Since its launch, tens of thousands of you are already using the AutoCAD WS site (www.autocadws.com) to upload files and make them available via the web or your mobile device. In addition, many thousands more have already taken the opportunity to download and install the app for the iPhone and iPad directly from the iTunes store. The number of files that is being uploaded on a daily basis through the website has exceeded all our projections and we have been working round the clock to maintain our ability to meet this huge demand.
But there is one more way to upload your drawings and make them accessible from your iPhone or iPad that we have yet to explore fully and I want to tell you about it now. If you already have a copy of AutoCAD 2011 or AutoCAD LT 2011, you can download a free AutoCAD WS plugin that turns your existing software into a web-uploading monster! Simply navigate over to www.autocadws.com/downloads and select the plugin version you need to install it.
Once you have the plugin installed you will notice one major difference to the AutoCAD interface. Added to the existing tabs is a new Online tab which looks like this:
From here you can access everything you need to get all your files up on the net.
At the far left you have the Upload button. When you’re ready to make your work accessible on the web, just click upload. If you haven’t already created your AutoCAD WS account, this is the perfect time to do so. As you finish opening the account, your drawing will have finished uploading. Once you upload a file to the web it gets automatically updated with any changes you make to the original file on your computer. This Auto-Sync feature is triggered as soon as you upload a file, but it can be easily disabled by unclicking the Upload button whenever you have the drawing open.
Benefits:
- The Auto-sync function means you never have to worry about working on the most up-to-date version (and the Timeline feature means you can always revisit earlier iterations).
Manage Uploads will let you look at all the files you have uploaded and check their status, while Upload More Files is the simplest way to bulk upload the files you want to make available. There is no limit to the amount of files you can upload in this way and we guarantee that any files you upload will be accessible for free in perpetuity.
Benefits:
- One place to view the status of all your uploads
- Toggle the auto-upload of all your files from here
- Bulk upload multiple files
- In addition to DWG and DXF files, you can use AutoCAD to upload and store PDF files and any Microsoft Office files for download somewhere else.
Once your drawings have been uploaded, you can choose exactly with whom you want to share them. The Share Drawing button lets you identify friends and colleagues by their email address and give them the chance to collaborate with you on the same file. You can establish different permissions per user from read-only to download to full editing capability. Every time you are working on the file after that, you will be able to see clearly which of your collaborators is online and working on the same file.
Benefits:
- Don’t clog up your email sending and receiving files
- Easily manage Sharing permissions
Finally, the Get Link button gives you the ability to make any of your files available publicly . You can generate a link which can be published to sent to any number of recipients. Anyone clicking on the link will be able to interact with the file based on the permissions you selected. This is a perfect way to share your designs with the world and watch as they take on a life of their own in the hands of others.
Benefits:
- Instantly generate a link for use in a blog or distribution via social media
- Control permissions for anyone clicking on the link
18 Responses to Get Plugged In – The AutoCAD WS Plugin
Scott Trimborn October 12 2010
Is this available on Android phones or will it be in the near future?
Indra Patel October 12 2010
When I install the 32-Bit version of AutoCAD 2011 WS Plugin on a Win XP Service pack 3 operating system, I get an ’1606 Error’ pop-up window when I try and click on the AutoCAD 2011 icon?
Iris October 12 2010
Hi Indra,
Please send us your details to feedback@autocadws.com and we’ll try to help.
Trilln451 October 12 2010
We’ve been trying this out because my boss has an Ipad, but I am not running Acad 11, I have 2008. What does the plugin do for Acad11 beside creating a direct interface with the WS wbsite? I have simply uploaded files to the site with a browser (Firefox). He says he can see the files in 2D but not 3D and thinks it has to do with my not having the plugin.
Daniel October 12 2010
Hi there. Please tell your boss that it isn’t because you don’t have the plugin! We wanted to make sure we got everything right in 2D first but we’re listening to all feedback as we prepare the list of must-have features for future releases.
Edwin Prakoso October 14 2010
Will we be able to open online files directly with AutoCAD? The only way I see how to do it now is only by downloading it first.
And will we be able to use AutoCAD to collaborate with AutoCAD WS users?
That would be super cool!
Daniel October 14 2010
Hi Edwin, nice to hear from you.
At the moment you can only open the online files within the AutoCAD WS application either on a mobile device or in the desktop’s browser.
I agree with you that the collaboration you are proposing would be “super cool!” Thanks for the suggestion, this is exactly the kind of feedback we welcome.
Allen Spehr October 14 2010
I like what I have seen of your product however this is my first day using it. I tried bringing
in an adobe file which it seemed to do but it won’t open it. I asked our dpu guru to install
adobe flash just now but the file still wont open. We use adobe a lot along with esri and
autocad. I would like to share adobe files with our surveyor when he is in the field.
Please let me know why these files are still not opening.
Daniel October 14 2010
Hi Allen,
AutoCAD WS allows you to upload any file type and then to download it to another computer. For now, the only file types that you can open within AutoCAD WS are DWG and DXF.
These kinds of comments are very important to us and we will try to incorporate what we are hearing into the upcoming releases. Stay tuned for updates!
Tal October 14 2010
Hi Allen,
AutoCAD WS only support viewing, editing and collaboration on DWG or image files. Our core focus right now is on providing the best support for AutoCAD drawings, before we move on to additional formats.
Jim October 14 2010
The iPhone App don’t work. It shuts down right after a drawing is loaded, whether or not I am using WiFi, or 3G. I am using an iPhone 3GS. Is there anybody else having the same problems as me? Are there any fixes or ideas as to why this is happening?
admin October 14 2010
Hi Jim,
Please send us your details to feedback@autocadws.com and we’ll get you going. In the meantime, please see if you’re able to launch the app and sign-in using a different network. We won’t give up till you’re there
Josiah October 15 2010
I wondering is this plug-in available for AutoCAD for Mac?
Steve October 18 2010
When will the plugin for AutoCAD for Mac be available?
livelybrowsers October 20 2010
Thanks for good stuff
Bernardo October 25 2010
The app seems to work great on my iphone4. The AutoCAD plug seems indispensable. I have AutoCAD LT 2010. Is there a plug on the way for my version. Seems odd for this not to be available for the 2010 LT (it still is 2010 right?) Congrats on the great work.
Daniel October 26 2010
The Plugin for 2010 is on its way. Expect an announcement soon!
Nic November 4 2010
Is there any way to connect to the iPAD from a PC (Microsoft OS) and to tranfer the files directly to the iPAD? Due to security reasons it is against our policy to upload files to the Internet. Thanks.