John Earwood

Jan15, My VW.DWG export files have always opened properly in AutoCAD and VoloView Express. Apparently, there is something different about VoloView 3. It fails to find the Model Space tab for some reason. But it opens files created in AutoCAD with no problem. So there seems to be something about the OpenDWG export that doesn't communicate with the new and improved VV3 code. I guess I'll try to find a copy of version 2. Thanks for the input. John

I have been using the free but crude AutoDesk VoloView Express to check my DWG exports and imports from VW9.5.1 on Windows98se. A few days ago, I upgraded to the $49+ VoloView 3 to take advantage of its more complete display functions (TT fonts, bitmaps). Unfortunately, it opens a VW export (even VW10) as a blank background (no model space data). Files created in AutoCAD open properly. The AutoDesk tech says VV3 is completely different from VV Express, and it must have a "Model tab" in order to open the file. The VW Tech has not responded, so I'm hoping someone on the list has some idea what the problem is. I'd rather not go back to VV Express. Is there anything I can do to accomodate the latest AutoCAD viewer? In what way is a VW exported DWG file different from an AutoCAD DWG? Does the Open DWG Alliance offer patches for such incompatibilities? Has AutoDesk found a way to thwart the Alliance?