AutoCAD Freestyle Technology Preview DWG Compatibility

One of the most requested items for Project Cooper was better DWG compatibility with other Autodesk applications. This latest release, which also renamed Project Cooper to AutoCAD Freestyle Technology Preview, made strides in this area. Technical Product Manager, Lisa Crounse, provided me with information on Freestyle's DWG abilities.

1. When a DWG file from another application is opened in the AutoCAD Freestyle Technology Preview, the original objects cannot be edited. That is, all geometry and text are on a locked layer. This preserves the integrity of the original drawing when it is opened in the original application after it has been edited in the AutoCAD Freestyle Technology Preview.

2. The AutoCAD Freestyle Technology Preview only opens one paper space layout at a time. If a DWG file created in another application contains multiple paper space layouts, the user can select a single layout to use. The other layouts are retained in the file and can be opened later in other applications as well as in the AutoCAD Freestyle Technology Preview.

3. If the DWG file from another application contains only model space information, the AutoCAD Freestyle Technology Preview displays all model space objects in its workspace.

4. All text, geometry, and fill elements added using the AutoCAD Freestyle Technology Preview are automatically placed on a new, AutoCAD Freestyle Technology Preview-specific, layer.

Thanks Lisa.

Spelling out the possibilities is alive in the lab.