User interface of ODA's viewer (source: ODA) The viewer handles the following functions (among others): To view the files, ODA converts them to its own VSF format (Visualize Stream Format). To view Navisworks-style files, ODA offers its Visualizer Viewer (see figure). So, designs made with DWG (AutoCAD and workalikes), DGN (Microstation), DXF, RVT (Revit), and IFC have "excellent" support. Navisworks contains data from many programs, so if ODA has already documented one of them, like DWG, then it is OK if not, then it is more difficult for the ODA to support the data. Older formats (2009-2012) are also supported but not as well, because, as they explained, "It is hard to find many Navisworks files from 2009 for testing purposes." Currently, the focus of ODA programmers had been on reading the format, and they have completed some initial editing functions of NWF files. The ODA held a Webinar this week on the progress is is making with BimNv API, explaining that it really is a work-in-progress.īimNv supports NWD, NWF, and NWC files from 2013 and newer.
#Navisworks nwc file viewer software#
Those wanting to view and import Navisworks models in their own desktop software without having to depend on Autodesk software.Neil Peterson, the president of ODA, tells me that he sees three kinds of organizations that might prefer using BimNv over Autodesk's SDK: The SDK is available only to Sustaining ODA members or higher ($5,000 and up). The ODA says its API is similar to that of Autodesk's Navisworks API. An SDK includes APIs, which programs use to make calls that read and process data in the Navisworks files. The SDK allows programmers to write software that works with Navisworks files.
The ODA has its own version of a Navisworks SDK that it has named BimNv. The Autodesk Developer Network offers an API to members ($1,400 and up) for writing add-ons to Navisworks, as well as exporting data out of Navisworks. When an NWD file is opened, it uses external file readers to view the different file formats you can substitute your own readers, as the ones provided by Autodesk do not necessarily support all entities. NWC - cache files created when an NWD file is opened, to speed up subsequent loading
#Navisworks nwc file viewer plus#
NWF - contains links to model files, plus markup data NWD - contains all the models in a single, compressed file The native file formats of Navisworks are as follows:
To view how it all fits together, the individual models are loaded and coordinated in Navisworks, from which clash detection, markups, project progress, and so are performed. (See figure.) For more info on formats, see /support/navisworks-products.įor instance, you are designing a building with Revit that contains a machine designed in Solidworks, all on top of topology from a point cloud (Recap).
Navisworks is Autodesk's universal file format for viewing project files made with multiple software programs, such as AutoCAD, Revit, and Inventor, as well as neutral file formats (like IFC, STL, and PDF) and proprietary ones, such as Pro/Engineer, Solidworks, and MicroStation. OpenDesign Alliance's BimNv SDK is a software development kit for dealing with Navisworks files and was developed independently of Autodesk.