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Block or XRef File Read/Write Protection

Printed From: CAD Forum
Category: EN
Forum Name: AutoCAD
Forum Description: Discussion about AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, viewers, DWG and DWF formats, Design Review, AutoCAD 360, add-ons
URL: https://www.cadforum.cz/forum_en/forum_posts.asp?TID=253
Printed Date: 22.Apr.2026 at 22:38


Topic: Block or XRef File Read/Write Protection
Posted By: PNAUGHTON
Subject: Block or XRef File Read/Write Protection
Date Posted: 13.Nov.2007 at 16:49
I am running AutoCAD 2007 and we need to share some files with a customer. The cusomter will insert our files into his own files as either a block or Xref file. I need to know if anyone knows if there is a way to write protect my files so the cusomter cannot modify them. Thanks


Replies:
Posted By: Vladimir Michl
Date Posted: 13.Nov.2007 at 19:19
Any DWG file to be Xrefed can be also opened as a main drawing.
 
You can either distribute a DWF file instead of DWG - DWF can be underlaid as an Xref, or you could use CADVault ( http://www.cadlock.com - www.cadlock.com ) to protect your data.


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Vladimir Michl (moderator)
ARKANCE - https://arkance.world" rel="nofollow - https://arkance.world - Autodesk Platinum Partner

Posted By: PNAUGHTON
Date Posted: 13.Nov.2007 at 19:24
Vladimir,
 
Thank you for the response. If I use a DWF as an XREF can I write-protect this such that my cusomter cannot alter the DWF or do I need to use the third part product you have mentioned? Thanks.

Posted By: Vladimir Michl
Date Posted: 13.Nov.2007 at 19:28
DWF is "write-protected" by definition - it is a publishing format. You don't need anything else. You can only underlay DWF files, you cannot not import them into AutoCAD.

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Vladimir Michl (moderator)
ARKANCE - https://arkance.world" rel="nofollow - https://arkance.world - Autodesk Platinum Partner

Posted By: PNAUGHTON
Date Posted: 13.Nov.2007 at 19:34
Vladimir,
 
I have never used DWF. If a customer of mine had a DWG file and XREF my DWF file he will not be able to write to the DWF file? What I have is a customer has designed a building and we are sending him some proprietary equipment files for him to "insert" into his DWG file. We do not want the cusomter to be able to modify our CAD file but he must be able to view our CAD file on his building CAD file. Thanks.

Posted By: Vladimir Michl
Date Posted: 13.Nov.2007 at 20:11
He will not be able to write to your DWF file. DWF files are perfect exactly for this type of jobs. Read more about DWF on http://www.autodesk.com/dwf - www.autodesk.com/dwf

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Vladimir Michl (moderator)
ARKANCE - https://arkance.world" rel="nofollow - https://arkance.world - Autodesk Platinum Partner


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