Question: What is an .nwd (published data) file?
Answer: Published NWD files are useful when wanting to take a snapshot of the model at a certain time. All the geometry and review information is saved into the NWD file and cannot then be changed. Published NWD files can also contain information about the file, as well as being able to be password protected and time-bombed for security. These files are also very small, compressing the CAD data by up to 80% of the original size.
Published NWD files are useful when issuing models for viewing by others with the Autodesk Navisworks 2015 free viewer, as well as being appendable themselves into Autodesk Navisworks to build up a larger scene.