Introduction

In Omegas 365 Document Management, CAD drawing files have been viewable, but only by first converting and uploading a PDF rendition of the drawing.  

We have now implemented a DWG-viewer, powered by ODA (Open Desgn Alliance). This enhancement will save time and reduce the extra steps previously required to preview technical drawings and designs, by having to upload a PDF rendition.

What's Changing

In the document details app where the preview of the document is shown, one will now use the DWG-viewer to view the DWG file. This means that even if you do not have a PDF rendition, you can still preview the document. Also even if you do have a PDF rentiion, it will still use the DWG-viewer to show the native file.

However, if the document is to be sent for review, a PDF rendition is required, as the markup tool still require PDFs.

Key Benefits

• Direct Access to DWG Files: No more rendering to PDFs – open your DWG files instantly within Omega 365.
• Streamlined Workflow: Less hassle, fewer steps, and no third-party tools needed for viewing CAD files.
• High-Quality Viewing Experience: With the integration of ODA’s advanced technology, you can expect clear, precise, and detailed previews of your DWG files.

Preview of a CAD drawing

Powered by ODA

We’ve chosen to integrate ODA’s (Open Design Alliance) technology into our system because of its robust capabilities and widespread support for CAD file formats. ODA ensures that the viewer delivers high performance and accuracy, which is critical for professionals working with complex technical drawings.

If you want to learn more about the capabilities of ODA, you may follow this link: https://www.opendesign.com/products/drawings

When will it be available

The feature is already deployed to our customers. To enable the new feature, there is a setting that needs to be turned on per instance. Note that there still may be issues related to this new developed feature.

Potential issues

The DWG format is a proprietary file format widely used to store two- and three-dimensional design data and metadata. While ODA libraries provide robust support for the DWG format, they may not fully replicate every feature found in AutoCAD, particularly for newer or proprietary features specific to certain DWG versions. Since DWG files can be created in various versions of AutoCAD, some inconsistencies or unexpected results may arise. Although we are testing the viewer with tens of thousands of drawings across different AutoCAD versions, unforeseen issues may still occur

What's Next

The plan is to explore XRef-features, viewing other CAD formats, and possiblities for more interaction, including review & markup of CAD-files.