autocad lt on the internet

Chapter 26

AutoCAD LT on the Internet

After completing this chapter, you will be able to:• Launch a Web browser from AutoCAD LT.• Understand the importance of the uniform resource locator (URL).• Open and save drawings to and from the Internet.• Place hyperlinks in a drawing.• Learn about the Autodesk Express Viewer plug-in and the DWF file format.• View DWF files with a Web browser.• Convert drawings to a DWF file format.

Learning Objectives

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26-2 AutoCAD LT 2004: A Problem Solving Approach

INTRODUCTIONThe Internet has become the most important and the fastest way to exchange information inthe world. AutoCAD LT allows you to interact with the Internet in several ways. It can openand save files that are located on the Internet; it can launch a Web browser (AutoCAD LT2004 includes a simple Web browser); and it can create Drawing Web Format (DWF) filesfor viewing as drawings on Web pages. Before you can use the Internet features in AutoCAD LT2004, some components of Microsoft Internet Explorer must be present in your computer. IfInternet Explorer version 5.01 (or later) or Netscape Navigator 4.7 (or later) is already installedon your computer, then you have these required components. If not, then the componentsare installed automatically during AutoCAD LT 2004’s setup when you select: (1) the FullInstall; or (2) the Internet Tools option during the Custom installation.

This chapter introduces the following Web-related commands.

BrowserLaunches a Web browser from within AutoCAD LT.

HyperlinkAttaches and removes a uniform resource locator (URL) to an object or an area in the drawing.

HyperlinkfwdMove to the next hyperlink (an undocumented command).

HyperlinkbackMoves back to the previous hyperlink (an undocumented command).

HyperlinkstopStops the hyperlink access action (an undocumented command).

PasteashyperlinkAttaches a URL to an object in the drawing from text stored in the Windows Clipboard (anundocumented command).

HyperlinkbaseA system variable for setting the path used for relative hyperlinks in the drawing.

In addition, all of AutoCAD LT 2004’s file-related dialog boxes are “Web enabled.”

CHANGES FROM AutoCAD LT RELEASE 97The changes in Internet features of AutoCAD LT 2004 as compared to AutoCAD LT 97 arediscussed next.

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AutoCAD LT on the Internet 26-3

Attached URLs from LT 97In AutoCAD LT 97, attached URLs were not active until the drawing was converted to a DWFfile; in AutoCAD LT 2004, URLs are active in the drawing.

If you attached URLs to drawings in LT 97 and LT 98, they are converted to AutoCAD LT2004-style hyperlinks the first time you save the drawings in the AutoCAD LT 2004 DWGformat.

CHANGED INTERNET COMMANDSMany of AutoCAD LT’s previous release Internet-related commands have been discontinuedand replaced. The following summary describes the status of Internet commands that areused in the current release and the previous releases of AutoCAD LT.

BROWSER (launches a Web browser from within AutoCAD LT): continues to work inAutoCAD LT 2004; the default URL is now http://www.autodesk.com/acltuser.

ATTACHURL (attaches a URL to an object or an area in the drawing): continues to work inAutoCAD LT 2004, but has been superceded by the -HYPERLINK command’s Insert option.

SELECTURL (selects all objects with attached URLs): continues to work in AutoCAD LT2004, but has been superceded by the Quick Select dialog box’s Hyperlink option.

LISTURL (lists URLs embedded in the drawing): was removed from AutoCAD LT 2002 andhence is also not available in AutoCAD LT 2004. As a replacement, use the PROPERTIESpalette’s Hyperlink option.

DETACHURL (removes the URL from an object): continues to work in AutoCAD LT 2004,but has been superceded by the -HYPERLINK command’s Remove option.

DWFOUT (exports the drawing and embedded URLs as a DWF file): continues to work inAutoCAD LT 2004, but has been superceded by the Plot dialog box’s ePlot option.

INETCFG (configures AutoCAD LT for Internet access): was removed from AutoCAD LT2002 and hence is also not available in AutoCAD LT 2004. It has been replaced by the Internetapplet of the Windows Control Panel (choose the Connection tab).

INSERTURL (inserts a block from the Internet into the drawing): automatically executes theINSERT command and displays the Insert dialog box. You may type a URL for the blockname.

OPENURL (opens a drawing from the Internet): automatically executes the OPEN commandand displays the Select File dialog box. You may type a URL for the file name.

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SAVEURL (saves the drawing to the Internet): automatically executes the SAVE commandand displays the Save Drawing As dialog box. You may type a URL for the file name.

You are probably already familiar with the best-known uses of the Internet: e-mail (electronicmail) and the www (short for “World Wide Web”). E-mail allows the user to quickly exchangemessages and data at very low cost. The Web brings together text, graphics, audio, and moviesin an easy-to-use format. Other uses of the Internet include file transfer protocol (FTP) foreffortless binary file transfer, Gopher (presents data in a structured, subdirectory-like format),and USENET, a collection of more than 10,000 news groups.

