer that works with AutoCAD drawings on the Pocket PC. It's called Onsite View. Here is the link:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=703598

Hope this helps.

[Prevost]

Weren't those programs supposed to be free? The ones I told you about? Keep in mind that Acrobat Reader for PPC is a resource hog and painfully slow.
Yes Bruno, but the converter from DWG to PDF works only over AutoCAD. I mean, it looks you need to have AutoCAD in order to use it. I own LT95 (from way another time), but it's no longer good for opening it nor the files architects are giving me.

In the end I think I'll go for PPC + DWF Viewer (PocketCAD) since it's the easiest setup and also fairly inexpensive.

Just as an FYI. Autodesk does make a viewer that works with AutoCAD drawings on the Pocket PC. It's called Onsite View. Here is the link:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=703598

Hope this helps.
Thanx townsend. Sadly, that program is way expensive.

[Bruno Figueiredo]

Why don't you use Volo View Express? With it you can view dwg and dwf documents. It's free:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=837403

Then you can convert those files to DXF to view them on the PocketPC with ProCAD.

[Prevost]

Bruno, actually I did download it and tried it, but, if you open a dwg file, you cannot save it in another format.

The only way is redmarking the drawing, but the program allows you to save in another format ONLY the redmarking (silly). Obviously that limited funcionality is to force someone to PURCHASE something more powerful.

Obrigado!

[Prevost]

Bruno, which device do you use to run PocketCAD? I need to make a decision.

[Bruno Figueiredo]

Do you mean ProCAD? On a Pocket PC...

Shame that stuff about Volo. But the architects give you DWG or DWF? I didn't cleared that... If its the first you can convert them to DXF to work with ProCAD with no hassle. The former is more difficult.

[Prevost]

Do you mean ProCAD? On a Pocket PC...

Shame that stuff about Volo. But the architects give you DWG or DWF? I didn't cleared that... If its the first you can convert them to DXF to work with ProCAD with no hassle. The former is more difficult.
No, I think you use PocketCAD. I'm asking which PPC do you use.

First I got dwg from them, but when I tried to open it with quickcad (autodesk darn product) since it's supposed to open dwg2000, it lost some info; and made no sense saving them in dxf as they would keep info lost. So I'm now waiting from them in dwf after convincing myself I should lean on PocketCAD DWF Viewer (cheap) and Express Viewer (autodesk free)

In this way, I could either use dwf files, or take dwg files and change them to dxf using one of the freeware you told me about.

Man, at this point I feel I can stand everything...I've been trying to sort this issue since May. Architects are working with less plan-developing architects than they need, so I've got to be very patient: they are so tight in time they obviously leave preparing me the files for last. They are just accustomed to supply blueprints, and having someone trying to put technology into good use is new for them.

[mberry]

Do you have Acrobat? If so there is a better option.

Purchase VoloView (not the free express viewer but the actual full version). This application uses the same print engine as full blown autocad (meaning it will allow you to plot DWG to scale, using color or layer dependant plot styles). What i have done is set up a Postscript printer in ACAD. Plot to an .eps file using that, then use distiller to create a PDF.

You could also use voloview to create a raster printer and print your acad figures directly into JPG or HTML format for viewing on your PPC.

The new express viewer from auotcad (which is free) does allow you to print to scale, but only to windows system printers and only from a DWF format. You could however use this to create a plot to JPG or PDF printer.

Hope that helps