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EduFinder - Educational Plot Stamp Finder for AutoCAD DWG drawing files

About

EduFinder is an add-on to AutoCAD based products.
Find and identify AutoCAD drawings (DWG) that contain the educational stamp.
Available as AutoCAD App (Plug-in).

Do you want to find and identify AutoCAD drawings (DWG) that contain the educational stamp because the DWG has been "infected" by an Autodesk educational product? EduFinder quickly can search through all your drawings on your network quickly and produce a log of the drawings affected.

This is according to Autodesk's knowledge base:
Educational Plot Stamp Removal Issues

Issue
When plotting a drawing that was created in—or that contains drawing data that was created in—an Educational (Student and Faculty) version of AutoCAD or an AutoCAD-based program, the following plot stamp or watermark appears in the final output:

For Educational Use Only

or

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT

Here is a sample showing marked in red the plot stamp that will be added.

This can also occur when using blocks or other components of drawings that have been created or modified in an Educational version, including layers, blocks, layouts, etc.

Dialog box that shows when a drawing is opened containing the educational version plot stamp. Educational Version - Plot Stamp Detected This drawing will display the message, "PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT," Do you want to continue? If you continue, the message will mark this drawing and any drawings that reference it.

If you insert a block or drawing you will get: An educational plot stamp will be added to your plotted drawing. Are you sure you want to continue?

Solution
Autodesk sells educational versions of software on the premise that the software will be used for educational purposes only. The addition of this watermark is as-designed to discourage the commercial use of an educational version.

Removal of the educational plot stamp from AutoCAD-based drawings is not supported.

Authorized use of educational and student versions of AutoCAD software does not permit using that software for professional, commercial, or for-profit purposes. The plot stamp is a measure that helps ensure educational and student version licenses are used only as authorized.

At some point during your drawings lifecycle, an educational or student version of AutoCAD was used to either create and/or edit your file(s), thus introducing the educational plot stamp. When opening drawings in an educational version, the software provides up to two warnings that the plot stamp will be applied.

We recommend reviewing the applicable Autodesk software license agreement accompanying each product that has been licensed and identify cases in which educational or student versions of Autodesk products may be being used in a manner inconsistent with the terms of the governing license agreements. This will help you avoid the inclusion of educational plot stamps in files being used for professional, commercial or for-profit purposes.

Download

For AutoCAD 2012 and newer download EduFinder as an AutoCAD app (plug-in).
JTBW_EduFinder_Trial.bundle.zip

EduFinder free trial is fully functional except that you can only search through 10 drawings. When purchased it can be used without restrictions.

EduFinderSampleDWGs.zip contains 3 sample drawings that can be used to test EduFinder with.

EduFinder can also be downloaded and installed as an app from the Autodesk Exchange Apps site. Purchase is also available through this site.

Jump to the documentation section.

System requirements

Compatible with AutoCAD 2010 up to AutoCAD 2014. All flavors based on AutoCAD should be working like AutoCAD Architecture (ACA), Architectural Desktop (ADT), AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD Electrical , AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD MEP (AMEP, ABS), AutoCAD P&ID.

Earlier version support upon request.

Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Purchase

30 EUR for one license of EduFinder or less depending on the quantity of licenses.

When you purchase with PayPal you can use your credit card or bank account where available. You will be emailed the license (this is done manually but normally within 24 hours). If you want to purchase for example 15 licenses add first 10 to the chart and then add 5.

If you have a really many users that you want to give access to this software we can discuss a discounted price based on your particular situation and network license needs can be met. Educational discounts available.

The license is perpetual and support is included. If you have more than one computer and you are the only user of the application one license is enough.

Contact us for other payment methods. PayPal, share-it, Mastercard/Eurocard, Visa, American Express, and Diner's Club online are accepted. Alternatively, there is support for bank transfer/wire transfer, or Checks and Money Orders through postal mail. Online transfers via giropay and Nordea Solo are also supported.

To pay by PayPal you can also send payment to the account of info@jtbworld.com at www.paypal.com.

EduFinder can also be downloaded, installed and purchased as an app from the Autodesk Exchange Apps site.

Documentation

Installation of the AutoCAD plug-in

This option is available for AutoCAD 2012 or newer as well as verticals. This can be done both while AutoCAD is running or not running.
Enter the below path in Windows Explorer address field and press enter.
%appdata%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins
Extract EduFinder.bundle.zip in the ApplicationPlugins folder so that a folder named EduFinder.bundle is created with all needed files.
It can look like this where jtb is an example of the user name.
C:\Users\jtb\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\EduFinder.bundle
PackageContents.xml should be found in the EduFinder.bundle folder.
To uninstall, delete the EduFinder.bundle folder.

Usage

Command to use is EduFinder.

Alternatively use the button on the Ribbon tab Plug-ins.

Click on Browse and specify the location for the file list (default named DrawingsToProcess.txt). This is a text file that will be created holding the DWG files to process.

Click on Add DWG Files and select a folder or drive to search. All subfolders will be searched and if there are a lot of folder and drawings this can take some time. Repeat for multiple folder.

Click on Start Processing to begin identify DWGs with Educational Stamp.

Program in progress.

When ready the file DrawingsLog.TXT will be created in the same folder as the File List.

Start Excel and open DrawingsLog.TXT.

If a drawing has an educational stamp TRUE will show in the Educational Stamp column.

Revision History

2012-06-29 - version 1.0