AutoCAD LT allows you to interact with the Internet in several ways. AutoCAD LT is able tolaunch a Web browser from within AutoCAD LT with the BROWSER command. Hyperlinkscan be inserted in drawings with the HYPERLINK command, which lets you link the drawingwith other documents on your computer and the Internet. With the PLOT command’sePlot option (short for “electronic plot), AutoCAD LT creates DWF files for viewing drawingsin two-dimensional (2D) format on Web pages. AutoCAD LT can open, insert, and savedrawings to and from the Internet through the OPEN, INSERT, and SAVEAS commands.

UNDERSTANDING URLSThe Uniform Resource Locator, known as the URL, is the file naming system of the Internet.The URL system allows you to find any resource (a file) on the Internet. Example resourcesinclude a text file, a Web page, a program file, an audio or movie clip—in short, anything youmight also find on your own computer. The primary difference is that these resources arelocated on somebody else’s computer. A typical URL looks like the following examples.

ExampleURL Meaninghttp://www.autodesk.com Autodesk Primary Web sitenews://adesknews.autodesk.com Autodesk News Serverftp://ftp.autodesk.com Autodesk FTP Serverhttp://www.autodeskpress.com Autodesk Press Web Site

Note that the http:// prefix is not required. Most of today’s Web browsers automatically addin the routing prefix, which saves you a few keystrokes.

URLs can access several different kinds of resources such as Web sites, e-mail, and newsgroups, but they always take on the same general format as follows.

scheme://netloc

The scheme accesses the specific resource on the Internet including these.

Scheme Meaningfile:// File is located on your computer’s hard drive or local networkftp:// File Transfer Protocol (used for downloading files)

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http:// Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (the basis of Web sites)mailto:// Electronic mail (e-mail)news:// Usenet news (news groups)telnet:// Telnet protocolgopher:// Gopher protocol

The :// characters indicate a network address. Autodesk recommends the following formatfor specifying URL-style file names with AutoCAD LT.

Resource URL FormatWeb Site http://servername/pathname/filenameFTP Site ftp://servername/pathname/filenameLocal File file:///drive:/pathname/filename

or drive:\pathname\filenameor file:///drive|/pathname/filenameor file://\\localPC\pathname\filenameor file:////localPC/pathname/filename

Network File file://localhost/drive:/pathname/filenameor \\localhost\drive:\pathname\filenameor file://localhost/drive|/pathname/filename

The terminology can be confusing. The following definitions will help to clarify these terms.

Term Meaningservername The name or location of a computer on the Internet, for example:

www.autodesk.compathname The same as a subdirectory or folder namedrive The driver letter, such as C: or D:localpc A file located on your computerlocalhost The name of the network host computer

If you are not sure of the name of the network host computer, use Windows Explorer to checkthe Network Neighborhood for the network names of computers.

Launching a Web BrowserThe BROWSER command lets you start a Web browser from within AutoCAD LT. Commonlyused Web browsers include Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Operasoft’sOpera.

By default, the BROWSER command uses whatever brand of Web browser program isregistered in your computer’s Windows operating system. AutoCAD LT prompts you for theURL, such as http://www.autodeskpress.com. The BROWSER command can be used in scripts,toolbars or menu macros, and AutoLISP routines to automatically access the Internet.

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Command: BROWSEREnter Web location (URL) <http://www.autodesk.com>: Enter a URL.

The default URL is an HTML file added to your computer during AutoCAD LT’s installation.After you type the URL and press ENTER, AutoCAD LT launches the Web browser andcontacts the Web site. Figure 26-1 shows the popular Internet Explorer with the AutodeskWeb site.

Changing the Default Web SiteTo change the default Web page that your browser starts with from within AutoCAD LT,change the setting in the INETLOCATION system variable. The variable stores the URLused by the last executed BROWSER command and the Browse the Web dialog box. Makethe change as follows.

Command: INETLOCATIONEnter new value for INETLOCATION <"http://www.autodesk.com/acltuser">: Type URL.

DRAWINGS ON THE INTERNETWhen a drawing is stored on the Internet, you access it from within AutoCAD LT 2004 using

Figure 26-1 Internet Explorer displaying the Autodesk Web site

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the standard OPEN, INSERT, and SAVE commands. (In Release 14, these commands wereknown as OPENURL, INSERTURL, and SAVEURL.) Instead of specifying the file’s locationwith the usual drive-subdirectory-file name format such as C:\AutoCAD LT 2004\filename.dwg,use the URL format. (Recall that the URL is the universal file-naming system used by theInternet to access any file located on any computer hooked up to the Internet.)

Opening Drawings from the InternetThe drawings from the Internet can be easily opened using the usual Select File dialog box.This dialog box can be displayed by invoking the OPEN command. Since the file is on theWeb. Therefore, choose the Search the Web (Alt+3) button from the Select File dialog box,see Figure 26-2.

When you choose the Search the Web (Alt+3) button, AutoCAD LT opens the Browse theWeb dialog box. This dialog box is a simplified version of the Microsoft brand of Web browser.The purpose of this dialog box is to allow you to browse files at a Web site.

By default, the Browse the Web dialog box displays the contents of the URL stored in theINETLOCATION system variable, see Figure 26-3. You can easily change this to anotherfolder or Web site, by entering the required URL in the Look in edit box.

