Redlining Documents

In ProjectWise Web Explorer, you can redline documents of nearly all formats. Redlining allows you to add comments, suggest changes, and otherwise mark up a document, without actually altering the document's content. When you redline a document in ProjectWise, the mark up is always stored in a new and separate document, called the redline document, thus maintaining the integrity of the original document.

When you select a document and choose Document > Advanced > Redline, the document opens in one of two applications: either Bentley Publisher's PWViewer applet (for MicroStation DGN documents (V7 and V8) and for AutoCAD DWG or DXF documents), or ProjectWise Markup Manager for Web (for Microsoft Office documents, and other non-DGN or DWG documents). Markup Manager for Web can redline documents in any one of approximately 100 file formats.

When you create a redline document from a DGN or DWG document, ProjectWise retains the same file name and document name as the original document, and appends the extension ".rdl" (for DGNs) or ".red" (for DWGs) to the file name, and "redline" to the document name. The original DGN or DWG document is automatically attached as a reference to the redline document and is called the parent document.

When you redline a Word document, for example, Markup Manager for Web creates a raster redline document (based on the selected document) which is saved as a Markup Manager file with the file extension ".xcm".

From ProjectWise Web Explorer, the new redline document can be viewed by selecting the redline document and choosing Document > Quick View, or opened for further redlining by selecting the redline document and choosing Document > Advanced > Redline again.

If you decide to work from ProjectWise Explorer, you will be able to open .RDL and .RED documents in the original DGN or DWG document's native applications.

Redline files created by Markup Manager for Web cannot be opened/viewed in their original document's native application.

The Advanced > Redline option (and also the Quick View option) may or may not be available in Web Explorer, depending on how your administrator has installed and configured ProjectWise Web Server. Also, your administrator may have configured the ability to quickview and redline documents associated to some applications, and not others. Basically, if you select a document and you do not see options for quickviewing and redlining, then you do not have those capabilities for documents of that type.

Redlining with PWViewer

The PWViewer applet that opens when redlining DGN or DWG documents is the same applet that opens when in quickviewing documents of the same type in Web Explorer, with the addition of several redlining tools across the top of the applet. The following table describes the available redlining tools when PWViewer is invoked for redlining.

Tool	Effect
Place Line	Used to place a line in the document. Selecting this option opens the Place Line settings window, allowing you to configure the style and color of the line.
Place Circle	Used to place a circle in the document. Selecting this option opens the Place Circle settings window allowing you to configure the color of the circle.
Place Polygon	Used to place a polygon in the document. Selecting this option opens the Place Polygon settings window allowing you to configure the style and color of the polygon.
Place Text	Used to place a text element in the document. Selecting this option opens the Place Text settings window allowing you to enter the required text and choose color of the text.
Place Text Note	Used to place lines of text in the document with a leader line and arrow as a dimension element. Selecting this option opens the Place Text Note settings window allowing you to enter the required text, choose the text leader and select the color of the text.
Place Cloud	Used to place a cloud in a document. Selecting this option opens the Place Cloud settings window allowing you to configure the color of the cloud.
Place Free Form Line	Place a free form line in a document. Selecting this option opens the Place Free Form Line settings window allowing you to configure the style and color of the line.
Undo	Undoes the last command.
Redo	Redoes the last command.
Delete Redline Element	Used to delete the selected redline element.
Post Redline	Used to create and store the new redline document in ProjectWise.
Clear Redline	Removes all redline elements from the document.

The following procedure assumes that your administrator has configured the Web Server to allow for the redlining of DGN and DWG documents from Web Explorer clients.

To create a redline document from a DGN or DWG document

In the Documents window, select a DGN or DWG document.

From the Document menu, choose Advanced > Redline.
The PWViewer applet opens, displaying the selected document.

Redline the document as necessary, using the tools across the top of the PWViewer.
When redlining is complete, the redline data needs to be posted to the server.

Click the Post Redline icon.
The Post redline document dialog box opens.

The folder name and description display in the Folder Name and Folder Description text fields.

In the Document Name and Document Description text fields section, enter the redline document's name and description.
The Filename field can remain the same as the default filename but ProjectWise expects the user to enter a different, unique name in the Document Name field.

