Content Viewing System
What is the Content Viewing System?
Sutram includes a built-in viewer that lets you preview, play, and interact with a wide variety of file formats and links directly in the browser, with no need to download files or install external software. Project teams can view documents, images, CAD models, videos, audio, and much more — all within the project workspace.
The system was built with a privacy-first approach. External services such as Microsoft Office 365 and Autodesk Platform Services (APS) are opt-in at the project level, giving project owners full control over how their data is handled.
Plan Requirements
Not all viewing features are available on every plan. Here is what is included:
| Feature | Basic | Pro | Plus | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal file viewer (PDF, text, code, data) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Image display | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Office viewing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video/audio link embedding | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web link metadata | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Image file support with compression | - | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video file support with compression | - | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audio file support with compression | - | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CAD/BIM file viewing (Autodesk) | - | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Markdown Editor (AI-assisted) | - | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Comments on content items | - | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Supported File Formats
Images
Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG, BMP
Images are displayed directly in the browser with full-resolution rendering, zoom and pan controls, and EXIF metadata extraction. No configuration required.
Available on: All plans
PDF Documents
Format: .pdf
PDFs are rendered natively in the browser with search, page navigation, zoom controls, and download.
Available on: All plans
Markdown Files
Extensions: .md, .markdown
Markdown files are converted to HTML with syntax highlighting for code blocks, task lists, tables, footnotes, and auto-linked URLs. Size limit: 5 MB.
Available on: All plans
Microsoft Office Documents
Formats: Word (.docx, .doc), Excel (.xlsx, .xls), PowerPoint (.pptx, .ppt)
Office documents can be viewed using two strategies:
Option 1: Microsoft Office 365 Viewer (Cloud-Based)
- Full-fidelity rendering — exactly as in Microsoft Office
- Excel supports multiple sheets, formulas, and charts
- PowerPoint supports animations and transitions
- Fast (no conversion delay)
Privacy note: The file URL is sent to Microsoft's servers, where the file may be temporarily cached. Enable this option only if your organization permits Microsoft cloud services.
How to enable: Go to Project Settings → Integrations → Microsoft Services → Turn on "Allow Microsoft Office 365 Viewer"
Option 2: LibreOffice Conversion (Privacy-Preserving)
When Microsoft services are disabled (the default), Office files are automatically converted to PDF locally on the server:
- Fully private — no data leaves your infrastructure
- The converted PDF is cached for instant subsequent views
- 1 to 5 second delay on the first view
Limitations: Some formatting may be lost. Excel files are paginated. PowerPoint animations are lost.
Available on: All plans
CAD/BIM/3D Files (50+ Formats)
Sutram supports viewing of industry-standard CAD files through its integration with Autodesk Platform Services (APS) — the same technology behind Autodesk's own cloud viewers.
Supported Formats
| Category | Formats |
|---|---|
| AutoCAD | DWG, DXF, DWT |
| Revit (BIM) | RVT, RTE (RFA not supported as standalone) |
| Inventor | IPT, IAM, IDW, IPN |
| Fusion 360 | F3D, F2D, F3Z |
| 3ds Max | MAX |
| Navisworks | NWD, NWF, NWC |
| Alias / VRED | WIRE, VPB |
| SolidWorks | SLDPRT, SLDASM, SLDDRW |
| CATIA V5 | CATPart, CATProduct, CGR |
| Siemens NX | PRT |
| Neutral | STEP, STP, IGES, IGS, STL |
| 3D Models | OBJ, FBX, GLTF, GLB, DAE |
| Others | DWF, DWFX, DGN, IFC (BIM) |
| ZIP Files | ZIP (when containing CAD files, with the setting enabled) |
How It Works
- Upload a CAD file to your project
- Conversion starts automatically in the background (typically 30 seconds to 5 minutes)
- A notification appears when the file is ready for viewing
- Click the file to open the full 3D viewer in the browser
Converted files are cached — uploading the same file again loads the viewer instantly.
Viewer Features
- 3D navigation: rotate, pan, zoom, fit to screen
- Model tree: hierarchical component browser
- Properties panel: object metadata and attributes
- Measurement tools: distance, area, angle
- Section planes: cutaway views
- Exploded views: for assemblies
- Camera modes: orthographic and perspective
- Full-screen mode
ZIP File Support
For complex models with multiple files and dependencies (linked Revit files, assemblies with external references, models with textures):
- Create a ZIP file containing all the model's files
- Name the main file clearly (e.g.,
main.rvt,assembly.sldasm) - Upload the ZIP — Sutram sends it to APS, which automatically detects the main file
Requirement: "Include ZIP files in CAD conversion" must be enabled in Project Settings.
