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Thread: Locking an ACAD File

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    Member sudhirkizhakoote's Avatar
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    Default Locking an ACAD File

    Can anybody tell me how to lock a autocad dwg file? the locked file must be open in readonly and should not edit. please help me

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    Certifiable AUGI Addict tedg's Avatar
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    Arrow Re: Locking an ACAD File

    Quote Originally Posted by sudhirkizhakoote View Post
    Can anybody tell me how to lock a autocad dwg file? the locked file must be open in readonly and should not edit. please help me
    I know there are ways an IT administrator can "lock" files and folders on a particular drive, but the simplest way to make a file "read only" is to browse to the file, right click, go to "properties" and check the "Read Only" box under the "General" tab, hit "Apply" and close out.

    This "kind of" makes it secure, but people can still move it, delete it etc.

    Good luck

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    Certified AUGI Addict jaberwok's Avatar
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    Default Re: Locking an ACAD File

    For real security, you need CADVault from CADLock.

    Not free.

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    Administrator rkmcswain's Avatar
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    Default Re: Locking an ACAD File

    Quote Originally Posted by sudhirkizhakoote View Post
    Can anybody tell me how to lock a autocad dwg file? the locked file must be open in readonly and should not edit. please help me
    Without 3rd party tools, you can not permit a DWG file to be opened read-only.
    Sure, the file can be locked down with O/S security, but that won't stop someone from making a copy of it and modifying the copy.

    It's much easier to remove all file access. Consider this and then publish a DWF that the "other person" can open in Design Review
    R.K. McSwain | CAD Panacea |

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    Default Re: Locking an ACAD File

    Since you indicated that you wanted the file to be read-only, have you considered creating a PDF file of your AutoCAD drawing? Creating a PDF is as easy as printing a drawing. If you don't already have a PDF creator and money is a problem at your firm, there are a number of free PDF creators available on the Internet. A regular PDF file is not easy for the "average" computer user to change, although it is not impossible to change. If you have a couple of bucks, you may want to purchase a program like Adobe Acrobat Professional (I think it goes for about $350 for a single seat); with the right document restrictions for the file set up, it may be nearly impossible to alter the PDF file. Nearly every computer has Adobe Reader on it, so no one has to download anything in order to view the file. Depending on who this file goes to, this might work. Good luck!

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