CAD

[Brian]

Not subscribed.

Currently using Konq 3.5 on Suse 9.2 and 10

My thoughts on CAD on the Linux Platform.

The CAD industry is stuck with it's head up its collective backside. What  
more can you say ? They have incredible beligerence in supporting  
alternative platforms and seem to be colluding to keep others out. Why  
else is it so difficult to view our CAD files on our Linux boxen ?

Is it possible for us to improve Knoquerors handling of CAD files ? For  
example could we develop a series of good icons to represent established  
file formats like Autocad, Solid Works, IGES, STEP, ..... and others. This  
would enable us to quickly identify CAD files and display them in a nice  
konqueror window.

The Open DWG Alliance does have a linux product to view CAD files. It has  
a very onerous membership, requiring signed documents etc, before members  
can download libraries for their lx-viewer. Does KDE or Konq have any  
incorporated bodies that could apply for and use these libraries to  
display Autocad files ? Membership is free.

CAD is only on of several big software industries that Konqueror will  
encounter. Needless to say they have thousands of lisences generating many  
thousands of files daily. It would be an important step for Konqueror to  
incorporate some ideas for recognising CAD files in a more formal way.
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