Autodesk recently released AutoCAD 2022 and AutoCAD LT 2022 with its eye on collaboration workflow and automations. While the core of AutoCAD remains the same, the developers have given the nod to some helpful tools for users.
Push to Autodesk Docs/Drive. With Push to Autodesk docs, teams can view digital PDFs in the field for reference. Users can connect to files stored in Autodesk Docs and Autodesk Drive (or to other cloud storage providers such as Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox). CAD managers will be happy that with the AutoCAD web app you can now upload drawing templates, plot styles, and other support files to create DWG files that better meet your company’s drafting standards.
Drawing review with Trace. As always, drawing reviews are of utmost importance to designers. Autodesk’s Trace allows you and collaborators to markup DWG files without altering the original. When you open the markups, you can see the feedback in the context of the original DWG and incorporate as needed, allowing for multi-platform feedback collaboration.
Trace lets users markup DWGs without affecting the original. Image source throughout: Autodesk.
Collaborate with Share. When you Share a DWG, you can choose what level of access each user has, such as “view-only” or “edit,” to help control copies of drawings. You generate Share links via AutoCAD and the web app, and links open automatically on the web app. This new tool works similar to Etransmit in desktop AutoCAD.
AutoCAD 2022’s Share dialog box.
Vertical toolsets. AutoCAD includes updated toolsets for Mechanical, Electrical, and Architecture to help boost productivity by providing libraries with hundreds of thousands of intelligent parts, symbols, and features.
Keep the Count. The design is in the details, and increased accuracy is always welcome. The Count tool automates counting the instances of objects in a drawing. You can export the data to dynamic tables for quick updates. The count list includes blocks that are nested within other blocks.
AutoCAD 2022’s Count tool.
Floating windows. By dragging a drawing file tab off the AutoCAD application window, it becomes a floating window. Now you can have multiple AutoCAD drawings visible and editable on the same or on multiple monitors.
AutoCAD 2022 for Mac is also available with new features, including: