What is an IFilter
And why would I need a DWG IFilter, what version do I need?
The IFilter
Most popular Search products, including all Microsoft Search products, have a separation of function. Part of the Search tool is designed to crawl the content, extract the searchable text, and add this to an index. Part of the tool is designed to accept the search query and display relevant hits from the index.
Content can be any kind of text, webpages, e-mail, document, file located on your system, your network, any storage system available.
Most search tools will be able to read all popular file types such as word documents. Other file types may be harder to be indexed, such as PDF, and the AutoCAD DWG file type. To be able to read these files the search tool relies on helper software called an IFilter. Microsoft has set up IFilter specifications to ensure communication with the search tool. The specific search tools have their specific rules on how an IFilter needs to register on the system to make itself known to the tool.
In general, the specific IFilters are developed by third party specialists that are active in that specific line of business.
Starting around 2000; CAD & Company has developed several versions of its DWG IFilter to keep up with the changing DWG file type. For each release, CAD & Company has made sure the IFilter adheres to the general IFilter specification and also complies with the rules of the search tools available at the time.
At current time, mid 2007, CAD & Company is releasing the 2007 version of DWG IFilter to read the DWG and DXF file types, up to the 2008 version of AutoCAD. This release also includes updates to ensure seamless operation with modern search tools as installed with SharePoint WSS 3.0 and MOSS; and with WDS Windows Desktop Search on XP and Vista. And trough adhering to the IFilter standard, operation is supported for most other popular search tools.
Why would I need a DWG IFIlter
If you have DWG files in your file storage system, and you are using a search solution on your system or your network - chances are you will like to be able to find your DWG files based on content within the file. Many people are unaware this is possible as it is not included in your out of the box search solution. To allow your search tool to also locate your DWG files in your searches, you only need to install the DWG IFilter.
If you are not using a search tool, but you have windows installed on your desktop, you are just a few steps away of finding your DWG files. On Vista, the search tool is pre-installed; just install the DWG IFilter to learn your search how to locate your WG files. On XP, install the free WDS as your search tool, and then install the DWG IFilter - and you are ready to go!
On your SharePoint WSS or MOSS Server, the search possibilities are installed by default. Just install the DWG IFilter and your users will be able to locate the DWG files they have saved into the document libraries, and additional locations you may have added to the search scopes.
What version do I need
To be able to locate text inside the DWG files, you need the DWG IFilter version that matches your version of AutoCAD files. For AutoCAD 2005 it is okay to keep your current install of the DWG IFilter 2005 version.
To be able to also read DWG files version 2007 and 2008, you will need the new DWG IFilter 2007 version.
Also to be able to use FTS with SQL Server 2005, you will need the new DWG IFilter 2007 version.
For any new install I advise you to use the new version as it will perform some of the tasks for you in registering the IFilter with your search application.