CAD files that can't be changed ?

[rob341744]

Hello,

I'm sure this question has been asked before.

We need to send AutoCAD files to an Interior Design consultant, but our client wants to know if we can send what the interior designer can use for their CAD drawings but will not be able to change the files we send.

I know you can bring in PDF files and then snap to points and scale them etc. But that seem to suck up a lot of system resources so the drawing runs very slow.

Is there another way to achieve something similar to importing PDF files into AutoCAD.

Thanks!

Rob

[rkmcswain]

.... our client wants to know if we can send what the interior designer can use for their CAD drawings but will not be able to change the files we send.

http://www.cadlock.com/ is about the only way *if* you have to send the DWG file.
What does your contract with the interior designer say about deliverable and/or shared files to/from him?
He may be expecting fully open DWG files, or he may be OK with DWF or PDF.

[cadtag]

Also depends by what's meant by "will not be able to change the files we send." If you burn to CD-R, keep a copy of the CD-R on file, and use letters of transmital, he won't be able to change the files you sent -- they'll be on read-only media. He will be able to make copies and edit those, but the record of what was sent is what's on the CD-R (And I mean CD-R, NOT CD-RW)

RK's suggestion will prevent any editing, CD-R protects your organization from later claims.

DWF would work as well for an underlay - and is (I think) a lighter format than PDF