AutoCAD WS is a versatile app for viewing, editing and sharing CAD designs whether you’re in the office, at a construction site or anywhere in between. The barriers to entry for this Autodesk product are minimal as it is available for free as a browser-based web app and as a mobile app for iOS and Android.
When determining the technical requirements for AutoCAD WS, it’s important to consider a number of different products that fall under the AutoCAD WS umbrella. What unites WS across all platforms is that users have the ability to enable an online account that can be accessed from anywhere. That means you never have to worry again about printing your designs and carrying them with you to meetings or building sites. With AutoCAD WS, you can access your work from any computer, iOS or Android device. Most significantly, AutoCAD WS ensures that regardless of the device you use to make changes to your designs, those changes will be available whenever you access them in your online account--wherever you are in the world.
Web
Let’s review how to get started with the AutoCAD WS web version. Essentially, this requires a browser, an internet connection and little more. AutoCAD WS runs in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari and most other popular browsers. The web version is based on Flash so it will not run in mobile browsers that cannot run Flash. Fortunately, we have a mobile app solution that covers most of the market so our users are not limited to the Web.
Below, each AutoCAD WS mobile option is outlined with its specifications:
Mobile – iOS
AutoCAD WS may be installed on any version of the iPhone or iPad that is running iOS 3.0 or higher. You can download the latest version of the app for iOS by following this link.
Mobile – Android
Due to the diversity of the Android device market, it is impossible to test AutoCAD WS on every compatible device. Nevertheless, unless there is information to the contrary about a particular device, we believe AutoCAD WS can be installed on every smartphone or tablet running Android 2.1 or higher. You can download the latest version of the app for Android here.
AutoCAD WS for Mac
AutoCAD WS is also available for download as a native app for Mac users from the Mac App Store. Now you can view, edit and share your designs on any Mac machine running Mac OS X 10.6 or later.
AutoCAD
AutoCAD WS is directly accessible from AutoCAD 2012 and AutoCAD LT 2012 with the new, built-in “Online” tab. If you are running AutoCAD 2011, AutoCAD LT 2011, AutoCAD 2010 or AutoCAD LT 2010, you can download the WS plugin which will provide the online tab and allow you to upload your designs to your online account—and to share them with anyone you want.
With so many available entry points to AutoCAD WS, you can set yourself free from your workhorse desktop computer that sits under your desk at the office and being to experience the freedom of working whenever, wherever. You can take your designs with you wherever you go and you can collaborate with clients and colleagues wherever they are in the world—even if they have never used AutoCAD before, and even if they do not have an AutoCAD WS account.
Author: Daniel Sevitt, Autodesk
