Sharing file without other user modifying it?

[therock005]

Ok so basically i need from an associate of mine to share with me some drawings he has got.But since its work related material from specified projects,i guess he would matter upon the fact of me modifying them or releasing them,so he would be rather reluctant.

What would be the safest way to share a cad file without fear of other person modifying it or making publically available?

I only want these files in order to review them and inspect them for educational purposes,i dont want to edit them in any way.

Would making them dwf,be safe enough?

[rkmcswain]

A "dwf" is not really a "cad file".

You need to define the requirements better. Do you really need a CAD file? If so, then he has no choice but to send you a DWG file. www.cadlock.com offers tools to limit what the recipient can do with the DWG file.

If you only need a "picture" of the drawing file, then a PDF or DWF should work.

[Alan Cullen]

The way we do it, is not to include our standard drawing sheet. That way they can go for broke. muck with it, change it, do whatever. they can never pass it on as one of our drawings. Not that they ever would.

I think all the crap about drawing security has to come to an end about now.

Other consultants are not going to use your design, change it and pass it off as your design. Get real.

[ReMark]

A .dwf file could be created using the Publish command. The file could then be viewed or printed (but not altered) using the free AutoDesk Express Viewer program.

[ReMark]

Other consultants are not going to use your design, change it and pass it off as your design. Get real.

Perhaps not. But some clients might not think twice about doing it to save a few $$$.

[therock005]

The way we do it, is not to include our standard drawing sheet.

What do you mean by that?

Other consultants are not going to use your design, change it and pass it off as your design. Get real.

I'm not the one passing the drawings,the drawings are to be passed to me.

[rkmcswain]

A .dwf file could be created using the Publish command. The file could then be viewed or printed (but not altered) using the free AutoDesk Express Viewer program.

...it can also easily be converted back to a DWG file.

[ReMark]

Are there PDF to DWG file conversion programs?

[BigMikeLV]

Are there PDF to DWG file conversion programs?

That would be Raster to Vector conversion I believe... and its messy.

[rkmcswain]

Are there PDF to DWG file conversion programs?

We use PDFImport, here is a list of a few more.
http://rkmcswain.blogspot.com/2006/0...df-to-dwg.html