Download Navisworks Viewer

[Rakeen Garreau]

I created a model in Infraworks using Model Builder (c.150 sq.km) and exported the model to fbx. I loaded the fbx files into Navisworks Simulate and all looked good - aerial imagery was as expected and I saved this as an nwc file.

I wanted then to pass this model to the client who doesn't have Navisworks so I thought the Freedom viewer would be the answer. I saved the nwc as an nwd file but when I tested it in Freedom the aerial imagery was missing (but everything else was ok) so I'm a bit stuck now.

neilyj (No connection with Autodesk other than using the products in the real world)
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In an environment that will, for the near-term, only include Revit, what would be the free best viewer to make available to non-Revit users who will have a need to view models. I 'd prefer something that alllows exploring the model in depth. Download size is also a consideration though not as important. The only two candidates I'm aware of are Revit as a Demo Viewer (no license) and Navisworks Freedom. Which is "best"?

I would appreciate it if you would let me know if this answers your question. If it doesn't, please reply with more information about what you are trying to do so that I can provide a better answer.

Thank you,

I think the Revit demo is the best choice because it is seamless. You don't have to do anything extra and the options for viewing the model are endless. Both Design Review and Navisworks Freedom work well, but each requires you to export the RVT file to a 3D DWF first. Freedom views NWD and DWF files, but not NWC files as does Manage and Simulate, so you cannot use the Navisworks Export Utility (which only creates NWCs).

The difference is in how you wish to view the model information. If you want to mark up your sheets, you would first export your sheets to a DWF and use DR to do markup. You can then link the marked up DWF back into Revit and see the markups on the sheets which is really cool.

For a 3D view, you need to first create a dedicated 3D Export view in Revit and export that to a 3D DWF, which can be viewed in either DR or NF. Both allow you to interactively explore your model. However, NF is really limited in how much you can do to the model. It was really designed to view the output from Manage or Simulate. For example, in DR you can create sections to see into your model. You cannot do so in Freedom. However, in Freedom you can select and move individual items, hide them, and save viewpoints; you also have some realism effects like gravity and collision for performing live demos.

It's a real shame that Freedom is so crippled. Being able to section the model, create new viewpoints easily, create viewpoint animation walkthroughs, change the color and transparency of elements, create search sets, etc. is a fantastic way to leverage the building model. If they just took Manage and stripped out the higher-order (and spendy) functions - Clash Detective, Timeliner, Animator, etc. - and leave in the other basic functions, you'd have a world-class model reviewing tool.

Hey there! Are you ready to dive into the world of 3D modeling and design? Let's talk about the amazing online Navisworks viewer, a powerful tool for exploring and collaborating on 3D models for construction and design projects.

Navisworks is a software suite developed by Autodesk that allows users to create and view 3D models of building projects. With the online Navisworks viewer, you can easily access and interact with these 3D models without the need for complex software installations. This means you can explore intricate architectural designs, engineering schematics, and construction plans right from your web browser.

So, why should you consider using the online Navisworks viewer for your projects? First off, it offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate through complex 3D models. You can zoom, pan, and rotate the model to get a comprehensive understanding of the design details. This level of interactivity is crucial for spotting potential issues and making informed decisions during the planning and construction phases.

Another major benefit is the ability to collaborate with team members and stakeholders in real-time. The online Navisworks viewer allows you to share the 3D models with others, and they can review and annotate the designs without needing access to the original software. This simplifies the communication process and fosters a more cohesive approach to project management.

Furthermore, the online Navisworks viewer supports various file formats, including Autodesk Navisworks (.nwd), Revit (.rvt), and AutoCAD (.dwg). This flexibility ensures that you can work with a wide range of 3D models and integrate them seamlessly into your workflow.

In addition to its viewing capabilities, the online Navisworks viewer also provides clash detection functionality. This feature enables you to identify potential conflicts or clashes within the 3D model, such as overlapping elements or spatial inconsistencies. By catching these issues early on, you can prevent costly rework and delays in the construction process.

In conclusion, the online Navisworks viewer is a valuable tool for anyone involved in construction, architecture, or engineering projects. Its intuitive interface, collaborative features, and support for multiple file formats make it a must-have for exploring and analyzing 3D models.

