Creating PDF's

[jm.pearson105333]

Is there an easy way to create PDF's? I know the old routine, but it seems that with all the strides AutoCAD has made, there should be an easier way to create a PDF. If not, has anyone created a shortcut to create PDF's?

[johan d]

If you have Adobe PDF writer installed, there should be a plotter in your list. It's as easy as making a plot then...

[jm.pearson105333]

Maybe I do, and then it just becomes an issue of setting up a plotter. A task I hate, and for whatever reason cannot get the hang of.

[dmarx]

I have the bluebeam software and it is excellent.

[robert.1.hall72202]

For a multipage PDF, print to a dwf first.

[Wanderer]

Maybe I do, and then it just becomes an issue of setting up a plotter. A task I hate, and for whatever reason cannot get the hang of.Do you ever use named page setups? these can be exported/imported fairly easily.

[jm.pearson105333]

I very rarely use miltiple tabs. Our electrical engineer does, but it's not a practice that the rest of us get into. Why do you ask?

[Opie]

I very rarely use miltiple tabs. Our electrical engineer does, but it's not a practice that the rest of us get into. Why do you ask?
You can include multiple page setups within the same drawing. You do not necessarily need to use multiple layouts for that to occur.

[jm.pearson105333]

You can include multiple page setups within the same drawing. You do not necessarily need to use multiple layouts for that to occur.

Oh, my bad. I misunderstood what was asked. Yes, we do use named page setups. The problem is, not all of our computers call the same plotters the same thing...

[Wanderer]

Oh, my bad. I misunderstood what was asked. Yes, we do use named page setups. The problem is, not all of our computers call the same plotters the same thing...hmm. That's not something I've had to deal with. All of the other computers use the same networked plotter and call it the same thing, and I use a standalone. 3
hehe... that's always fun to troubleshoot over the phone too, let me tell you!
so... sorry, I'm no help. :(

[Opie]

Oh, my bad. I misunderstood what was asked. Yes, we do use named page setups. The problem is, not all of our computers call the same plotters the same thing...
Then I would recommend some standardization of your resource be completed. It should help tremendously.

[jm.pearson105333]

Then I would recommend some standardization of your resource be completed. It should help tremendously.

I'm not sure how to change the default plotter names. That is my AutoCAD standardization/management weakness.

[Opie]

I'm not sure how to change the default plotter names. That is my AutoCAD standardization/management weakness.
I'm not great at it either. You could try changing the name in the Windows printer folder. Or you could rename the PC3 files and I believe the corresponding PMP files. If these aren't correct, I'm sure someone else on here could help you with that.

[Mike.Perry]

Is there an easy way to create PDF's? I know the old routine, but it seems that with all the strides AutoCAD has made, there should be an easier way to create a PDF. If not, has anyone created a shortcut to create PDF's?Hi

Try plugging the following search criteria into the forum search (http://forums.augi.com/search.php?) facility...

Key Word(s): AcroPlot

Bluebeam

Plus, the following thread is worth a browse...

ACAD to PDF ? (http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=4328)

Have a good one, Mike

[b.boyes]

Here's how we create PDF's in our office, hope you find it useful.
We have installed a copy of Acrobat distiller on a shared computer on the network. On that machine we have set up a series of folders called A0 and sub-folders "In" and "Out", another folder called A1 and sub-folders "In" and "Out" and other folders for all commonly used paper sizes. Now the neat thing with Distiller is that you can create settings for each of those folders (Settings for different paper sizes) "Watched Folders", and when an EPS file arrives in the appropriate "In" folder, it converts it to a PDF and places it in the "Out" folder while deleting the original EPS file.

Every user can now use the Std Postscript Level2 driver (Level2 allows colour conversion) from AutoCAD "Plot to file" and point it in the direction of appropriate "In" folder for that paper size. Distiller will then pick up all EPS files, convert them and place them in the OUT folder. The user just needs to pick their PDF file up from the OUT folder.

Hope the above is clear to understand.

[stelthorst]

I use a program called LEADTOOLS EPrint (www.leadtools.com). I tried many other programs and for the money ($49) I don't think you can beat it. It will automatically install a LEADTOOLS printer on your machine and it's just a matter of selecting it to create a PDF. LEADTOOLS also allows you to put all drawings into one PDF or to separate them out.

Hope this helps

[Jordan Truesdell]

I'm not sure how to change the default plotter names. That is my AutoCAD standardization/management weakness.


The names in the printer plotter list is dependent on the Windows naming (Start|Settings|Printers and Faxes). Which means if you change a printer name, it borks all of your print setups. I had that happen "accidentally" when I switched a printer from a windows server to an ip address. I used a slightly different name for my printer when I set it up, and it broke every template I had. To be honest, I can't remember if I updated the templates or the printer name. At the time, I think I took that hard way and re-did the templates.

Anyway, your pc3 files will reference the printer name, so if you set all your workstations to use the same printer name, you should be able to share pc3 files and page setups.

[amasella]

I tried to create a multi sheet PDF, all I got was the first sheet.
I opened the multi sheet DWF in Autodesk DWF Viewer, went to print pull down selected
my "CutePDF Writer" printer and it created a SINGLE sheet PDF file?

[tollyboy22]

If you want to create a pdf of multiple sheets i would say use dwggateway which is free or for single sheets cutepdf which is free too.

[H.Hunter]

The magic answer: get AutoCAD 2007 when it comes out. PDF out of the box. Although I'm not sure if it will batch them into a single file. Maybe one of those awesome beta testers can share some info. ;)