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
Measuring a 3D model in ABViewer 12 (Windows 10)
Developer(s)CADSoftTools
Initial release2003 (2003)
Stable release
14[1] / September 5, 2018 (2018-09-05)
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.

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.[6]

Editor

The Editor mode enables users to create drawings from scratch as well as edit loaded files.[7] 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;[8] extended printing settings[9] (multipage printing, print preview, plot settings). Batch operations with multiple files are available too: batch conversion and batch print.[10]

Advanced features

ABViewer also provides additional functionality for work with drawings: conversion of PDF drawings into editable DWG files,[11] 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:[12][13][14]

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, 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.

Editions

There are three editions of ABViewer available: Standard, Professional and Enterprise.[15] Program functionality varies depending on the license version.

  • ABViewer Standard presents the basic edition of the application for viewing CAD files. This edition makes it possible to view and convert 2D files as well as print them (including multipage printing).
  • ABViewer Professional represents a full-function CAD viewer and editor. Apart from the functionality available in the Standard edition this version includes viewer and converter of 3D models, 2D editor, DWG/DXF to G-code converter and the Redline mode allowing adding notes and markups to the drawing without changing the original file.
  • ABViewer Enterprise is a full program version with extended functionality. There are such additional features as PDF to DWG converter, file comparison and batch operations for groups of files: batch conversion and batch print.

Localization

ABViewer is fully translated into the following languages:[16] 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.

See also

References
  1. CADSoftTools Releases ABViewer v14
  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. A Quick View of CadSoftTools’ ABViewer
  7. A Quick View of CadSoftTools’ ABViewer
  8. CADSoftTools Releases ABViewer v12
  9. Freeware.de - ABViewer
  10. “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”
  11. CADUTILS. ABViewer – Review
  12. Auch für normalen Bürogebrauch
  13. Freeware.de - ABViewer
  14. CAD Editor, Raster/Vector Manager supports 50+ file formats.
  15. Cadalyst compares and contrasts eight of today's CAD viewer solutions. 2008-01-02
  16. Contribute to ABViewer Translation
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