2011
Table Of Contents
The web server progress bar indicates how much of a model has been downloaded from a web server (when
using the Open URL command). As the Autodesk Navisworks engine can identify which data is required (within
an NWD file), it can prioritize this data and download it first (acting like a buffer) allowing you to commence
navigation of the model while Autodesk Navisworks continues to stream the remaining data from the web server.
The memory bar indicates how much memory is being used currently Autodesk Navisworks. This is reported in
megabytes (MB).
Workspaces
The Autodesk Navisworks user interface can be referred to as a workspace, and has been designed to be intuitive
and easy to use. Workspaces retain information about which windows are open, their positions, and the size of
the application window. Workspaces do not retain changes made to the ribbon or the Quick Access toolbar.
Autodesk Navisworks comes with a number of pre-defined workspaces which can be used as-is, or you can
customize and save these as your own task-oriented working environments. (Click View tab ➤ Workspace panel
➤ Load Workspace drop-down and select the desired workspace.)
Combine and Manage Your Projects
Autodesk Navisworks has three main file extensions: NWD, NWF, and NWC.
NWC files are cache files containing conversion data only (that is, they contain the relevant data necessary to
convert the CAD file into the Autodesk Navisworks format). NWC files can be exported directly out of supported
CAD applications, including Autodesk AutoCAD, Revit and 3ds Max; Bentley MicroStation and Graphisoft
ArchiCAD.
By default NWC files are also created automatically whenever you read a CAD file into Autodesk Navisworks -
this will actually speed up the process when next opening that CAD file (provided that it hasn’t been modified),
as the cache file can be used. This is especially noticeable when you are opening a project containing tens or
even hundreds of CAD files.
This brings us to NWF files, which are reference files and contain no geometry. They contain pointers back to
the original files that you open and append together plus anything you do with the model in Autodesk Navisworks.
It is recommended to save a master NWF file for your project once you’ve appended all of your CAD files.
Subsequent opening of the NWF will then re-open each file. Actually, it's a little more intelligent than this. It
will check to see if there is a corresponding NWC file and checks whether the CAD file has been modified since
last converted. If it has, the CAD file will be re-read and re-cached. If it hasn’t, the cache file will be used, speeding
up the loading process.
Finally we have the NWD file format. This is a complete data set, containing all of the geometry and anything
you do with the model in Autodesk Navisworks. It is highly compressed, and can be secured with password
protection. The NWD file is the recommended format for sharing the entire project with all stakeholders, enabling
individual disciplines to see how their design fits within the overall project. NWD files can be reviewed in the
free viewer, Autodesk Navisworks Freedom 2011, or if you need to add markup and carry out full analysis of the
project, then a full Autodesk Navisworks product may be used.
So let’s take a look at these file formats in practice. We’re going to start with three NWC files exported from Revit
Architecture, Revit Structure, and Revit MEP. These could, however, be any combination of supported file
formats/applications.
NOTE For the latest list of supported formats and applications, see our website: http://www.autodesk.com/navisworks
1 Click the application button ➤ Open
.
2 Browse to the C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk Navisworks Simulate 2011\Examples\Getting
Started directory, select Structure.nwc and click Open.
4 | Chapter 1 Getting Started