AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) and AutoCAD MEP Object Support

AutoCAD Architecture (ACA) creates AutoCAD .DWG files with custom objects such as walls, doors, windows, stairs, and slabs. AutoCAD MEP is a separate application built on top of ACA and adds additional object types such as HVAC ducts, plumbing, electrical, and piping. The Newforma Viewer can display ACA drawings and most of the commonly used objects in ACA, but it cannot reliably display the object types created by AutoCAD MEP.

The reason for this is that Project Center uses licensed technology from the Open Design Alliance (ODA) to support AutoCAD, ACA, and other CAD formats. AutoCAD MEP objects are not supported by ODA, therefore Project Center does not support AutoCAD MEP objects. The code to support ACA comes from the Open Design Alliance (ODA) and is out of Newforma’s control.

Known workarounds include exporting the ACA or AutoCAD MEP drawing to AutoCAD, or publishing the drawing to .DWF. In both cases, the Newforma Viewer will then be able to display the AutoCAD MEP objects in the resulting file.