Author Topic: DWF vs PDF.  (Read 4581 times)

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hudster

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DWF vs PDF.
« on: February 02, 2004, 11:10:44 AM »
I'm looking at changing the way my company issues electronic format drawings.

Switching from PDF format to DWF would save a whole lot of Space and time spent creating files.

Does anyone know of any other advantages/dis-advantages before I pitch this to my boss.

Cheers

Andy.
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pmvliet

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DWF vs PDF.
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2004, 11:22:41 AM »
How will it save time in creating files?
How are you creating your PDF's now?
I can understand the file size of PDF's does get pretty big.
just curious,

Pieter
I personally don't like dwf's and maybe it is my lack of experience with them, but plotting use to be a nightmare...i think it is fixed now.

hendie

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DWF vs PDF.
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2004, 11:29:44 AM »
I use DWF's all the time, been using them now for about 3 years plus ! never had any problems with them.

I've set up a custom button to plot my Dwf's so I don't need to worry 'bout changing print settings etc.

Martin-Y

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DWF vs PDF.
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2004, 11:34:22 AM »
I use both, depending on who I send the file too. The printing of dwf is far more predictable with the Autodesk Express Viewer ( I didn't like the old volo view express, bit like a box of chocolates you never new what you were going to get). Both take about the same time, I use pdf 995 when I send to CAD challenged clients.

Keith™

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DWF vs PDF.
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2004, 11:56:06 AM »
The only problems I see with PDF VS DWF are:

1. DWF Viewer "VoloView" is available from Autodesk, but it is a HUGE download, however DWFs are very small in size.
2. PDF Viewer "Adobe" is readily available, in fact MOST people probably have it installed already AND it is a much smaller download than VoloView, however PDFs are generally much larger than DWFs
3. People not familiar with VoloView may not readily know how to download VoloView, but most operating systems can effectively find and download Adobe.
4. In DWF vs PDF Resolution, DWF is the winner hands down.
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Mark

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DWF vs PDF.
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2004, 12:17:43 PM »
What about the Express Viewer from Adesk?
Quote

Estimated download time: 9 min. 15sec. @ 56K modem
Build Version: 4,0,0,160
Platform: Windows 98/ME/2000/NT/XP, Windows 2003 Server
Browser: Internet Explorer 5.01+
File size: 2.95MB <------ not bad
Language: English
Last Updated: October 24, 2003
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daron

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DWF vs PDF.
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2004, 12:28:16 PM »
Autodesk is stepping up the value of the dwf. You can now use hyperlinks and tabbed pages like pdf. Plus, you can put several drawings into one dwf now.  Dwf also gives you the ability to do markup and save the markup as dxf file that can be imported into the drawing and changed there. The people at autodesk seemed very excited about it and since it's their standard, they're going to build it up continuously. What was that resolution number the threw out. 3,000,000 dpi? I can't remember. Something like that. It was huge.

Martin-Y

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DWF vs PDF.
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2004, 12:34:19 PM »
Volo View was 17mb whereas Express Viewer is only 67000kb.

Keith™

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DWF vs PDF.
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2004, 12:41:50 PM »
Mark, I was speaking of VoloView, not the express viewer. You are correct though, the viewer is much smaller.
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hudster

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DWF vs PDF.
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2004, 04:09:38 AM »
I did a comparison for the file size.

a 150k drawing file converted to PDF was 138k, but the DWF was on 28k, vastly smaller and so easier to send via e-mail when it comes to issuing 100's of them.

Also the ability to turn off layers with the DWF is an advantage when it comes to complicated services drawings.

I plotted 100's of these to both PDF and DWF and the DWF output was done in about half the time so I prefer it.

I'm still planning to issue PDFs to our clients who use macs, poor souls.
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MGEE

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Voloview Express
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2004, 01:17:20 PM »
A couple of guy's at my office use Voloview Express. But they can't manipulate the printing. When you make a DWF does it come out as a plot that is set for say, 11x17 (print to fit)?
Thanks,
MGEE