the first is not really linux related, but one of the common complaints i hear is that the data is in closed formats. i suspect it is a few years too late, but i good idea non the less. Fwd: CADALYST Newsline (03-Feb-03) ---------------------------------------------------------2 2. BENTLEY LAUNCHES OPENDGN PROGRAM, PLANT DIVISION Bentley Systems outlines its OpenDGN for V8 program, designed to encourage reuse of AEC data. Under the program, Bentley will support an independent, nonprofit consortium that will maintain and license libraries that read and write V8 DGN format. The libraries will be provided free to end users. Bentley SELECT subscribers will gain unlimited use of Bentley Redline software within their organizations. They will also be able to publish e-plots online that recipients can view and plot locally. how about three cheers for the guys from the lx-viewer project! they made the news! fwd: upFront.eZine NEWS #326 Below the Radar . . . . . A summary of CAD industry news you may not have read elsewhere, or that I found interesting: LX-Viewer is a .dwg/.dxf viewer being developed for Linux and Windows under a modified GPL license, in English, Portuguese, German, Spanish, Indonesian, and Italian. http://lx-viewer.sourceforge.net/ -- Oh i've slipped the surly bonds of DOS and danced the skies on Linux silvered wings. http://pfrostie.freeservers.com/cad-tastrafy/ //www.freelists.org/webpage/cad-linux