Click OK.
The redline data is sent to the server and the Post redline document dialog box closes.

If you click OK but do not have any redline mark up in the document, ProjectWise will not allow you to create the redline document.

Close the redline document, if you are asked if you're sure you want to close redlining, click Yes.
The redline document closes and you return to ProjectWise Web Explorer.

Redlining with Markup Manager for Web

When you redline a Microsoft Office document from ProjectWise Web Explorer, Markup Manager for Web is activated inside your Internet Explorer browser, and the selected document is opened and converted to an HTML document for display. Right-clicking inside the browser window opens a pop-up menu containing various Markup Manager for Web commands. The following table documents the options on the primary Markup Manager for Web pop-up menu.

Menu Item	Effect
Zoom All	Allows the full document to be displayed.
Zoom Window	Allows you to select an area of the document to be displayed.
Zoom Width	Allows the full width of the document to be displayed.
Zoom In	Allows you to zoom in the document so that smaller aspects of the document can be viewed more easily.
Zoom Out	Allows you to zoom out the document so that more of the document displays.
Pan	Allows you to move the document in any direction on the screen.
Print	Allows you to print the document to your default printer.
Clip	Allows you to select an area of the document, and copies it to the clipboard. This allows you to paste it into another application. The two image file type options are Metafile and Bitmap.
Redline	Opens a submenu containing commands for redlining a document.
Filters	Allows you to view, configure and setup the list of available filters. This option also affects how documents are displayed when the quick view option is selected. See “To select alternative viewing options”.
About	Displays copyright information.

The following table documents the options on the Redline submenu.

Menu Item	Effect
Arrow	Allows you to place an arrow on the document.
Dimension Line	Allows you to place a dimension line on the document. This can be configured using the Preferences option explained later in this section.
Line	Allows you to place a straight line on the document.
Freehand	Allows you to draw freehand on the document.
Polyline	Allows you to place a polyline on the document.
Oval	Allows you to place an oval on the document.
Rectangle	Allows you to place a rectangle on the document.
Rounded Rectangle	Allows you to place a rounded rectangle on the document.
Cloud	Allows you to place a cloud on the document.
Text	Opens the Text Comment dialog box, which allows you to enter text into the Text String field. You can also change the properties of the text, including Font, Text Style, Height, Rotation and the Fontstyle. Clicking OK closes the Text Comment dialog box and the text displays on the drawing.
Link	This function is currently unavailable.
Paste	Allows you to paste an object into your document from the clipboard.
Edit Comment	Allows you to select any redlining you have done to the drawing and edit it (for example, you can move it, adjust the size, delete it).
Undo	Undoes the last action.
Preferences	Opens the Redline Preferences dialog box, which is used to modify the redline settings such as the file type, line width, arrow style and color.
Save	Saves the redline document. The redline document is automatically given a unique name and description, for example, if the original document is called design01.dwg, the new redline file is called Markup for design01.xcm. If an additional redline is created, then the new redline is called Markup for design01.xcm and the previous redline is renamed to design01.000. For additional redlines after that, the new redline is again called Markup for design01.xcm, and the previous redline is renamed to design01.001, and so on.
Export	Opens the Export File dialog box, allowing you to export the selected document to a local folder.

The following procedure assumes that your administrator has configured the Web Server to allow for the redlining of Microsoft Office documents — specifically, Word documents — from Web Explorer clients.

To redline a Word document

In the Documents window, select a Word document and from the Document menu, choose Advanced > Redline.
ProjectWise Markup Manager for Web opens in Internet Explorer, displaying the selected document.

Right-click on the drawing and from the pop-up menu, choose Redline, and from the submenu choose the redline option you require.

Click on the area of the drawing that you want to redline and carry out the action.

To select alternative viewing options

Right-click on the displayed document and choose Filters from the pop-up menu.
The Filters dialog box opens.

From the List of Available Filters window, select the filter type you want to modify, then click Filter Setup.
The selected file type's filtering preferences dialog box opens.

Make adjustments as necessary and click OK when finished.
The next time you quickview or redline a document of this file type, these preferences are used.