Q. How does DrawingSearcher work?
A. DrawingSearcher reads all the text, attributes (visible and non-visible) and block names in all the drawings on your entire network and indexes them into a text search engine stored on the index server. To find a drawing the index server is accessed via your web browser, just like you use a search engine on the web (e.g. Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft Bing, Ask.com, etc.).
Q. Why is DrawingSearcher so easy to use?
A. Users call it the "Google®-like search engine for AutoCAD®" To find a drawing with DrawingSearcher, the user needs to only know what they want to find and not how and not where to find it. If you need to find all drawings that reference a specific Part Number, just type the Part Number in the SEARCH field and press Submit. A list of drawings is instantly generated! There is no need to learn how to search a complex database system as is the case with other Document Management Systems. DrawingSearcher's capabilities go far beyond that found in standard "card catalog" search systems. Instead of being limited to finding documents based on the data entered in the card catalog, DrawingSearcher searches all text and alphanumeric strings inside the drawing.
Q. Our drawings are highly confidential. There's no way we would put them on the Internet. How can DrawingSearcher help us?
A. Your proprietary drawings are NOT put out on the internet, or anywhere outside of your organization (e.g. no drawings are copied to Docupoint or any other site). While DrawingSearcher can be used to publish drawings to the Internet, the most common use is on a standard Local Area Network (LAN) behind your network system's firewall, commonly referred to as "within your Intranet". In this configuration, your drawing files are fully 100% protected from outside, Internet access.
Q. How do I access DrawingSearcher from our network?
A. It's simple. Just point your web browser to the network address of the DrawingSearcher server. A customizable html SEARCH screen will be displayed. Enter a simple or advanced SEARCH and press the Submit button. That's it! A list of drawings containing the search criteria is created instantly. Click on the hot link and the drawing is automatically opened in Autodesk Design Review, a free application.
Q. We have over 20,000 drawings. How can DrawingSearcher help us?
A. DrawingSearcher's cataloging process is fully automatic. Simply install the server software, configure it for the storage devices, drives, and directories that are to be searched, and let it go! DrawingSearcher will automatically read all the drawing files (in the background) and extract any text into the search engine database. Within just a few hours after installation, you will be able to search for any drawing within your network. The indexer constantly maintains the accuracy of the index database listening for file changes, and thru regularly scheduled re-indexing (for example to allow SEARCH'ing of all new drawings that are being added to your network).
Q. Does DrawingSearcher require a copy of AutoCAD to read the drawings?
A. No, DrawingSearcher directly reads the AutoCAD binary files (.DWG) without requiring the use of an AutoCAD license on the computers being used to SEARCH your AutoCAD drawing files. Of course, you needed AutoCAD to create the AutoCAD drawings in the first place. And now, even non-AutoCAD users can SEARCH and FIND those drawings.
Q. How big are the DrawingSearcher index files?
A. DrawingSearcher index files are extremely compact, typically 1-2% of drawing file size. DrawingSearcher's advanced compression techniques minimize the disk space required to store the drawing data for "instant access" when each SEARCH is performed. And, of course, the original AutoCAD drawing files are not changed in any way.
Q. Can we migrate configuration settings, index, and images to another machine?
A. Yes, everything including; index, images and settings are stored in C:\ProgramData\Docupoint\DrawingSearcher\ . Simply copy everything from this folder including subfolders to the new computer. Note: ProgramData is a hidden folder which you can see by selecting "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" from Folder Options in the Control Panel.
