Product category:
2D CAD software
News Release from: Autodesk
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 16 December 2005
Autodesk and Microsoft expand strategic
alliance
Autodesk and Microsoft expand strategic alliance so customers can more easily create, manage and share critical design data at every stage of the project and product life-cycle processes.
Autodesk and Microsoft are expanding their strategic alliance so customers can more easily create, manage and share critical design data at every stage of the project and product life-cycle processes The companies have completed the first phase of the expanded alliance, which includes the availability of Autodesk DWF design web format functionality to let users easily integrate design information from Autodesk applications with Microsoft Office and Microsoft Business Solutions' Great Plains and Axapta, now part of Microsoft Dynamics
As a part of the expanded alliance, the companies agreed to align further their respective technologies, including expanded Microsoft support for Autodesk's DWF functionality and plans for Autodesk to support Microsoft XAML extensible application markup language.
"Microsoft and Autodesk are removing obstacles that prevent people from working together," said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft.
"We recognise the important role DWF technology plays in accelerating project workflows of many of our manufacturing, construction and engineering customers".
"By working with Autodesk, we're connecting critical information across the enterprise and entire supply chains and enabling our joint customers to become more competitive".
As part of the expanded alliance, customers will be able to search and retrieve DWF-based information, such as land parcel maps and manufacturing product specifications, posted on the internet using MSN Search.
This development will make it easier for project teams to find critical design specifications and information on the internet.
With the latest version of Autodesk DWF Writer software, users can use the one-click publishing feature from Office to create and more securely share 2D and 3D design content.
They can also share drawings, maps and models within Office applications by dragging and dropping the DWF file into the application window, and preview, search, print and email DWF files directly from Windows Explorer.
Carol Bartz, Chairman and CEO of Autodesk, said: "By adding XAML support to DWF, Microsoft users with PCs running the Windows Presentation Foundation will have the ability to view design-related data as well as manage and share complex 3D design content more easily with downstream, non-CAD users".
Manufacturing, building and civil engineering professionals typically rely on a combination of design, office productivity and back office software to complete their projects on time.
Engineers and designers regularly communicate critical design information to extended teams, including suppliers, customers, procurement agents, sales staff and marketing teams.
With current methods, the rich, precise design content is often lost in the transfer between design and productivity applications resulting in errors, inefficient workflows and slower time to market.
To solve these problems, Autodesk and Microsoft envision products for common users as well as their partners, suppliers and customers based on DWF and XAML technologies that will let engineers and non-engineers share critical design information across the enterprise.
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