Downloading | Installing | Registration | Using DWFmaker | Troubleshooting | Compatibility

Basic Idea
You get DWFmaker by downloading a self-extracting installation program called DWFmaker9x.exe (or DWFmakerNT.exe for Windows NT4/2000/XP) from this web site. (In these pages we refer to the two versions simply as "DWFmaker*.exe".)

Once DWFmaker*.exe is on your hard disk, run it by double-clicking from Windows Explorer to extract DWFmaker files to your system and launch the DWFmaker Installation Wizard.

Details
1. Go to the download page
2. If you are running Windows NT4, 2000 or XP, click on the "get DWFmaker for NT/2000/XP" button. If you are running Windows 95, 98 or Me, click on the "get DWFmaker for 95/98/Me" button.
3. When prompted for a folder, choose something convenient like C:\TEMP
4. After the download is complete, use Windows Explorer to browse to C:\TEMP
5. Double click on DWFmaker*.exe to begin extracting the DWFmaker files.
6. When prompted, click OK, click Unzip, then click OK.
7. You're ready to go on to the installation process.

Technical Notes
1 The self-extracting installation program DWFmaker*.exe places files by default in the folder C:\Program Files\DWFmaker.
2 It's possible to use the DWFmaker files with Windows' standard Add Printer Wizard later if you want to.

Basic Idea
The DWFmaker Installation Wizard starts automatically after the program you downloaded, DWFmaker*.exe, has finished expanding files onto your hard disk. The Installation Wizard guides you through the installation process and shows you your license agreement to use DWFmaker software. When you're finished, DWFmaker will be installed as a system printer driver in your Windows Printers folder.

Details
(We're following on from the details in the previous section - Downloading)
1. If you're a system administrator or you're in control of your own computer, click Next.
2. Read the license agreement which identifies your entitlement to use the software. If you agree with the terms of the license agreement, select Yes and click Next.
3. DWFmaker is going to appear as a printer driver in your Windows Printers Folder. The default name is DWFmaker. Click Next to use this name, or enter a new name and click Next.
4. Click Finish
5. DWFmaker will be installed on your system. The short instructions on your screen tell you where you go next to configure and use DWFmaker, and to buy license key(s) that unlock DWFmaker from evaluation mode.

Technical Notes
1. DWFmaker for NT/2000/XP only supports the following operating systems: Windows NT 4, Windows 2000, Windows XP. DWFmaker for 95/98/Me only supports the following operating systems: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me.
2. You must have access priviledges to install a printer driver on your system. If you get an error message during installation no matter how strange, check with your system administrator first to verify that you have adequate access priviledges.
3. DWFmaker files remain stored by default in the folder C:\Program Files\DWFmaker. If you later need to reinstall DWFmaker, use these files.

Basic Idea
DWFmaker is available for evaluation by download from this site. The download version is fully functional but includes a DWFmaker EVALUATION logo on each page of output. Once unlocked with a license key, DWFmaker prints without the evaluation logo message. Buy your DWFmaker license key(s) from this site with a secure transaction from Kagi Inc. You'll receive your license key code(s) by email. Enter your license key information directly into DWFmaker's About box to unlock your copy of the software.

Details
1. Go to the Buy Now page
2. To buy a single user license key, type 1 next to the first line item. OR, to buy license keys for more than one user, type the number of license keys you want next to the second line item.
3. Click Continue to reach the Kagi secure transaction page
4. Enter your credit card and contact information
5. Click Purchase
6. Kagi will process your credit card securely and send license key(s) to you by email.
7. When you receive your license key(s) by email, enter the code into the DWFmaker software on your computer: - Click Start, Settings, Printers - Right click on the DWFmaker icon - Select Document Defaults or Printing Preferences or Properties - Click the About/Help tab - Click Enter License Key - Enter your name and code, as they appear on the email advice you received - Click OK
8. Your DWFmaker software is now unlocked. It will print without the evaluation logo.

To access DWFmaker's online help
1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Printers.
2. Right-click on the DWFmaker icon.
3. Select Document Defaults or Printing Preferences or Properties.
4. Select the About/Help tab.
5. Click the DWFmaker Help button.

Note
For quick help on any DWFmaker setting, right-click on it, and then click What's This.

Look through this list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). It contains the most commonly needed information for people in your circumstances.

Q1: I installed DWFmaker but now I can't find it. Where is the software on my system? Where do I configure DWFmaker settings?

A1: DWFmaker is installed as a printer driver in your Windows Printers Folder.
To access your printers folder, click Start > Settings > Printers. If DWFmaker is installed correctly, you'll see an icon for DWFmaker. Right-click on the icon, and select Document Defaults or Printing Preferences or Properties to configure DWFmaker's settings.  

Q2: How do I make a DWF file?

