CAD blueprint file open /paste into office (Office XP)

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Is there an office program or plug in that will allow me to open a Cad architectural blue print file within office xp??
Jerome

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I think that Office does not come with the code needed to deal with such files. Maybe if you purchased Visio, that would supply the pieces you need?

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If the CAD application is available on the same PC, then you could insert the CAD file as an attachment (opens the file in the CAD program), or object (opens within the item), depending on the type of Office item.

Otherwise, if you you only want to view the file in Office, can the CAD application save, or export, the file to a common format like jpg? Depending on the CAD application, you may also find a utility to do the format conversion if you search on Google.

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No a architectural firm is sending me the file in cad format for my electronic storage
Supposed to be a cad 2000 or Cad 400 if that makes sense

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I think Dr. DWG View Pro 5.0 may be one application that can display CAD drawings within Office, and allows you to manipulate Auto CAD drawings within Word, Excel, FoxPro, Access. Axiom’s Microsoft Office Importer might. You can open CAD drawings in Visio 2002 and there are case studies of CAD applications in Visio on the Visio site–just search CAD. See also Visio and CAD Files: Text Problems When You Convert and Converting a CAD Floorplan into a Visio 2002 Space Diagram. and Chapter 7 in Visio Version 2002 Inside Out.
Spinfire Pro 5.0 may have useful features.

Unfortunately I don’t get to work with architectural drawings and CAD so I’m not sure if these will have all the functionality you need, but I think some might.

SMBP

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Most of the links you provided ONLY apply to “(.dwg and .dxf format)”.
“Dwg” is a AutoCad format, and the “dxf” is a CAD exchange type format developed by AutoCad. You will find that EACH supplyier has their own format, these guys are worst than the “word processor” types, and each real good programs cost a LOT’sd of .

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Dave–

Was hoping some of them would be free- and decent quality–sorry if they are not worth the time. But wouldn’t it possible to use Visio to open that CAD using Visio 2002 which has a 30 day trial download? Or would that not work or just not work well?

SMBP

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I work in a law office and we frequently get site plans in .dwg files. You can download a (free) program called Volo View Express that will allow you to view the files but I don’t think it will let you copy the file into a Word document. Go to usa.autodesk.com or do a google search.

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Remember that “CAD” is Computer Aided Design (Drawing in some cases), which is a generic term. Each supplier has their OWN format and is BIG business and very competitive. I have NOT seen any that was worth my time in using. The system that I like the best was bought out and destroyed by it competition. Of the current ones that I know of that I like the best, is Solid Edge, at http://www.solid-edge.com[/url%5D, which is lots of big bucks. Even if you go the AutoCad line, to get the FULL package you are talking about $2,000 per seat.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Thanks for the perspective–no idea they were so pricey. So does this mean that if you were not an architectural firm or say doing commercial real estate law or some job that had to examine these drawings on a regular basis but a law office that had to ocassionally look at blue prints you could not get the job done in Visio?

SMBP

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“some job that had to examine these drawings on a regular basis ” not only that, each brand in most cases can NOT read another with out going through a translator, which gets you right to the first question..

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Dave–

Perspective much appreciated. Will give me springboard to read and talk to people who use the software–at least context it some.

Thanks,

SMBP

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The previous post mentioned Volo View. This is FREE and Perfect will read the files beautifully and you can use print screen and past it into microsoft photo editor and crop.
Just like an acrobat reader.
Perfect solutions
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index…&id=2121332
Thanks to all
Jerom

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But, beware that Volo is limited to a VERY few CAD types of files, the following was cut and pasted from link in above reply. Also note, that the files listed are products of AutoCad or a product that can export to these AutoCad type files.

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Volo View Express views DWG, DXF

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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I guess that reinforces the notion that AutoCad acts as the de facto standard. Most of the serious CAD contenders recognise this and support import/export for AutoCad files. And most of the lesser lights at least import AutoCad. But, even this import/export leaves something to be desired. A few iterations results in the CAD equivalent of repeatedly translating a non-trivial sentence on Babel Fish.

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Having retired from this type of work, every time some one got a thorn about a in use program and felt that another was better, we would go through the “translation” routine and lose up to half of the data. I started out as a “Drafter” in the 60’s, and by retirement a “Tech designer” on Jan 1, 2000. Started using a computer in April of 1978, since that time I have used at least 20 different programs from all over the world. As I said earlier, the best were bought out and put out to dry up and disappear.

I tried to use several versions of AutoCad and never liked any of them. The programs at that time, that I was using, could walk circles around Autocad and still do. The one’s I ended up using were (are) real time 3D modeling, which have some real use, where MOST programs will not allow one to merge the different 3D models of parts into real 3D assemblies. By the way, I do have some older versions of a couple of the programs that used at work, that are running on my Windows 98, 2K and XP partitions.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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My direct experience with these apps is more limited and dated, but I concur and sympathise with your sentiments about quality and capabilities. As a de facto standard Autocad reminds me of Big Blue and MS. That is, while the product may be questionable, the marketing is near faultless.

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There is another program that no one mentioned that might be of interest to you. The program is called AutoVue and it not only handles AutoCAD files, but it also handles over a hundred other file types, from raster image files, including PDF, 2D CAD, 3D CAD, MSOffice documents, archive files, fax images, etc. etc. Check out their website at:

http://www.cimmetry.com/cimweb.nsf

Not sure what the cost is, but I think there may even be different packages. Just thought it might be of value to you.

Drew

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For a complete list of what files that AutoView can read got to http://www.cimmetry.com/cimweb.nsf%5B/url%5D.

You will also find that there is NOT any file type of “cad” or “2d cad” or “3d cad” listed. “CAD” is short for “Computer Aided Design” or “Computer Aided Drawing”

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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