For starters, I hope you are familiar with the world of DWF. If you're still publishing your AutoCAD drawing files to PDF you really need to take a look at the smarter, smaller and faster DWF filetype. You can create a DWF out of anything that runs on Windows (even from those "other" CAD systems). And DWF is vector-based (just like your CAD drawings) vs. PDF which is raster based. That means your files will be more accurate, faster (and so much smaller!) - for more info see on PDF vs. DWF see DWF vs PDF
Most Autodesk products have the ability to create DWF files built right into it, but if you'd like to create a DWF out of something that isn't Autodesk based - download the free writer at: Autodesk DWF Writer. And if someone sends you a DWF file and you want to view it, simply download the free viewer at: Autodesk DWF Viewer (free, free, free - we all love free!).
AutoCAD Hip Tip:
so...I'm often asked why we can't insert a DWF file into AutoCAD - and that's a very good question! While you can't insert a DWF and have AutoCAD recognize it as a DWF, you can definitely get the information into AutoCAD as an OLE object so all is not lost. I'm sure the Autodesk powers-that-be are working on the former but here's a fix for now:
While in the DWF viewer:
Right click on the DWF, and select Copy Drawing: You can also select this from the Edit pull-down menu. If you are selecting a 3D DWF you'll select Copy Image from the Edit pull-down menu.
Simply go into AutoCAD, Right Click and select Paste. That should do it! If you highlight it and check the Properties you'll see that it's an OLE object.
So give that Hip Tip a try!
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