Volo View Express 2 Installation

Volo View Express 2 and the Inventor 5 Plugin are free downloads from AutoCAD.

Source Locations:

Volo View Express 2 -- http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/item/0,,837421-123112,00.html  -- filename: vve2setup.exe

Inventor 5  Plugin -- http://support.autodesk.com/getDoc.asp?id=DL100154 -- filename: inv5pisetup.exe

System Requirements & Features:

• Volo™ View Express 2 requires Microsoft® Windows® 2000, Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, or Windows NT® 4.0 with Service Pack 5 or later and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or higher.

• Volo View Express views DWG, DXF™, and DWF (ePlot and eView) files.
• Volo View Express 2 is the latest version of Volo View Express (build 627), released August 2001.
• Download size is 24.9MB.
   
• The Inventor 5 plugin enables the viewing and manipulation of Autodesk Inventor 5 IPT, IAM, and IDW files.
• Download size is 16.9 MB.
• One will not need to install this plugin if you are installing Volo View Express 2 from the AutoCAD Inventor 5 CD or the Volo View 2 CD
  
   

Installation:

1. Download the above files (either from this directory or from the source site) and save it somewhere on your local hard disk.
2. Run the "vve2setup.exe" installer (from where you saved it.)
3. Run the "inv5pisetup.exe" installer (from where you saved it.)
4. Your system will need to restart after the Inventor 5 plugin installation.

Using Volo View Express 2 (with the Inventor 5 Plugin):

1. If CAD files are on your hard disk or network, you may open them through "File | Open" after starting up Volo View Express 2
2. If CAD files are on line, you can use the Internet Exporer (IE 5.01 or above) to access the CAD file. You will be given an option to "open" or "save" the file.
3. If you choose to "save" it, then you can save a particular file to your hard disk, and then open it locally (as per 1. above).
4. If you choose to "open" it, the first time you do so, you may have to configure the association of certain CAD files (like idw, .ipt, ...etc.) by selecting "Volo View Applications" when prompted. You'd probably want to check off the association to be "permanent" (rather than "one time".)
5. Note that .iam type Inventor design files cannot be opened from the browser while online (since the viewer is not able to open the associated .idv files simultaneously). One will have to download the .iam file and all associated .idv files, have them sit in the same directory, and then open the .iam file locally (as per 1. above).

Have fun!

- ppy / 1.26.2002