Drawing Encryption

Password-based encryption helps secure drawing data when you collaborate on projects. Specifically, when you maintain a password for a drawing, you can help prevent unauthorized viewing of the drawing when it is sent to others.

When a password is attached to a drawing, the password encrypts the drawing and prevents unauthorized people from viewing it. You can choose the level of encryption used. Passwords help you collaborate on projects by helping to keep your data safe when the data is sent to others.

The drawing encryption password is different from other types of drawing passwords, such as the password you use with eTransmit, because you can specify the encryption level. The primary use of encryption is to help prevent drawing data from being stolen. Encryption can also be used to help keep data confidential.

For example, if a company creates a valuable, confidential design for an engine factory, the company can help protect the drawings with a password (or phrase) before sending the drawings out for review by the builders. Password protection could be one of the many measures the company could take, in addition to measures such as a secure intranet and rules about information disclosure, that would help keep the factory design confidential. Passwords work only on AutoCAD 2004® and later drawing files (DWG, DWS, and DWT files).

Add a Password to a Drawing

A password can be a single word, or a phrase. It is recommended that you use common characters. The more characters you use, the harder it is for an unauthorized program, or “password cracker,” to determine the password.

When you add a password to a drawing, you can choose whether to encrypt drawing properties, and you can specify an encryption type and key length.

After you add a password to a drawing and save the drawing, the password is required before any program or part of a program can read the data in the drawing, even if the drawing is an external reference. A specific password generally is required to be entered once per session.

If you encrypt drawing properties, such as the title, author, subject, and keywords, then a password is required to view the properties and thumbnail preview of the drawing. If you decide to specify an encryption type and key length, you can select them from the ones available on your computer.