Along the top, the dialog box has six buttons. They are discussed next.

Figure 26-2 Choosing the Search the Web (Alt+3) button from the Select File dialog box

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Back. Go back to the previous URL.

Forward. Go forward to the next URL.

Stop. Halt displaying the Web page (useful if the connection is slow or the page is very large).

Refresh. Redisplay the current Web page.

Home. Return to the location specified by the INETLOCATION system variable.

Favorites. List stored URLs (hyperlinks) or bookmarks. If you have previously used InternetExplorer, you will find all your favorites listed here. Favorites are stored in the \Windows\Favoritesfolder on your computer.

The Look in edit box allows you to type the URL. Alternatively, choose the down arrow toselect a previous destination. If you have stored Web site addresses in the Favorites folder,then select a URL from that list.

Figure 26-3 Browse the Web dialog box

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You can double-click a file name in the window, or type a URL in the Name or URL edit box.The following table gives templates for typing the URL to open a drawing file:

Drawing Location Template URLWeb or HTTP Site http://servername/pathname/filename.dwg

http://practicewrench.autodeskpress.com/wrench.dwgFTP Site ftp://servername/pathname/filename.dwg

ftp://ftp.autodesk.comLocal File drive:\pathname\filename.dwg

c:\acad 2004\sample\tablet2004.dwgNetwork File \\localhost\drive:\pathname\filename.dwg

\\upstairs\d:\install\sample.dwg

When you open a drawing over the Internet, it will probably take much longer than openinga file found on your computer. During the file transfer, AutoCAD LT displays a dialog box toreport the progress, see Figure 26-4. If your computer uses a 28.8 Kbps modem, you shouldallow about 5 to 10 min/MB of drawing file size. If your computer has access to a faster T1connection to the Internet, you should expect a transfer speed of about 1 min/MB.

It may be helpful to understand that the OPEN command does not copy the file from theInternet location directly into AutoCAD LT. Instead, it copies the file from the Internet toyour computer’s designated Temporary subdirectory such as C:\Windows\Temp (and then loadsthe drawing from the hard drive into AutoCAD LT). This is known as caching. It helps tospeed up the processing of the drawing, since the drawing file is now located on yourcomputer’s fast hard drive, instead of the relatively slow Internet.

Note that the Locate and Find options in the Tools cascading menu (in the Select File dialogbox) do not work for locating files on the Internet.

Figure 26-4 File Download dialog box

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The author of this website has an area that allows you to practice using the Internet withAutoCAD LT. In this example, you will open a drawing file located at the author’s Web site.

1. Start a new AutoCAD LT 2004 session.

2. Ensure that you have a live connection to the Internet. If you normally access the Internetvia a telephone (modem) connection, dial your Internet service provider now.

3. Choose the Open button from the Standard toolbar. The Select File dialog box will bedisplayed.

4. Choose the Search the Web (Alt+3) button to display the Browse the Web dialog box.

5. In the Look in edit box, enter the following address.

http://technology.calumet.purdue.edu/met/tickoo/students/acad-2000-usa/AutoCAD-Prob.htm

Press ENTER. After a few seconds, the Browse the Web dialog box displays the Webpage, see Figure 26-5.

Example 1 General

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Figure 26-5 Student’s Web page of the author’s Web site

6. In the Name or URL edit box, enter the following address.

http://www.calumet.purdue.edu/public/mets/tickoo/4-60.dwg

Press ENTER. AutoCAD LT begins transferring the file. Depending on the speed of yourInternet connection, this will take between a couple of seconds and half a minute. Oncethe file downloading is complete, the selected drawing will be displayed in AutoCAD LTmain window, see Figure 26-6.

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INSERTING A BLOCK FROM THE INTERNETWhen a block (symbol) is stored on the Internet, you can access it from within AutoCAD LTusing the INSERT command. When the Insert dialog box appears, choose the Browse buttonto display the Select Drawing File dialog box. This is identical to the dialog box discussedearlier.

After you select the file, AutoCAD LT downloads the file and continues with the promptsequence of the INSERT command.

The process is identical for accessing external reference (xref) and raster image files. Otherfiles that AutoCAD LT can access over the Internet include 3D Studio, SAT (ACIS solidmodeling), DXB (drawing exchange binary), WMF (Windows metafile), and EPS (encapsulatedPostScript). All of these options are found in the Insert menu on the menu bar.

ACCESSING OTHER FILES ON THE INTERNETMost of the other file-related dialog boxes allow you to access files from the Internet orIntranet. This allows your firm or agency to have a central location that stores drawingstandards. When you need to use a linetype or hatch pattern, for example, you access the

Figure 26-6 Drawing in AutoCAD LT

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LIN or PAT file over the Internet. More than likely, you will have the location of these filesstored in the Favorites list. Some examples include the following.

Linetypes. Choose Linetype from the Format menu. In the Linetype Manager dialog box,choose the Load, File, and Search the Web (Alt+3) buttons.

Hatch Patterns. Use the Web browser to copy .pat files from a remote location to your computer.

