ABViewer

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]

ABViewer
Developer(s)CADSoftTools
Initial release2003 (2003)
Stable release
15.1[1] / February 1, 2023 (2023-02-01)
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows, Linux with Wine
Available inEnglish, German, French, Russian, other
TypeComputer-aided design
LicenseTrialware
Websitewww.cadsofttools.com

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.

History

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]

Features

Viewer

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]

Editor

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.

Saving and printing

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]

Advanced features

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.

Supported formats

ABViewer allows viewing more than 50 vector and raster 2D and 3D formats:[14][15][16][17]

Type File Format
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.

Localization

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.

Reception

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.

See also

References
  1. CADSoftTools Releases ABViewer v15.1
  2. A Quick View of CadSoftTools’ ABViewer
  3. Auch für normalen Bürogebrauch
  4. Cadalyst compares and contrasts eight of today's CAD viewer solutions. 2008-01-02
  5. "General Software. Cadalyst Labs Review: View Masters. 2006-01-05"
  6. Cadalyst compares and contrasts eight of today's CAD viewer solutions. 2008-01-02
  7. A Quick View of CadSoftTools’ ABViewer
  8. CADSoftTools Releases ABViewer v14
  9. A Quick View of CadSoftTools’ ABViewer
  10. CADSoftTools Releases ABViewer v12
  11. "Freeware.de - ABViewer". Archived from the original on 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  12. “A reliable application that you can use to view, edit and convert image formats such as CAD, DWG, DXF, HPGL or TIFF, and you can also print them”
  13. CADUTILS. ABViewer – Review
  14. Auch für normalen Bürogebrauch
  15. "Freeware.de - ABViewer". Archived from the original on 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  16. CAD Editor, Raster/Vector Manager supports 50+ file formats.
  17. CADSoftTools Releases ABViewer v14.1
  18. CADSoftTools Releases ABViewer v15.1
  19. "CADSoftTools Releases ABViewer 15". Archived from the original on 2022-06-03. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  20. Contribute to ABViewer Translation
  21. Cadalyst compares and contrasts eight of today's CAD viewer solutions. 2008-01-02
  22. Auch für normalen Bürogebrauch
  23. ABViewer on softpedia.com
  24. International Young Physicists' Tournament: Problems And Solutions 2015
  25. Semantic Enrichment and Multimodel Data Exchange Approach for CFD Analysis of Bridges
  26. Real Time Water Pipes Leak Detection Using Electromagnetic Waves for the Water Industry Bridges
  27. A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CAD DATA EXCHANGE BASED ON THE STEP STANDARD
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