You can send a published DWF file as an e-mail attachment, share it using a project collaboration site, such as Autodesk® Buzzsaw®, or post it to a company website. Also, DWF files are typically much smaller than PDF files. Unlike PDF files, however, DWF files retain design information (scale, measurements, assemblies), which makes them more suitable for architects, engineers, and designers. Much like Adobe® PDF files, the contents of a DWF file cannot be altered.

In QTO, the source of the 2D or 3D DWF file determines the level of automatic quantity takeoff functionality that is available. However, in some cases, this is limited by the person who originally created, or published, the DWF file. Usually, the content of each sheet can be viewed, marked up, measured, and printed. Using DWF files helps you enhance collaboration and easily exchange information with extended teams.Įach DWF file contains one or more pages called sheets. Using DWF, you can combine 2D and 3D design data, as well as other project-related files, into a single, highly compressed file. All data associated with a given estimate is stored in a QTO project.ĭWF stands for Design Web Format™, which is an open, secure file format developed by Autodesk. Both DWF and non-DWF files (DWGs, PDFs, TIFs, GIFs, and JPGs) can be used as source files. Using QTO, estimators can combine multiple sources of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) design data and generate quantity takeoff to create a cost estimate. QTO gives estimators the tools to perform digital quantity takeoff, which is faster, easier, and more accurate than paper-based methods. Traditionally, construction cost estimators have used paper-based methods to perform quantity takeoff. The process of measuring quantities of materials from drawings and specifications prepared by architects, engineers, and other designers is known as quantity takeoff. Understanding Quantity Takeoff (QTO) Concepts and Tools

Autodesk quantity takeoff student