Configuring Autodesk APS
This is a Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) integration. You provide your own Autodesk credentials, and APS usage is billed directly to your Autodesk account.
- Create an app at aps.autodesk.com (free tier: ~100 credits/month)
- Go to Project Settings → Integrations → Autodesk Services
- Turn on "Allow Autodesk CAD Viewer"
- Enter your Client ID and Client Secret
- Optionally enable "Automatically convert CAD files after upload" and "Include ZIP files in CAD conversion"
- Click Save
Available on: Pro plan and above
Text and Code Files
Plain Text
Extensions: .txt, .log, .conf, .cfg, .ini, .properties, .yaml, .yml, .toml, .rtf
Displayed in a monospace font.
Code Files (40+ Languages)
Extensions: .js, .jsx, .ts, .tsx, .py, .rb, .ex, .exs, .java, .c, .cpp, .h, .go, .rs, .php, .sh, .sql, .html, .css, .vue, .svelte, .dart, .kt, .swift, and more.
Displayed with syntax highlighting, line numbers, and readable formatting.
Available on: All plans
Structured Data Files
| Format | Features |
|---|---|
CSV (.csv) |
Interactive table with column headers and sortable columns |
JSON (.json) |
Indented formatting with syntax highlighting, collapsible objects |
XML (.xml) |
Indented formatting with tag highlighting |
Available on: All plans
Video Links (Embedded)
Supported Platforms:
- YouTube (
youtube.com,youtu.be) - Vimeo (
vimeo.com) - Dailymotion (
dailymotion.com,dai.ly) - Wistia (
wistia.com,wi.st) - Loom (
loom.com) - TikTok (
tiktok.com,vm.tiktok.com,vt.tiktok.com)
Features: Embedded player, progress tracking (resume where you left off), duration display, thumbnail previews, platform metadata, full-screen support.
How to add: Click "Add Video Link" in your project content, paste the URL, and Sutram automatically detects the platform and fetches the metadata.
Available on: All plans
Audio Links (Embedded)
Supported Platforms:
- Spotify: Tracks, albums, playlists, podcasts
- SoundCloud: Tracks and playlists
- Apple Podcasts: Episode links
- Podcast Platforms: Anchor, Fireside, Buzzsprout, Podbean, Simplecast, Transistor, Megaphone
- Custom Audio URLs: Direct MP3, OGG links
Features: Embedded player, cover art display, artist metadata, duration, playback controls.
How to add: Click "Add Audio Link" in your project content and paste the URL.
Available on: All plans
Web Links
Any HTTP/HTTPS URL can be added as a content item. Sutram automatically fetches the page title, description, and favicon for display. Clicking the link opens it in a new tab.
How to add: Click "Add Web Link" in your project content and paste the URL.
Available on: All plans
File Upload
How It Works
- Click Upload Files or drag and drop files into your project
- The system validates the file size against your plan's limits
- Files are uploaded directly to storage with a progress bar
- After upload, files are automatically processed according to type:
- Images, videos, audio (Pro+): Compressed/optimized in the background
- CAD files (Pro+): Sent for conversion via Autodesk APS
- Office files: Converted to PDF on the first preview (if the Microsoft viewer is disabled)
- A notification appears when processing is complete
- All project members see the new file in real time
File Status
- Uploading: The file is being uploaded
- Processing: Compression or optimization in progress
- Converting: CAD conversion via Autodesk in progress
- Ready: The file is ready for viewing and download
Content Preview
Preview Modal
Click any content item to open the preview modal. The modal adapts to the content type:
- Files (images, PDFs, Office, CAD): Inline viewer with a download button
- Video/audio links: Embedded player
- Web links: Opens in a new tab with a metadata preview
Navigation
- Arrow keys: Navigate between items (left/right)
- ESC: Close the modal
- F: Toggle full-screen
- Download button available for all file types
Real-Time Conversion
For CAD and Office files that require conversion:
- The modal shows a "Converting..." indicator
- Conversion happens in the background
- When complete, the viewer loads automatically — no need to refresh the page
- You can keep the modal open and watch the conversion finish
File Download
- Click the Download button in the preview modal or in the content list
- The browser downloads the file with its original name
- Download links expire after 1 hour for security
Configuring Integrations
All integrations with external services are controlled per project in Project Settings → Integrations.
Microsoft Office 365 Viewer
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Allow Microsoft Office 365 Viewer | Off | Enables cloud-based, full-fidelity Office viewing |
No credentials required. When disabled, Office files use local conversion to PDF.