Layer Name. Choose the Layer Properties Manager button in the Layers toolbar to displaythe Layer Properties Manager dialog box. In this dialog box, choose the State Managerbutton to display the Layer States Manager dialog box. In the Layer States Manager dialogbox, choose the Import and Search the Web (Alt+3) buttons.

Scripts. Choose Run Script from the Tools menu.

Menus. Choose Customize > Menus from the Tools menu. In the Menu Customizationdialog box, choose the Browse and Search the Web (Alt+3) buttons.

Images. Choose Display Image > View from the Tools menu.

You cannot access text files, text fonts (SHX and TTF), color settings, lineweights, dimensionstyles, plot styles, OLE objects, or named UCSs over the Internet.

i-DROPThe i-drop plugin is installed on your system when you are installing AutoCAD LT 2004. Ifyour system has i-drop installed, you can drag a drawing from a Web site and drop it in theAutoCAD LT main window. The drawing is displayed in AutoCAD LT. Using i-drop, you caninsert blocks, symbols, and so on in your open drawing.

The i-drop can be used with earlier releases of AutoCAD LT and it can be downloaded forfree from www.autodesk.com/idrop. A sample drawing of a chair is provided on this Web site,which you can drag and drop in the AutoCAD LT window.

NoteThe drawings that are inserted using i-drop are inserted as a block and the INSERT commandis executed automatically when you drop the drawing in the main window of AutoCAD LT.

SAVING THE DRAWING TO THE INTERNETWhen you are finished with editing a drawing in AutoCAD LT, you can save it to a file serveron the Internet with the SAVE command. If you inserted the drawing from the Internet(using INSERT) into the default Drawing.dwg drawing, AutoCAD LT insists you first save thedrawing to your computer’s hard drive.

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When a drawing of the same name already exists at that URL, AutoCAD LT warns you, just asit does when you use the SAVEAS command. Recall from the OPEN command thatAutoCAD LT uses your computer system’s Temp subdirectory, therefore the reference to it inthe dialog box.

ONLINE RESOURCESTo access the online resources, choose Help > Online Resources from the menu bar. Thecascaded menu is displayed. The options that are available in the cascaded menu areProduct Support, Training, and Autodesk User Group International. The functions of theseoptions are discussed next.

Product SupportYou can access this option only when you are connected to the Internet. When you choosethis option, the Web page of the product support is displayed in the Web browser that isinstalled on your system. The information on the following can be obtained by selecting thisoption.

• Frequently asked questions.• Product updates.• Join discussion groups.• Access available programs.

NoteTo get more information on the related topics in Product Support and the other OnlineResources option, it is recommended to connect to the Internet and then choose the OnlineResources option.

TrainingYou can access this option only when you are connected to the Internet. When you choosethis option, the Web page of training is displayed in the Web browser. The information on thefollowing can be obtained by selecting this option.

• Information on Autodesk authorized training centers.• General training centers.• Autodesk Certification.• Discussion groups.• Learning tools.

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Menu: Insert > HyperlinkCommand: HYPERLINK

NoteWhen you choose any one of the Online Resources options, the Live Update Status Webbrowser window is displayed.

Autodesk User Group InternationalWhen you choose this window, Autodesk User Group International Web browser window isdisplayed. This Web browser gives information about the AutoCAD LT user groups. Thereare some links in the Web page that can only be accessed when your system is connected tothe Internet.

USING HYPERLINKS WITH AutoCAD LTAutoCAD LT 2004 allows you to employ URLs in two ways:

1. Directly within an AutoCAD LT drawing.2. Indirectly in DWF files displayed by a Web browser.

URLs are also known as hyperlinks, the term that is used throughout this book. Hyperlinksare created, edited, and removed with the HYPERLINK command. You can also use thecommand line with the help of the -HYPERLINK command.

HYPERLINK Command

When you invoke this command, you will be prompted to select the objects. Once the objectsare selected, the Insert Hyperlink dialog box is displayed, see Figure 26-7.

If you select an object that has a hyperlink already attached to it, the Edit Hyperlink dialogbox is displayed as shown in Figure 26-8. The Remove Link button is also available in thedialog box. This button allows you to remove the hyperlink from the object.

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Figure 26-7 Insert Hyperlink dialog box

Figure 26-8 Edit Hyperlink dialog box

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Figure 26-9 A rectangular hyperlink area

If you use the Command line for inserting the hyperlinks (-HYPERLINK command), youare also allowed to create hyperlink areas. The hyperlink area is a rectangular area that canbe thought of as a 2D hyperlink (the dialog box-based HYPERLINK command does notcreate hyperlink areas). When you select the Area option, the rectangle is placed automaticallyon layer URLLAYER and colored red, see Figure 26-9.

In the following sections, you learn how to apply and use hyperlinks in an AutoCAD LTdrawing and in a Web browser through the dialog box-based HYPERLINK command.

Hyperlinks Inside AutoCAD LTAs mentioned earlier, AutoCAD LT allows you to add a hyperlink to any object in the drawing.An object is permitted just a single hyperlink. On the other hand, a single hyperlink may beapplied to a selection set of objects.

You can determine whether or not an object has a hyperlink by passing the cursor over it.The cursor displays the “linked Earth” icon, as well as a tooltip describing the link, seeFigure 26-10.

