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![]() Measuring a 3D model in ABViewer 12 (Windows 10) | |
Developer(s) | CADSoftTools |
---|---|
Initial release | 2003 |
Stable release | 15.1 [1] / February 1, 2023 |
Operating system | Microsoft Windows, Linux with Wine |
Available in | English, German, French, Russian, other |
Type | Computer-aided design |
License | Trialware |
Website | www.cadsofttools.com |
ABViewer is multifunctional software for working with AutoCAD DWG, DXF, PLT, STEP, IGES, STL and other 2D and 3D CAD files. [2] The application allows creating and editing drawings, as well as saving them to AutoCAD DWG/DXF, PDF, JPG and a number of other vector and raster file formats. [3]
The software was developed by CADSoftTools in 2003. Since that time, the program has been translated into more than 30 languages [4] and now it supports more than 50 2D/3D vector and raster formats.
The early version of ABViewer presented a viewer that also allowed merging CAD files, storing BMP and EMF images in the clipboard, as well as printing a group of files. Initially, the program supported 20 languages and was available in two versions: Standard and Professional. [5] In 2007, ABViewer was no longer just a viewer. It became a tool for viewing, editing and converting files. The application had a full set of tools of a professional editor and supported operations used in design and project work. As a converter, ABViewer made it possible to convert selected parts of the image. Now depending on the functionality the program is available in three versions (Standard, Professional and Enterprise). [6]
ABViewer allows viewing 2D and 3D drawings. It supports work with drawing layers and layouts; users can reposition drawings: i.e. zoom, rotate 3D models as well as change the drawing display view and mode; users can navigate through files by means of the Thumbnails window. It is possible to hide/show texts and dimensions as well as measure drawings (both in 2D and 3D modes). The program not only displays drawings but also provides access to drawing properties and structure. [7] Also, it is possible to create 3D section views. [8]
The Editor mode enables users to create drawings from scratch as well as edit loaded files. [9] ABViewer offers a wide range of tools for working with CAD drawings: drawing tools (used to add entities); modifying instruments (for work with created drawings); different types of snap; work with blocks and external references.
ABViewer allows saving as well as printing drawings: saving to vector and raster file formats; saving DWG/DXF drawings to G-code; [10] extended printing settings [11] (multipage printing, print preview, plot settings). Batch operations with multiple files are available too: batch conversion and batch print. [12]
ABViewer also provides additional functionality for work with drawings: conversion of PDF drawings into editable DWG files, [13] the Redline mode for adding markups, comparison of DWG/DXF drawing revisions, georeferencing, work from the command line, LISP support as well as XML support.
ABViewer allows viewing more than 50 vector and raster 2D and 3D formats: [14] [15] [16] [17]
Type | File Format |
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CAD formats | AutoCAD DWG (all versions from 2.5 to 2018 inclusive), DXF ASCII/BINARY (all versions), DWF, DXT |
3D formats | 3DS, SAT, STL, IGES (.igs), STEP (.stp), OBJ, X_T, X_B, SLDPRT, SLDASM, [18] FSAT, SAB, SMT, IPT, IFC, [19] GTS, TIN, ASE, B3D, GLM, GLX, GLA, LMTS, LWO, NURBS, NMF, OCT, PLY, VRML, MDC, MD2, MD3, MD5, SMD, BSP |
Vector formats | WMF, EMF, PDF, CGM, SVG, SVGZ, EPS, PS, Hewlett-Packard HPGL (PLT, HGL, HG, HPG, PLO, HP, HP1, HP2, HP3, HPGL, HPGL2, HPP, GL, GL2, PRN, SPL, RTL, PCL) |
Raster formats | GED, RLA, RPF, CEL, PIC, CAL, CG4, GP4, GIF, CUT, PAL, DDS, FAX, HDR, IFF, ICO, EXR, IMB, JPG, JPEG, J2K, J2C, JNG, JP2, KOA, PCT, PICT, MNG, PSP, PCD, PSD, PDD, PNG, PPM, PGM, PBM, RAW, G3, BW, RGB, RGBA, SGI, RAS, TIF, TIFF, TGA, VST, ICB, VDA, WIN, BMP, RLE, DIB, WAP, WBMP, WBM, XBM, XPM, PCX |
The program opens archived drawings too: ZIP, 7z, RAR, CAB, BZIP, TAR.
ABViewer is fully translated into the following languages: [20] Chinese, Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. ABViewer documentation and detailed help system are available in English, German, French, and Russian.
Ron LaFon from the Cadalyst compared nine different CAD Viewers in 2008 and AViewer v6.2 was among them. He stated that the program supported lots of languages (32 languages in total at that time), had “clean and easy to understand” user interface and a variety of available features. [21]
The Digital Engineering magazine named ABViewer (version 7) a “cost-efficient high-quality application” that could be used by engineers as well as by office workers. The Thumbnail visualization of the folder contents was highlighted in particular as this feature makes the search for the required files considerably easier. [22] Softpedia describes ABViewer version 14 as a modern tool that can help in a variety of tasks and is easy and user-friendly even for inexperienced users. [23]
Apart from it ABViewer is referenced to as a tool for measuring, [24] converting [25] and viewing CAD files [26] [27] in a number of modern studies and researches in different fields.
AutoCAD is a 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) software application for desktop, web, and mobile developed by Autodesk. It was first released in December 1982 for the CP/M and IBM PC platforms as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers. Initially a DOS application, subsequent versions were later released for other platforms including Classic Mac OS (1992), Microsoft Windows (1992), web browsers (2010), iOS (2010), macOS (2010), and Android (2011).
AutoCAD DXF is a CAD data file format developed by Autodesk for enabling data interoperability between AutoCAD and other programs.
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PartXplore is a computer aided design (CAD) file viewer developed by Sescoi for reading, analyzing, and sharing 3D and 2D CAD files without requiring the original CAD application. It was introduced in 2008 and is supported from local Vero offices. The software is available as a viewer and an evaluation version.
pCon.planner is a space planning, graphical product configuration, quotation creation and communication solution for interior designers, furniture manufacturers and facility managers. The application is developed by EasternGraphics GmbH in Ilmenau (Thuringia/Germany). There is a free of charge version, without configuration capabilities as well as cost based versions.
Alibre Design is a 3D parametric computer aided design software suite developed by Alibre for Microsoft Windows. Available in fifteen languages. Alibre is a brand of Alibre, LLC, a company based in Texas.
SolveSpace is a free and open-source 2D/3D constraint-based parametric computer-aided design (CAD) software that supports basic 2D and 3D constructive solid geometry modeling.
LibreCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) application for 2D design. It is free and open-source, and available for Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems.
KeyCreator is a commercial software application for 2D and 3D computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting available since 2004.