AutoCAD Users Collaborating Drawings with Redline Markups

Creation of a construction document or a drawing in AutoCAD requires the work to have been marked in redlines. AutoCAD users often export their ready drawings to DWFX format for being transmitted to the other parties that may include the project managers, architects, engineers and the clients. If they make some comments after reviewing, the drawings appear in redline and get transmitted back to the designers. The redline markups are then returned to the CAD operators for adding the recommended modifications. The entire process occurs within Autodesk Design Review Shareware. At this point, the AutoCAD users take the help of the Markup Manager to import updated DWFX files, refer to the remarks and check the redlined items. It facilitates collaboration with other parties regarding every item in the list and all the details get documented automatically.  Reporting between parties also becomes easy. DWFX file keeps a record of all the modifications being done. No text is required and the CAD users continue to work in a seamless manner. 

Let’s check out in this regard the two types of Redline Markups often getting incorporated into CAD drawings. They are added while the drawing gets redrafted from the scratch or when the existing CAD files get updated as per the markup. The two forms of Redline Markups in AutoCAD designing include Hardcopy & Electronic Redline Markups. They are discussed below in the following:

Hardcopy Redline Markups – Clients sometimes request the completed Redline drawings in a range of format and so the markups need to be provided in the form of hardcopy as scanned image. The markups are incorporated while redrafting the sheet during QCAD drafting. However, those markups are prepared in a neat and clear way for interpreting changes. This is mostly required in traditional workflow for marking up changes to drawings in red pens.  The hardcopy mark-ups are then handed over to a responsible person within the organization for making the necessary changes to the electronic document. Sometimes these hardcopies are downloaded from the Document and given printout to the AutoCAD users at the office, as a reference for accommodating changes to the document. These hardcopies are also scanned electronically and emailed to the designers for doing the modifications. All these processes take a lot of time to get completed. It involves the designers to make the changes and transfer those modifications from a paper form onto their computer screens. Moreover, it heightens the chance of missing a required change. A lot of work is required for this purpose, with more expense and cost to the environment in using the extra papers. At this juncture, a streamlined approach is taken by the Autodesk, utilizing all the Redlining capabilities electronically. 

Electronic Redline Markups – Electronic documents are often required for getting a quick reference in the future. The process of manually storing the papers involves the risk of the papers being lost. Electronic Markups eliminates this risk and facilitates comparing the revised drawing with the previous one in DWF files. The Markup Manager tool reads the marked-up DWFX file and shows the correction on top of the file. There is no need to open the file as a simple click on the Markup Manager opens the right file. The users note the markups as complete and log any question they have. Then the CAD operators send back the DWFX files to the reviewer and create a new file with all the modifications. After incorporating changes to Revit model, the users publish a temporary DWF file and make a comparison with the earlier one. In this regard, the Compare function highlights the changes and the designers could completely itemize all modifications made ever since the last drawing. As a result, they can make the revision note more accurate and enhance their knowledge on it.

It’s without any doubt that Redline Markups are changing the workflow of the AutoCAD users.  The CAD users can easily work with other people and are able to share their files for online collaboration through electronic redline markup. AutoCAD has numerous other tools that help the designers to upload files to the web and make online interaction possible while continuously tracking the workflow. Timeline of AutoCAD WS for instance lets the users go back in time and keep them track all changes made to the drawing files. Visit Pinnacle's AutoCAD and Featured Services to know how BIM and CAD solutions are bringing a transformation in the construction industry through simpler and precise collaboration.