Hi All,

'Do you think the revised warning message is acceptable?'

Owen, I would agree the new wording is an 'improvement' but Autodesk, with the new wording, are still trying to induce fear by stating, 'cannot guarantee the application compatibility or integrity of this file', and they are, as you say still making it seem their files are 'guaranteed', we all know, Autodesk included, that this is not so.

The original wording was, in my opinion, an honest and appropriate warning, it read as follows; “This file may have been last saved by a program other than Autodesk software.  Please verify that the drawing is complete and accurate”.  I say this is appropriate because it is issuing an appropriate level of warning to a user without making any particular point other than stating the truth. I doubt their is one amongst us that expects Autodesk to 'guarantee' another's files, so the warning 'Please verify that the drawing is complete and accurate' is a well worded piece of advice. It's a professional response, it's giving advice not making a point and as a result would, in the main, be viewed by users in a positive way.

DWGCHECK should simply be returned to its earlier form using the old message (as above) and also allowing it to be turned OFF, entirely.  Besides the scripting issues this returns rightfully, to users, the control they are entitled too.  1) That is, for those of us that knowingly choose to use contractors or to share files with others using differing CAD systems, and have put in place the appropriate procedures to ensure compatibility we can turn 'dwgcheck' and get on with using the files. 2) For those that have not done this, or are unsure, they can maintain the warning and, 3) It returns to (other) users their right to select a CAD applications that suits their commercial needs; it may be a surprise to Autodesk staff but Autodesk's products are not commercially appropriate, cost effective for all CAD users.

In conclusion, in my letter to Autodesk, relating to this matter and sent shortly after they filed their original suit, I also warned that the "TrustedDWG" trademark, as a direct result of Autodesk's actions, was in danger of becoming the industry by-word for any and all unreliable CAD files. I asked the question, was this a situation Autodesk wanted, now having to spend promotional dollars trying to counter the negative connotations attached to the TrustedDWG trade mark?