If, for some reason, you do not want to see the hyperlink cursor, you can turn it off. From theTools menu, choose Options, and then choose the User Preferences tab. The Displayhyperlink cursor and shortcut menu check box under the Hyperlink area toggles the display

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of the hyperlink cursor and shortcut menu. The Display hyperlink tooltip check box togglesthe display of the hyperlink tooltip.

Attaching HyperlinksThe following example explains attaching the hyperlinks.

In this example, you are given the drawing of a floorplan. To this drawing, you will addhyperlinks. These hyperlinks are another AutoCAD LT drawing. Hyperlinks must be attachedto objects. For this reason, place some text in the drawing, and then attach the hyperlinks tothe text.

1. Start the AutoCAD LT 2004 session.

2. Open the Traffic Signal Design.dwg file found in the AutoCAD LT 2004 \Sample folder.Choose the Model tab to display the drawing in model space.

3. Save this file with the name Example2.dwg.

4. Using the TEXT command, write the text as shown in Figure 26-11.

Figure 26-10 The cursor reveals ahyperlink

Example 2 General

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5. Choose Insert > Hyperlink from the menu bar. You will be prompted to select objects.Select the text Foundation Plan to display the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

6. Choose the File button to display the Browse the Web – Select Hyperlink dialog box.

7. Browse to AutoCAD LT 2004’s Sample folder and select the Foundation Plan.dwg file, seeFigure 26-12. Choose Open. AutoCAD LT does not open the drawing; rather, it copiesthe file’s name to the Insert Hyperlink dialog box. The name of the drawing you selectedwill be displayed in the Type the file or Web page name edit box. The same name andpath will also be displayed in the Text to display edit box. Remove the path in this editbox and retain only the file name.

Figure 26-11 Text placed in drawing

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Figure 26-13 The Hyperlink cursor and tooltip

8. Choose the OK button to close the dialog box. Move the cursor over the FoundationPlan text. Notice the display of the “linked Earth” icon; a moment later, the tooltipdisplays “Foundation Plan.dwg”, see Figure 26-13.

9. Connect to the Internet and then connect the URL www.autodesk.com/acltuser to ElectricTrain text using the Web Page button of the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

Figure 26-12 Browse the Web - Select Hyperlink dialog box

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10. You can directly open the file attached as the hyperlink to the object. This can be done byselecting the object to which the file is linked and then right-clicking to display theshortcut menu. In the shortcut menu, choose Hyperlink > Open (file name). In thiscase, the file name is Foundation Plan.dwg. Therefore, right-click and select Hyperlink >Open “Foundation Plan.dwg” from the shortcut menu, see Figure 26-14.

11. You can also see both drawings together. This is done by choosing Tile Vertically fromthe Window menu, see Figure 26-15.

Figure 26-14 Opening a hyperlink

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12. Select and then right-click on the “Electric Train” hyperlink. Choose Hyperlink > Open.Notice that Windows starts your Web browser and opens the www.autodesk.com/acltuserURL, see Figure 26-16. Make sure that you are connected to the Internet before openingthis URL. If you are not connected to the Internet, this URL will not open.

NoteIf you have changed the default Web site using the INETLOCATION system variable, thenyour Web browser is opened with the modified URL.

13. Save this drawing with the name Example2.dwg.

Figure 26-15 Viewing both the drawings

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PASTING AS HYPERLINKAutoCAD LT 2004 has a shortcut method for pasting hyperlinks in the drawing. The hyperlinkfrom one object can be copied and pasted to another object. This can be achieved by usingthe PASTEASHYPERLINK command.

1. In AutoCAD LT, select an object that has a hyperlink. Right-click to invoke the shortcutmenu.

2. Choose the Hyperlink > Copy Hyperlink from the shortcut menu.

3. Choose Edit > Paste as Hyperlink from the menu bar. You are prompted to select theobject to which the hyperlink is to be pasted.

4. Select the object and press ENTER. The hyperlink is pasted to the new object.

TipThe MATCHPROP command does not copy the hyperlinks from the source objects to thedestination objects.

Figure 26-16 Web browser opens the URL that was hyperlinked to the selected text

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EDITING HYPERLINKSOnce you know where the objects with hyperlinks are located, you can use the HYPERLINKcommand to edit the hyperlinks and related data. Select the hyperlinked object and invokethe HYPERLINK command. When the Edit Hyperlink dialog box appears (it looks identicalto the Insert Hyperlink dialog box), make the changes and choose OK.

REMOVING HYPERLINKS FROM OBJECTSTo remove a URL from an object, use the HYPERLINK command on the object. When theEdit Hyperlink dialog box appears, choose the Remove Link button.

To remove a rectangular area hyperlink, you can simply use the ERASE command; select therectangle and AutoCAD LT erases the rectangle. (Unlike in Release 14, AutoCAD LT nolonger purges the URLLAYER layer.)

