Protecting DWG files

[mark.perrins]

(Fisrtly forgive me if i have posted this in the wrong section)

The practice I currently work for is (like most places) trying to aquire new clients.
Part of their marketing spiel is about the dynamic blocks I have/can create to speed up the design process.

They also want to send an example drawing containing some of these blocks to the prospective clients for them to see.

My problem is that, as I have spent quite some time perfecting these blocks I dont want them given away at the drop of a hat to someone we dont even get any work from.

How can we still send a dwg file, allow them to play with the dynamic blocks yet disable copy/paste or wblock and any other methods that will allow them to steal my blocks?!!!

[Mike_S_Jones]

Could you do a short screen capture/movie/youtube presentation of what the blocks are capable of displaying/showing?

[elmoleaf]

+1 on movie/animated file.
In the architecture, most clients don't have Autocad or any inclination to play with actual dwg files. Not sure what industry you're in or type of clients you have.

[mark.perrins]

as suggested animated file is the only way i could think that we could show-off our blocks etc without handing them over.

we do actually work within the architecture field, but we tend to work with national house-builders who do have autocad, and do know how to use it (the departments we deal with are usually are staffed by technicians who know how drawings are put together - hence why I dont want to give away my creations!)


any good tutorials on creating simple presentations from cad - never had the need to do it before.

[cadtag]

well, the first thing to realize with any video or animation intended to persuade or enlighten, is that you are telling a story. Once you have story-boarded a mockup of what you want to present, with a beginning, middle, and end, you can think about how to present it, tools, software, etc.

A lot of people do it the othe way around, hence all the random mess on youtube.

[BlackBox]

Agreed with the video/animation.

Besides - putting security aside for the moment - a potential client doesn't care to play with your dynamic blocks, that's what they would *potentially* pay you to do.

[mark.perrins]

any recomendations on capture software for said video presentation?

[Wanderer]

any recomendations on capture software for said video presentation?

I used CAMtasia for awhile... loads of people in the industry seem to love it. - http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia/

JING might also be an option (it's free, but, places like my employer have firewalls that interfere with recordings). - http://www.techsmith.com/jing/

CAMstudio might be an option as well. http://camstudio.org/