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How can I let clients preview large CAD files online without full downloads?

Alisha Henry 20 Reputation points
2025-12-03T09:34:59.9266667+00:00

Hey everyone,

I run a small drafting site, usadraftsman.com, and we often share large CAD and shop drawing files with clients. Downloads can be slow, and some clients just want a quick preview without grabbing the full file.

A few things I’m wondering:

  • Are there any simple Azure services or tools to let clients preview big CAD files online before downloading?

Can this be done without building a heavy custom viewer or app?

  • Any tips for keeping previews fast and responsive for files that are 50–200MB each?

Really struggling with this, so any advice would be a huge help!

Azure Blob Storage
Azure Blob Storage
An Azure service that stores unstructured data in the cloud as blobs.
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  1. Alex Burlachenko 18,565 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-12-03T10:32:59.9566667+00:00

    Alisha Henry hello and thx for urs question here at Q&A.

    This is a perfect use case for azure )) you are right, making clients download huge cad files just to peek at them is a terrible experience. the good news is, you do not need to build a complex viewer from scratch.

    the simplest path is to use a ready made third party viewer that integrates directly with azure blob storage. services like autodesk forge or sharecad.org are designed exactly for this. you upload your cad files to an azure storage blob container, and then you can generate a secure, signed url to that file. you pass that url to the viewer service, and it renders the cad model right in the client's web browser. no full download needed, and no heavy development on your part.

    if you want to keep things entirely within azure, you can use azure media services with a bit of setup. you would first convert your cad files into a more web friendly format, like a 3d model in gltf or a series of 2d images. then, you can serve those preview files from azure blob storage behind a cdn like azure front door. this makes the preview load very quickly for users around the world. the conversion step is the tricky part and might require a small script or logic app.

    another thing to look into is the azure ai vision service. it has a 'generate thumbnails' feature that can create a preview image from a document. it might work for 2d shop drawings, but for complex 3d cad models, a dedicated cad viewer is better.

    again, your easiest solution is to use a third party cad viewer service that plugs into azure blob storage. it gets you a professional preview experience with minimal coding.

    good luck,

    rgds,

    Alex

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  1. Ravi Varma Mudduluru 3,550 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-12-03T11:15:12.4933333+00:00

    Hello @ Alisha Henry,

    It sounds like you're looking to provide your clients with a way to quickly preview large CAD files without the hassle of full downloads. Here’s what you can consider using Azure services to achieve that:

    1. Azure Blob Storage Quick Query: This feature allows you to run SQL-based queries directly on structured data stored in blobs without needing to download the entire file. By using this, you can let clients preview specific parts of their CAD files without the need for lengthy downloads. It's particularly useful for large datasets and can help reduce data movement.
    2. Supported Formats: Your CAD files would need to be in supported formats like CSV, JSON, or Parquet for the Quick Query feature to work. If you can convert the relevant data parts of the CAD files into one of these formats, it could be beneficial.
    3. Integration: Quick Query can easily be integrated using .NET, REST API, or other SDKs, so you wouldn’t have to build a heavy custom application or viewer. This could save you quite a bit of development effort.
    4. Performance Considerations:
      • Query Only Relevant Data: This can help in keeping previews fast and responsive since you can query only the data that the client needs to see.
      • Permission Management: Make sure to set the correct permissions (like the Storage Blob Data Reader role) which can help manage who can view the files.
      • Cost Efficiency: Since you're charged for the data that’s scanned by queries, it might be more cost-effective than full file downloads.

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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