So, whether you're a project manager, architect, engineer, or designer, consider incorporating the online Navisworks viewer into your toolkit. It's a game-changer for visualizing and understanding 3D models in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

As far as I know, there isn't a NWD reader (i.e. Freedom) that runs natively on a Mac OS. The only thing I can think of would be to use the web viewer Autodesk has made available ( ). Not sure if it's Safari compatible or not, you may need install Chrome to get it to work (purely guessing).

I've tried using the A360 viewer by uploading to A360 drive on multiple devices - Apple and Microsoft tablets, computers, and mobiles - without success. BIM 360 Glue app worked perfectly on the new iPad Pro but it is not available on my Macbook Pro running OSX Yosemete 10.10.5. Please let me know of any solutions, thanks.

I was able to make this work on my MacBook Pro 2019 running macOS Ventura 13.4.1, with google chrome browser, see attached screenshot. I have also made the models work on my iPad Pro with BIM 360 glue. I like it much better on the iPad with the exception of I can't figure out how to find and use the selection tree.

Get the whole-project view using Navisworks solutions. Combine design data created in AutoCAD and Revit software-based products and other applications with models created by other design tools. Then, view these files with Navisworks Freedom viewer software. NWD files viewed with Navisworks Freedom give stakeholders equal access to explore and experience whole projects.

The Navisworks Freedom free download creates compressed, more secure, NWD format files. A practical solution to streaming large CAD models, NWD files require no model preparation, third-party server hosting, setup time, or ongoing costs.

I had my Sketchup home 3D model converted to a Navis Works Freedom file and I realize what I was missing. The Sketchup walk and look around is so much difficult and frustrating. It would be good if Sketchup improves the look around and walk tools. As a quick workaround, I suggest that Sketchup include a file export for use with the Navis Works Freedom.

Because I know it would be the first question that a SU product manager will ask, what is it about waking through Navisworks is better than SketchUp? Specific examples really help with this kind of request.

So, just to challenge you a little more, are you saying that it is the REALISM that you prefer? Right now both Epic and Nscape offer free solutions to let you navigate through a rendered SketchUp model in real time. If it is a certain set of navigation controls that you prefer, please let us know what those are!

In Sketchup when a walk and look around is done. It throws up clipping planes and the view is cut off. I have to zoom out to orient and then again redo the task. This is frustrating. This is better managed in the Navis look around.
Thanks for the info on Epic and Enscape viewers.

Since Sketchup does not have the functionlity of a better look around as in Navis Works. I wanted to for the Navis Manager, which is a subscription service and associated with a lot of related Autodesk products and therefore costs a lot per year. Does Vray provide a means of walk through and look around, better than it does in Sketchup. I sincerely hope that they do some improvement to the look around feature of Sketchup without being bugged by the clipping planes.

Bekijk een overzicht van het complete project met de Navisworks-oplossingen. Combineer ontwerpdata gemaakt in AutoCAD, Revit en andere toepassingen met modellen gemaakt door andere ontwerptools. Bekijk deze bestanden vervolgens met de Navisworks Freedom-viewersoftware. NWD-bestanden die met Navisworks Freedom worden weergegeven, bieden belanghebbenden gelijkwaardige toegang om complete projecten te verkennen en beleven.

De gratis download van Navisworks Freedom maakt gecomprimeerde, veiligere NWD-bestanden. NWD-bestanden zijn een praktische oplossing om grote CAD-modellen te streamen, zonder modelvoorbereiding, serverhosting door derden, set-uptijd of lopende kosten.

Projectteams die Navisworks-software gebruiken, kunnen volledige projectmodellen genereren voor simulatie en analyse met de distribueerbare NWC-bestandsexporteur. Teamleden kunnen zonder een licentie voor Navisworks geoptimaliseerde NWC-bestanden rechtstreeks vanuit ontwerptoepassingen genereren. De NWC-exporteur werkt met een reeks producten, waaronder AutoCAD- en Revit-software, evenals 3ds Max-, Bentley MicroStation- en Graphisoft ArchiCAD-software. Het NWC-bestandsformaat ondersteunt de overdracht van zowel objectgeometrie als bijbehorende metagegevens.

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