Documentation
Your use of the technology is governed by these Terms of Use. By accessing, uploading files or URLs, viewing files through, or otherwise using the Project Freewheel® technology, you agree to be bound by these. Project Freewheel® is a technology preview. This means the service is not complete nor is it supported. The performance, reliability, functionality, and quality of the service are not at production standards. The service is offered for your enjoyment, experimentation, and web site development. There is no guarantee that this preview will be offered in the future or as a supported product. Interfaces, terms, and APIs of this service are subject to change.
Currently this Web service only allows you to view DWF files that are publicly available on the internet and are addressable by a public URL. You cannot currently view DWF files which are: behind a firewall, on your private network, password secured, DRM protected (measure-disabled, markup-disabled, and print-disabled), or otherwise secured. The service works by downloading the DWF you specify (by URL) from the source web server to an Autodesk server which renders the content and delivers the result to a user's web browser. The Autodesk server may analyze, process, report on, and cache the DWF data provided to it.
To view your design in the web-based Project Freewheel® viewer:
- From within a compatible browser, visit http://freewheel.labs.autodesk.com. A default design will be displayed.
- Log into Autodesk Labs. Click the "File" icon, select open, and type in a URL to a public DWF file. Alternatively you can upload a DWF file from your computer or network.
- You can select File->My Designs to see a list of DWF files you have uploaded using your Autodesk Labs login.
To instantly share your design with others using Project Freewheel®:
- While working on a design using AutoCAD, Inventor, or Revit, click on the "ShareNow" icon.
- Log into Autodesk Labs.
- Select Share->Start. Pick a session name. Optionally pick a session password.
- Email links to join or verbally tell phone participants to navigate to http://freewheel.labs.autodesk.com, select Share->Join, and enter the session name.
This processes requires that you have previously downloaded and installed the Project Freewheel® ShareNow utility.
To utilize Project Freewheel® as a Web service to allow people to view your design inside your own Web page:
- First make your DWF file(s) available publicly on the internet. You must use a public URL so that the Autodesk server can retrieve the DWF file and render it.
- Add the following to your HTML source code in the appropriate location (depending upon where in your Web page you want the viewing service to appear):
<iframe scrolling="no" width="800" height="600"
You replace "www.pinnacle-pizza.com/Hotel5.dwf" with your own DWF file. You can edit the width, height and path to specify your desired viewer window size and DWF URL respectively.
src="http://freewheel.labs.autodesk.com/dwf.aspx?path=http://www.pinnacle-pizza.com/Hotel5.dwf">
</iframe>
Additional Project Freewheel® Information
The Project Freewheel® site has informational pages that can be accessed from the navigation controls on the site. These include:
- Learn More contains the latest information on Project Freewheel® operation.
- Web Developers supplies examples of how to use Project Freewheel® in a variety of ways.
- Gallery features some 3D and 2D designs made available using Project Freewheel®.
- Feedback lists ways you can contact Project Freewheel® team members.
Supported Languages
The user interface in the technology preview only supports English at this time, though DWF files from any language may be used.
Supported Browsers
Only Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 (or higher) and Mozilla Firefox 1.5 (or higher) are supported at this time. Safari support is a work in progress: try it, but your mileage may vary. Other browsers are planned for future releases.
Why the name “Freewheel”?
Why Freewheel? Be free of software installs, free to view and collaborate, and free access to data.
How Project Freewheel® and Autodesk® Freewheel® Differ
Version 1.0 was fully released as an Autodesk service on April 10, 2007, while version 1.0.1 and future versions will continue to be in development and available through Autodesk Labs. Based on feedback from Autodesk Labs users, on July 20, 2009 some functionality from Project Freewheel was graduated into Autodesk Freewheel.
| Item |  |
 |
| Name | Project Freewheel® | Autodesk® Freewheel® |
| URL | freewheel.labs.autodesk.com | freewheel.autodesk.com |
| Version | 1.0.9.59 | 1.0.10.60 |
| Strategy | exposure of viewing and other technologies that may or may not eventually be incorporated into Autodesk® Freewheel® | reliable DWF-based viewing without the need to install additional software |
| Monitoring | monitored by the Autodesk Labs team | monitored 24/7 by the same Autodesk IT Operations team that maintains the Buzzsaw/Streamline servers |
| Emphasis | exploration of sharing design data over the web to a variety of platforms | software as a service - in this case, a free service |
| Features | Upload via ShareNow, File Open (DWF, DWFx), Email, Print, Autodesk login, My Designs, My Sessions, Zoom (In, Out, Fit), Pan, Full Screen/Restore, 3D Orbit (improved feedback cube), Navigation Wheels (3D and 2D), Collaboration (Share, Join, Markup List), Markup (Sketch, Highlight, Callout), DIV-based mashup, watermark, Customize UI (mode, CSS, UI, TOOL), JavaScript API, Project Draw integration |
File Open (DWF, DWFx), Email, Print, Zoom (In, Out, Fit), Pan, Full Screen/Restore, 3D Orbit (improved feedback cube), Navigation Wheels (3D and 2D), DIV-based mashup, watermark, Customize UI (mode, CSS, UI, TOOL), JavaScript API |
| Support | Labs.Freewheel@autodesk.com or Freewheel® discussion group (browser) (newsreader) |
Freewheel® discussion group (browser) (newsreader) |
| Blog | It's Alive in the Lab Scott Sheppard |
Beyond the Paper Volker Joseph |