what is best "protected" cad file to send to contractors?

[gweng]

What is the best form to convert a .dwg file to so that the contractors can snap, inquire, etc. the features of our Autocad 2009 file but cannot steal the blocks/design out of the drawing? We do Civil site plans in ACAD2009 and have to send out plans for concrete contractors, site utilities providers, etc. and they need to snap distances, see elevations, identify bearing/distances, etc. but we are concerned about the copyright of our engineered drawings of the base plan without an engineer's seal. Is DWF the best format to save this dwg to in order to give them access without them being able to alter or pilfer the design dwg?

[billy342601]

For the situation you are discussing, my office sends out DWF's unless it is in the contract for the client to get actual DWG's. It is up to our client to determine if the contractor is to get DWG's or DWF's based on their individual contracts.

That is just how my office operates, but it may differ from one location to the next. Someone else may have another idea, and this issue has been discussed in other postings here as well.

[TerribleTim]

. . .DWF's unless it is in the contract. . .

QFT! ! ! ! ! ! !

[RobertB]

I agree with the other two... DWF, with layers published.

[rkmcswain]

We do Civil site plans in ACAD2009 and have to send out plans for concrete contractors, site utilities providers, etc.

Just out of curiosity, why do you have to send them a drawing?

but we are concerned about the copyright of our engineered drawings of the base plan without an engineer's seal.

Sounds like you don't trust them with your IP.

Do you not have a contract that spells out the deliverables?

[TerribleTim]

. . .Do you not have a contract that spells out the deliverables?

We don't either, even though I've been preaching about it for the last 3 years, which is why. . .

. . .Sounds like you don't trust them with your IP. . .

No, . . .I dont, . . .With anyone. . . Is that a bad thing?

[rkmcswain]

No, . . .I dont, . . .With anyone. . . Is that a bad thing?

Not at all. But in that case, it's easy, just don't send them anything -or- find new partners/clients/consultants, etc.

[Railrose]

We do tif files. It's a corporate standard, especially since we went to Documentum.

[RobertB]

We do tif files.

That does not address the OP's wish for measurement and so on.

[Railrose]

Sorry, I missed that.