Autodesk Platform Services (CAD Viewer)
| Setting | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Allow Autodesk CAD Viewer | Yes | Master control for CAD viewing |
| Client ID | Yes | Your APS Client ID |
| Client Secret | Yes | Your APS Client Secret (encrypted in the database) |
| Bucket Name | No | Custom bucket name (auto-generated if empty) |
| Automatically convert CAD files | No | Convert CAD files immediately after upload |
| Include ZIP in CAD conversion | No | Process ZIP files containing CAD files |
Validation rules:
- Credentials are required when the CAD Viewer is enabled
- ZIP support requires automatic conversion to be enabled first
Troubleshooting
"Preview not available for this file type"
The file format is not supported. Download the file and open it in the appropriate application.
"File too large for preview"
Text and code files have a 5 MB preview limit. Download the file instead.
"CAD Viewer Not Configured"
The Autodesk APS credentials are missing. Go to Project Settings → Integrations → Autodesk Services and enter your Client ID and Client Secret.
"Office document conversion failed"
Try enabling the Microsoft Office 365 Viewer in Project Settings for better compatibility. If you are using LibreOffice conversion, the file may be corrupted — try uploading it again.
Video/audio link shows "Invalid URL"
Check that the URL is valid. Try copying it directly from the platform (not a shortened link).
CAD conversion stuck
Allow up to 10 minutes for complex models. Refresh the page. Check the Autodesk service status at status.autodesk.com. Try uploading the file again.
File Size Limits
| Content Type | Preview Limit | Upload Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Images | No limit | Plan-dependent |
| No limit | Plan-dependent | |
| Markdown | 5 MB | Plan-dependent |
| Code/Text | 5 MB | Plan-dependent |
| Office | No limit | Plan-dependent |
| CAD | No limit | Plan-dependent |
| Video/audio links | N/A | N/A (links only) |
Upload limits depend on your subscription plan:
- Basic: 10 MB per file
- Pro: 500 MB per file
- Plus: 1 GB per file
- Max: 2 GB per file
Complete Format Support Matrix
| Category | Formats | Configuration |
|---|---|---|
| Images | JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG, BMP | None |
| None | ||
| Markdown | MD, MARKDOWN | None |
| Office | DOCX, DOC, XLSX, XLS, PPTX, PPT | Project setting (optional) |
| CAD (2D) | DWG, DXF, DWF, DWFX | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| CAD (3D) | STEP, IGES, STL, OBJ, FBX, GLTF, GLB, DAE | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| BIM | RVT, IFC, NWD, NWF, NWC | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| SolidWorks | SLDPRT, SLDASM, SLDDRW | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| CATIA | CATPart, CATProduct, CGR | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| Inventor | IPT, IAM, IDW, IPN | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| Fusion 360 | F3D, F2D, F3Z | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| 3ds Max | MAX | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| Revit | RVT, RTE | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| Alias / VRED | WIRE, VPB | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| Siemens NX | PRT | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| Navisworks | NWD, NWF, NWC | APS credentials (Pro+) |
| Code | JS, TS, PY, RB, EX, and 35+ more | None |
| Data | CSV, JSON, XML | None |
| Text | TXT, LOG, CONF, YAML, TOML, RTF, etc. | None |
| Video Links | YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, TikTok, Wistia, Loom | None |
| Audio Links | Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and 7 more | None |
| Web Links | Any URL | None |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I preview files without downloading them? A: Yes, most file types can be previewed directly in the browser. Only unsupported formats require a download.
Q: Is my data sent to external services? A: Only if you explicitly enable it. The Microsoft Office 365 Viewer and Autodesk APS are opt-in per project. When disabled, all processing happens locally on the Sutram server.
Q: Why does my CAD file take so long to load? A: CAD files need to be converted to a web-viewable format by Autodesk. This typically takes 30 seconds to 5 minutes depending on complexity. Once converted, subsequent views are instant (cached).
Q: Why does my Excel file look different in the preview? A: If the Microsoft Office 365 Viewer is disabled, Excel files are converted to PDF locally, which may lose some formatting (formulas shown as values, wide sheets paginated). Enable the Office 365 Viewer in Project Settings for full fidelity.
Q: Do I need to pay for Autodesk APS? A: Autodesk offers a free tier (~100 credits/month). For higher usage, you subscribe directly with Autodesk. Sutram does not charge for APS usage — you use your own credentials (BYOK model).
Q: What happens to CAD conversions when I delete a file? A: When a file is permanently deleted (from the trash), the associated resources on Autodesk are cleaned up automatically.
Q: Can I view files on mobile? A: Yes, all viewers work in modern mobile browsers (iOS Safari, Android Chrome). Very large CAD models may have reduced performance on mobile devices.
Q: Where can I see my video viewing progress? A: Video links track your viewing progress automatically. When you reopen a video, it resumes from where you left off.