A2: Print from a Windows program using DWFmaker as your selected printer. (Most Windows programs have a menu choice for File > Print). When DWFmaker prints, it will prompt you for a filename. This becomes the name for your DWF file.  

Q3: What page size should I use?

A3: Autodesk's viewers display DWF images the same size independent of the page size you select when generating the image. Use whatever page size is convenient for the way your application program is configured. In general, the larger the page size the higher the effective resolution you will see when viewing your DWF image on screen.

Q4: Can I edit the output from DWFmaker?

A4: DWFmaker produces standard DWF language which conforms to Autodesk's specification. Any editor or program which reads standard DWF is compatible with DWFmaker's output.

Q5: What happens to line widths when I zoom DWF images created by DWFmaker?

A5: The displayed width of each line increases proportionally to the amount of zoom.

Q6: How do I set the thickness of a line in the first place?

A6: DWFmaker generates lines which are the thickness specified by your drawing program. DWFmaker also enables you to set minimum line widths for lines of each particular color in your drawing, for when you want to achieve a different result in your DWF file than you get from your original drawing program. Use DWFmaker's Color Associations control to configure the minimum line width for a particular color in your drawing.

Example: I want all Red lines in my drawing to be 0.35mm thick.

Actions: 1. Access DWFmaker's setup dialog from your Printers Folder (Click Start > Settings > Printers then right-click on the DWFmaker icon and click Document Defaults or Printing Preferences or Properties.
2. Expand the control for Color Associations.
3. Leave Color Association #1 configured with the default Source Color setting of AutoColor. DWFmaker will use this Color Association to print all non-Red lines; another Color Association will be defined, in the next step, specifically to handle Red lines.
4. Set the Source Color for Color Association #2 to Red.
5. Set the Minimum Line Width for Color Association #2 to 0.35mm. DWFmaker is now configured to print Red lines using a minimum width of 0.35mm.  

Q7: How do I change the color of a line?

A7: DWFmaker enables you to change the colors which are used to output lines from your drawing. Use DWFmaker's Color Associations control to configure a new color for lines which are drawn in a particular color in your drawing.

Example: I want all Red lines in my drawing to be drawn Green.

Actions: 1. Access DWFmaker's setup dialog from your Printers Folder (Click Start > Settings > Printers then right-click on the DWFmaker icon and click Document Defaults or Printing Preferences or Properties).
2. Expand the control for Color Associations.
3. Leave Color Association #1 configured with the default Source Color setting of AutoColor. DWFmaker will use this Color Association to print all non-Red lines; another Color Association will be defined, in the next step, specifically to handle Red lines.
4. Set the Source Color for Color Association #2 to Red.
5. Set the Target Color for Color Association #2 to Green. DWFmaker is now configured to print lines which appear Red in your drawing using Green. If you want to change another color, configure Color Association #3 with the Source Color and your prefered Target Color.  

Q8: My output looks transparent in some places where it should be solid white. Why is that? What can I do about it?

A8: By default DWFmaker's drawing strategy is to print White as Transparent, in order to counteract Volo View's default display strategy of translating White to Black. If your drawing requires a solid fill instead of transparency for White, change the Target Color of DWFmaker's Color Association for White from Transparent to a solid color (such as 10% Black).

If you set a Target Color of White or if you remove the Color Association for White altogether, the White areas of your DWF files will appear Black when viewed with Volo View because Volo View displays white regions as black.

Q9: How do I get DWFmaker to remember its settings?

A9: Sometimes when you configure DWFmaker from within an application program, it may appear that DWFmaker is not retaining its settings each time you access them. This can happen because some programs don't save the state of the printer driver each time they print. With these programs, you may be better off to configure DWFmaker directly in your Printers Folder, rather than from within the application program. Once you have configured DWFmaker settings in your printers folder, the settings become the new defaults which are loaded each time your application program prints.  

Q10: How do I uninstall DWFmaker?

A10: 1. Go to your Windows Printers Folder (Click Start > Settings > Printers).
2. Right click on the icon for DWFmaker.
3. Click Delete  

Q11: How do I get rid of the EVALUATION logo from my output?

A11: You have the demo version of DWFmaker. Upgrade your copy by buying a license key. Enter your license key directly into DWFmaker to unlock the software from evaluation mode.  

Q12: Where do I buy DWFmaker license key(s)?

A12: DWFmaker license key(s) are available online from this site (from US$24.95 for a single user license) with secure transactions from Kagi Inc. After completing your transaction, Kagi will send license key(s) to you by email with instructions for unlocking the software.  

Q13: What operating systems does DWFmaker work with?

A13: DWFmaker for NT/2000/XP only supports the following operating systems: Windows NT 4, Windows 2000, Windows XP. DWFmaker for 95/98/Me only supports the following operating systems: Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me.

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Applications compatibility