<aside> 📐

CAD files — primarily DWG format from AutoCAD and similar tools — are the backbone of 2D design documentation in construction. CUBE's CAD viewer brings these files into your browser with measurement tools, layer control, and direct Issue tracking, so teams can coordinate without passing files back and forth.

</aside>

Most construction projects still rely heavily on 2D CAD drawings. Site plans, floor layouts, detail sheets, and as-built documentation typically live in DWG or DXF format. Traditionally, reviewing these files meant everyone needed AutoCAD or a compatible viewer installed locally, and coordinating feedback required email chains or marked-up PDFs exported from CAD.

CUBE's CAD viewer eliminates that friction. Open a DWG directly in the browser and you get full navigation, measurement, layer control, and the ability to raise Issues on specific geometry. For teams where not everyone has AutoCAD licenses or wants to install desktop software, this changes the coordination workflow significantly.

Opening and navigating CAD files

CAD files live in Folders alongside other project documents. Click to open a DWG from the Spaces or Files module and CUBE loads it in the browser viewer. You'll see the full drawing with all layers and geometry visible by default.

• Navigation is straightforward: pan by right-dragging (or holding the middle mouse button), zoom with the scroll wheel or trackpad pinch. Since most CAD drawings are 2D plans or sections, orbit controls are disabled — the view stays locked to the plan orientation. If the drawing includes multiple Sheets (layout tabs in AutoCAD), you can switch between them using the sheet selector without closing the file.
• The viewport resets to extents by default, showing the full drawing. If you need to jump to a specific area repeatedly, you can save Views that capture your current zoom level and visible layers, then recall them with one click.

Layers and Selection Tree

Most CAD drawings are organized into layers — one layer for walls, another for dimensions, another for annotations, and so on. CUBE exposes the full layer structure in the Layers panel. Toggle layers on or off to isolate what you need. When reviewing a structural overlay on an architectural base, for example, turning off annotation layers clears visual clutter.

• You can also hide layers to prevent accidentally selecting geometry on layers you're not actively working with. This is particularly useful when measuring or placing Issue pins in dense drawings where multiple elements overlap.
• The Selection Tree provides another way to navigate complex drawings. It shows the hierarchical structure of the file — blocks, nested entities, xrefs — so you can select specific elements by name rather than clicking around the viewport. This is especially helpful in drawings with tightly packed geometry where visual selection is imprecise.

Measuring in CAD files

Measurement is one of the most common reasons to open a CAD file. CUBE's measurement tools work directly on the drawing geometry with intelligent snapping to endpoints, midpoints, intersections, and perpendiculars.

• Linear measurement works by clicking two points. The tool snaps to geometry as you move your cursor, making it easy to measure between column centerlines, verify clearances, or check dimensions that aren't explicitly labeled. For more complex measurements, polyline mode lets you chain multiple segments — useful for measuring perimeter lengths or following a pipe run.
• Area measurement calculates the area enclosed by a polygon you define by clicking points. This is valuable for quick area takeoffs, verifying room sizes, or checking coverage areas for materials.

Raising Issues from CAD drawings

The integration between the CAD viewer and the Issues module works the same way as in other file viewers. When you spot a design error, missing information, or coordination conflict while reviewing a drawing, click to place an Issue pin directly on the geometry.

• CUBE captures a snapshot of the view, including visible layers and your current zoom level.
• Add your comment, assign the Issue to the responsible person, set priority and due date, and the Issue flows into the Issues module for tracking.
• The Issue retains the link back to the CAD file and the specific location, so when someone opens it later, they see exactly what you were looking at.