THE DRAWING WEB FORMATTo display AutoCAD LT drawings on the Internet, Autodesk created a file format calleddrawing Web format (DWF). The DWF file has several benefits and some drawbacks overDWG files. The DWF file is compressed as much as eight times smaller than the originalDWG drawing file. Therefore, it takes less time to transmit these files over the Internet,particularly with the relatively slow telephone modem connections. The DWF format is moresecure, since the original drawing is not being displayed; another user cannot tamper withthe original DWG file.

However, the DWF format has some drawbacks. They are given next.

• You must go through the extra step of translating from DWG to DWF.• DWF files cannot display shaded drawings.• DWF is a flat 2D-file format; therefore, it does not preserve 3D data, although you can

export a 3D view.• AutoCAD LT itself cannot display DWF files.• DWF files cannot be converted back to DWG format without using file translation software

from a third-party vendor.• Earlier versions of DWF did not handle paper space objects (version 2.x and earlier), or

line widths, lineweights, and nonrectangular viewports (version 3.x and earlier).

To view a DWF file on the Internet, your Web browser needs to have a plug-in software extensioncalled Autodesk Express Viewer. This viewer is installed on your system with AutoCAD LT2004 installation. Autodesk Express Viewer allows Internet Explorer 5.01 (or later) to handlea variety of file formats. Autodesk makes this DWF plug-in freely available from its Web site athttp://www.autodesk.com. It is a good idea to regularly check for updates to the DWF plug-in,which is updated frequently.

Autodesk Express Viewer is a stand-alone viewer that views and prints DWF files. The

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Autodesk Express Viewer is automatically installed on your computer when you installAutoCAD LT 2004.

CREATING A DWF FILETo create a DWF file from AutoCAD LT 2004, two methods can be used. The first method isto use the PLOT command and the second method is to use the PUBLISH command.

Creating a DWF File Using the Plot Dialog BoxThe following steps explain you to create a DWF file using the PLOT command.

1. Open the file that has to be converted into a DWF file. Choose the Plot (Ctrl+P) buttonfrom the Standard toolbar. The Plot dialog box is displayed.

2. Select DWF6 ePlot.pc3 from the Name drop-down list in the Plotter configuration areaof the Plot Device tab as shown in Figure 26-17.

3. Choose the Properties button to display the Plotter Configuration Editor dialog box.The Device and Document Settings tab is active, see Figure 26-18.

Figure 26-17 Plot dialog box

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4. In the Device and Documents Settings tab, select Custom Properties in the tree view.The Custom Properties button will appear in the Access Custom Dialog area of thedialog box.

5. Choose the Custom Properties button to display the DWF6 ePlot Properties dialogbox, see Figure 26-19. The options provided under this dialog box are discussed next.

Figure 26-18 Plotter Configuration Editor dialog box

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Resolution (dpi) AreaUnlike AutoCAD LT DWG files, that are based on real numbers, DWF files are saved usinginteger numbers. The higher the resolution, the better the quality of the DWF file. However,the size of the files also increases with the resolution.

Format AreaCompression further reduces the size of the DWF file. You should always use compression,unless you know that another application cannot decompress the DWF file. Compressedbinary format is seven times smaller than ASCII format. Again, this means the compressedDWF file transmits over the Internet seven times faster than a compressed ASCII DWF file.

Font Handling AreaThis area of the DWF6 ePlot Properties dialog box is used to select the fonts that you need

Figure 26-19 DWF6 ePlot Properties dialog box

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to include in the DWF file. You can choose the Edit List button from this area to display thelist of the fonts. It should be noted that the fonts add to the size of the DWF file.

Background color shown in viewerWhile white is probably the best background color, you may choose any of AutoCAD LT’s 256colors.

Include layer informationThis check box is selected to include layers while creating the DWF files. Remember that ifthis check box is cleared, the layers will not be created and will not be displayed whileviewing the DWF file.

Show paper boundariesIncludes a rectangular boundary at the drawing’s extents as displayed in the layouts.

Save preview in DWFSaves the preview in DWF file.

6. In most cases, you can turn on all options.

7. Choose OK to exit the dialog boxes back to the Plot dialog box.

8. Accept the DWF file name and location listed in the File name and path text box in thePlot to file area, or type a new name. If necessary, change the location where the file will[be stored. The […] button displays the Browse for Plot File dialog box.

9. In the Plot Settings tab, use the required options to create the DWF file.

10. Choose OK to save the drawing in DWF format.

Creating the DWF File Using the PUBLISH CommandThe following is the procedure of how to create a DWF file using the PUBLISH command.

Choose the Publish button from the Standard toolbar. The Publish Drawing Sheets dialogbox is displayed, see Figure 26-20.

NoteIf you have not saved the drawing before invoking the PUBLISH command, then the DrawingModified - Save Changes dialog box is displayed. Choose OK to save the changes.

The various options in this dialog box are discussed next.

List of drawing sheets List BoxThis list box displays the model space and various layouts that will be included for publishing.Right-click on any of the drawings to display a shortcut menu. In the shortcut menu, there

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are various options available that can be used on the drawings listed in this area. Rememberthat the layouts that are not invoked even once in the selected drawings will not be published.For example, if Layout2 of the selected drawing file is not invoked even once, the system willgive error while publishing it. You can save the log file to view the reason why the selectedlayout is not published.

