Trace provides a safe space to provide feedback to a drawing without altering the existing drawing. The analogy is of a virtual collaborative tracing paper that is laid over the drawing that allows collaborators to add markups and comments on the drawing.
Create traces in the AutoCAD web app, the AutoCAD mobile app, or AutoCAD desktop (Windows or Mac), then send or share the drawing to collaborators so they can view the trace and its contents.
Using trace
- Create a trace or open an existing trace. This example shows the AutoCAD web app, but you can also create traces in the AutoCAD mobile app or AutoCAD desktop (Windows or Mac).
- Add markup or additional design details to the trace.
- Save the drawing, then share it with a colleague or collaborator.
When colleagues open the drawing in AutoCAD desktop (Windows or Mac), they’re notified of any new traces. Recipients can open the trace to see what was added, then make decisions on the feedback that’s included.
Desktop, Mobile, and Web Functionality
Functionality differs slightly depending whether you're using the desktop (Windows or Mac), web, or mobile version of AutoCAD. While you can view traces in the desktop, web, or mobile apps, you can only create or edit traces while using web and mobile.
| Functionality | Web and Mobile | Desktop (Windows or Mac) |
|---|---|---|
| Create a trace | X | X |
| Edit a trace you created | X | X |
| View traces from others | X | X |
| Edit drawing while viewing trace | X | X |
| Add and remove contributions to a trace created by others | X | X |
| Delete all traces in a drawing | X | |
| Use Markup Assist to automatically identify markups | X (Windows only) |