DWG TrueConnect: Questions and Answers

If working directly with AutoCAD Drawing (.dwg) files in Autodesk Inventor sounds appealing, you will like the new DWG TrueConnect.

You can directly open AutoCAD Drawing (.dwg) files in Autodesk Inventor using the open command. Once opened you can view, manipulate layers, plot and measure the drawing file contents. The AutoCAD objects remain as AutoCAD objects in Autodesk Inventor, and display exactly as they do in AutoCAD. In addition, all of the AutoCAD data is selectable for windows copy/paste functions so you can open an AutoCAD DWG file in Autodesk Inventor, and then copy and paste the AutoCAD entities into any Autodesk Inventor sketch.

There have been a lot of questions about this new DWG TrueConnect. Here is a sample of some of the most frequently asked questions.

How does Inventor Handle Model Space and Paper Space Layouts?

Model space data displays exactly as it displays in AutoCAD. Model space is a read-only environment in Autodesk Inventor and is accessed in the browser. You can change the background color and perform all viewing functions, including rotate. You can select objects in model space for use with copy/paste functions and the measuring tools.

Paper space layouts are displayed as sheets in Autodesk Inventor. AutoCAD data can be viewed, plotted, and measured, and is selectable for delete and copy/paste. All Autodesk Inventor drawing commands are available in sheets/layouts. You can place views and create annotations on a layout created in AutoCAD and the Autodesk Inventor data will coexist with the AutoCAD data.

What about Shared Objects?

While Autodesk Inventor drawing data and AutoCAD data can coexist in the same file, some data is shared between both applications. Blocks, layers, and sheets/layouts are editable by both AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor. Dimension and text styles, while not equal, are synchronized such that supported changes made in one application are duplicated in the other application.

Why Open/Save DWG in Autodesk Inventor?

DWG interoperability is designed to be flexible and can be used in many different ways. The following are examples of a few workflows:

Copy AutoCAD data directly into an Autodesk Inventor sketch without opening AutoCAD.
View, plot, and measure AutoCAD data in Autodesk Inventor and Autodesk Inventor data in AutoCAD.
Add Autodesk Inventor drawing data to existing AutoCAD files or AutoCAD data to Inventor drawing files to make a single file containing assembly drawings, schematic diagrams, and details.
If you have customers using AutoCAD, supply AutoCAD customers with drawings containing Autodesk Inventor data containing the appropriate layers, blocks, titleblocks, and borders by creating a DWG template in Autodesk Inventor. (Note: Creating a DWG template in Autodesk Inventor streamlines the translation workflow.)
Reuse Autodesk Inventor data in AutoCAD:
- Create associative drawing views in architectural drawings for plant layouts, etc. Deliver views of finished 3d design created in Autodesk Inventor for reuse in architectural drawings (AutoCAD).

For example, place views of equipment designed in Autodesk Inventor into an architectural drawing for plant layouts.

Create associative drawing views of redesigned subassemblies and place them in large, legacy 2D assembly drawings.

For example, if you have legacy AutoCAD files that require updating with 3d models, you can open the file in Autodesk Inventor, create the 3d solid, and then create a drawing of the 3d model. Then you can open the file in AutoCAD, and create an instance of the block definition of the view. Your legacy drawing is updated with the new content.

What happens to my AutoCAD data in an Inventor Drawings (.dwg) file?

AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor create their own objects in the same .dwg file. For example, open an Autodesk Inventor Drawing (*.dwg) in AutoCAD and create some AutoCAD geometry (such as lines, arcs, and circles) on one of the sheets and save the file. Open the file with Autodesk Inventor and the geometry appears just as it did in AutoCAD.

Certain objects, including layers, blocks, styles, line types, sheet names and sheet sizes can be edited in both applications. For example, you can edit a layer and change the line type from an Autodesk Inventor line type to an AutoCAD line type. When reopened in Autodesk Inventor, the Autodesk Inventor layer will still use the AutoCAD line type.

AutoCAD blocks are the same in AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor. The blocks display in Autodesk Inventor exactly as they do in AutoCAD. You can place blocks in both AutoCAD and Inventor, but you cannot create or edit block definitions in Autodesk Inventor.

What happens to my Inventor data in AutoCAD?

When you create Autodesk Inventor data in a DWG file the data is saved as Autodesk Inventor data. The Autodesk Inventor data looks the same in AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor. Autodesk Inventor data supports view, plot, and measure and can be exploded or deleted in AutoCAD.

To support reusing Autodesk Inventor drawing data, Autodesk Inventor creates a block definition for each drawing view and sketch in the file. When drawing views and sketches change in Autodesk Inventor, these block definitions are updated. Place these blocks using standard AutoCAD tools like INSERT and DesignCenter. For example, you can copy these blocks into other drawings using AutoCAD DesignCenter or insert a block in model space so that it can be referenced (XREF) into another drawing.

What happens to my AutoCAD data in a DWG template for Autodesk Inventor?

When you create a new drawing from a DWG template, all graphical AutoCAD data is removed except for block instances. All block instances will remain on any sheet (excluding model space) in a template. This allows you to place AutoCAD title blocks or borders on a sheet and use them in Autodesk Inventor. If you want to place other AutoCAD data in a template, put the data in a block. All non-graphical AutoCAD data in a template, such as layers, dimension, and text styles, and block definitions, is left unchanged.

How do I get this DWG TrueConnect?

You don�t have to do anything. DWG TrueConnect is a technology that is included with the Autodesk products.

As you can see, there have been some dramatic changes in the handling of AutoCAD Drawings. Of course this means a new (.dwg) drawing format for the 2008 product line. These changes should be easily accepted when you consider the added benefits.

If you would like to see the rest of the changes for AutoCAD 2008 Hagerman & Company is offering special, one-day AutoCAD 2008 update classes in most of our local offices. For more information please contact your sales representative or local Hagerman & Company office.