Add SheetsThis button when chosen displays the Select Drawings dialog box. Using this dialog box youcan select the drawing files (.dwg). These files are then included in the creation of the DWFfile. Remember that the model space and all the layouts of the drawing are added individuallyto the Publish Drawing Sheets dialog box as shown in Figure 26-20.

Load ListThe Load List button is chosen to load an existing list of sheets to publish. However, if youchoose this button after adding drawings in the list, the List of Sheets Changed dialog box isdisplayed. This dialog box prompts you to save the existing list of sheets that is listed in theList of drawing sheets area. The list of sheets is saved in the .dsd file format. When youchoose to save the existing list, the Save List As dialog box is displayed. When you choose notto save the current list, the Load List of Sheets dialog box is displayed. You can select the .dsdor .bp3 fie formats from this dialog box and select the list to load.

Save ListThe Save List button is chosen to save the current list of sheets. When you choose this button,the Save List As dialog box is displays.

Figure 26-20 Publish Drawing Sheets dialog box

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RemoveThis button allows you to remove the selected sheet from the dialog box.

Remove AllThis button allows you to remove all the sheets from the dialog box.

Move UpThis button allows you to move the selected drawing one position up in the list.

Move DownThis button allows you to move the selected drawing one position down in the list.

Publish to Multi-sheet DWF file AreaThis area provides you with the options of publishing the drawings to a multisheet DWF file.This area has two radio edit boxes that are discussed next.

DWF File nameThis edit box allows you to specify the path location of the DWF file. You can also choose theBrowse button to specify the location of the DWF file.

Password or phrase used to protect this DWF fileThis exit box is used to enter the password for the DWF file in order to protect it. Wheneveryou try to open the resultant DWF file, you will have to enter this password.

Publish buttonThis button is used to start the process of publishing or creating the DWF file. If a drawingsheet fails to plot, the system continues to publish the remaining sheets.

VIEWING DWF FILESOne of the major enhancements in AutoCAD LT 2004 is the Autodesk Express Viewer thatis automatically installed on your computer when you install AutoCAD LT 2004. This plug-incan be used to view the DWF files in addition to the other Web browsers. You can also use aWeb browser with a special plug-in that allows the browser to correctly interpret the file forviewing the DWF files. Apart from viewing the DWF files, you can also view the DWG andDXF files using the Autodesk Express Viewer. Remember that you cannot view a DWF filewith AutoCAD LT.

Autodesk updates the DWF plug-in approximately twice a year. Each update includes somenew features. In summary, all versions of the DWF plug-in perform the following functions.

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• Views DWF files created by AutoCAD LT within a browser.• Right-clicking the DWF image displays a shortcut menu with commands.• Real-time pan and zoom lets you change the view of the DWF file as quickly as a drawing

file in AutoCAD LT.• Embedded hyperlinks let you display other documents and files.• File compression means that a DWF file appears in your Web browser much faster than

the equivalent DWG drawing file would.• Print the DWF file alone or along with the entire Web page.• Works with Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. A separate plug-in is

required, depending upon which of the two browsers you use.• Allows you to “drag and drop” a DWG file from a Web site into AutoCAD LT as a new

drawing or as a block.• Views a named view stored in the DWF file.• Can specify a view using the X and Y coordinates.• Toggles layers off and on.

To open a DWF file, choose File > Open from the menu bar in the Autodesk ExpressViewer. You can use various buttons provided in the Autodesk Express Viewer formanipulating the view of the DWF file. However, keep in mind that the original objects of theDWF file cannot be modified. You can also right-click in the display screen to display a shortcutmenu. The shortcut menu provides you with the options such as Pan, Zoom, Layers, Views,Sheets, and so on, see Figure 26-21. Note that if the layers are not displayed in the DWF file,you need to turn the option to display the layers using the Plot dialog box, refer to Include

Figure 26-21 Autodesk Express Viewer with the shortcut menu

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layer information on page number 28. To select an option, choose it from the shortcutmenu. You can select the sheet to view from the drop-down list available in this viewer. Pan isthe default option. Press the left mouse button and drag the cursor. The cursor changes to anopen hand, signaling that you can pan the view around the drawing. This is exactly the sameas realtime panning in AutoCAD LT.

The Zoom option works in the same way as in AutoCAD LT. This option displays a magnifyingglass for zooming in and out of the current display.

The Layers option displays a nonmodal dialog box named Layers, see Figure 26-22. Thisdialog box lists all layers in the drawing. A nonmodal dialog box remains on the screen andyou do not need to dismiss a nonmodal dialog box to continue working. Select a layer nameto toggle its visibility between on (yellow bulb icon) and off (blue light bulb icon).

The Views option works only when the original DWG drawing file contained named viewscreated with the VIEW command. Selecting Views displays a nonmodal dialog box namedViews that allows you to select a named view, see Figure 26-23. Select a named view to see it;click the cross (X) on the upper right corner to exit the dialog box.

NoteTo publish a sheet, the plotter in the page setup should be selected from the Page Setup dialogbox. This plotter should be DWF6 ePlot.pc3.

Figure 26-22 Autodesk Express Viewer’s Layer dialog box

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EMBEDDING A DWF FILETo let others view your DWF file on the Internet, you need to embed the DWF file in a Webpage. Here are the steps to embed a DWF file in a Web page.

1. The Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) code is the most basic method of placing aDWF file in your Web page:

<embed src=”filename.dwf ”>

The <embed> tag embeds an object in a Web page. The src option is short for “source.”Replace filename.dwf with the name of the DWF file. Remember to keep the quotationmarks in place.

2. HTML normally displays an image as large as possible. To control the size of the DWFfile, add the Width and Height options.

<embed width=800 height=600 src=”filename.dwf ”>

The Width and Height values are measured in pixels. Replace 800 and 600 with anyappropriate numbers such as 100 and 75 for a “thumbnail” image, or 300 and 200 for asmall image.

Figure 26-23 Autodesk Express Viewer’s Views dialog box

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3. To speed up the display of Web page, some users turn off the display of images. For thisreason, it is useful to include a description, which is displayed in place of the image:

<embed width=800 height=600 name=description src=”filename.dwf ”>

The Name option displays a textual description of the image when the browser does notload images. You might replace description with the DWF filename.

4. When the original drawing contains named views created by the VIEW command, theseare transferred to the DWF file. Specify the initial view for the DWF file:

<embed width=800 height=600 name=description namedview=”viewname”src=”filename.dwf ”>

The namedview option specifies the name of the view to display upon loading. Replaceviewname with the name of a valid view name. When the drawing contains named views,the user can right-click on the DWF image to get a list of all named views.

As an alternative, you can specify the 2D coordinates of the initial view:

<embed width=800 height=600 name=description view=”0,0 9,12"src=”filename.dwf ”>

The View option specifies the X and Y coordinates of the lower left and upper rightcorners of the initial view. Replace 0,0 9,12 with other coordinates. Since DWF is 2D only,you cannot specify a 3D viewpoint. You can use View or Namedview, but not both.

5. Before a DWF image can be displayed, the Web browser must have the DWF plug-incalled “Autodesk Express viewer”. For users of Netscape Communicator, you must includea description of where to get the Autodesk Express Viewer plug-in when the Web browseris lacking it.

<embed pluginspage=http://www.autodesk.com/products/express viewerwidth=800 height=600 name=description view=”0,0 9,12" src=”filename.dwf ”>

The pluginspage option describes the page on the Autodesk Web site where the AutodeskExpress Viewer plug-in can be downloaded.

The code previously listed works for Netscape Navigator. To provide for users of InternetExplorer, the following HTML code must be added:

<object classid =”clsid:B2BE75F3-9197-11CF-ABF4-08000996E931" codebase = “ftp:// ftp.autodesk.com/pub/AutoCAD LT/plugin/autodesk expressviewer.cab#version=2,0,0,0” width=800 height=600><param name=”Filename” value=”filename.dwf ”><param name=”View” value=”0,0 9,12">

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<param name=”Namedview” value=”viewname”><embed pluginspage=http://www.autodesk.com/products/express viewerwidth=800 height=600 name=description view=”0,0 9,12"src=”filename.dwf ”></object>

The two <object> and three <param> tags are ignored by Netscape Navigator; they arerequired for compatibility with Internet Explorer. The classid and codebase options tellExplorer where to find the plug-in. Remember that you can use View or Namedview, but notboth.

6. Save the HTML file.

Answer the following questions and then compare your answers to the answers given atthe end of this chapter.

1. To access the online resources, choose Help > Online Resources from the menu bar.(T/F)

2. You cannot determine whether or not an object has a hyperlink. (T/F)

3. By default, the Browse the Web dialog box displays the contents of the URL stored inthe INETLOCATION system variable. (T/F)

4. URLs are also known as hyperlinks. (T/F)

5. You cannot select text in the AutoCAD LT drawing to paste it as a hyperlink. (T/F)

6. Compression in the DWF file causes it to take ____________ time to transmit over theInternet.

7. Rectangular area hyperlinks are stored on __________ layer.

8. To see the location of hyperlinks in a drawing, use the __________ command.

9. The _________ is a HTML tag for embedding objects in a Web page.

10. When you attach a hyperlink to a block, the hyperlink data is __________ when you scalethe block unevenly, stretch the block, or explode it.

Self-Evaluation Test

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Answer the following questions.

1. Can you launch a Web browser from within AutoCAD LT?

2. What does DWF mean?

3. What is the purpose of DWF files?

4. URL is an acronym for what?

5. Which of the following URLs are valid?(a) www.autodesk.com(b) http://www.autodesk.com(c) Both of the above.(d) None of the above.

6. FTP is an acronym for what?

7. What is a “local host”?

8. Are hyperlinks active in an AutoCAD LT 2004 drawing?

9. The purpose of URLs is to let you create __________ between files.

10. Can you can attach a URL to any object?

Answers to the Self-Evaluation Test1 - T, 2 - F, 3 - T, 4 - T, 5 - T, 6 - less, 7 - URLLAYER, 8 - Hyperlink, 9 - <embed>, 10 - lost.

Review Questions

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