Bring back the Revit PDF Writer

[Chad Smith]

We have started scanning all our files recently, PDF is a great format....

Yep, our Canon copier makes great PDF's too.

The biggest problem for me is that DWF's are larger and VERY, VERY, pathetically slow to regen on screen when images are involved.

[Haden]

The biggest problem for me is that DWF's are larger and VERY, VERY, pathetically slow to regen on screen when images are involved.

Here here!! Can we call for a revote now, to see how many want to change their "NO" vote to a yes after all this relevant discussion? (Do Robert's Rules of Order apply on the AUGI forum?...)

[GuyR]

I think you have to remember Autodesk management made the first steps towards the removal of the pdf writer when V6 was released. They pulled multipage, hyperlinked PDF functionality after seeing it at the AU demo of V6, and frankly from that day on pdf's days in Revit were numbered.

Unless major clients like SOM etc start saying they want that PDF functionality back in I don't think you'll see it return. Hopefully as the Revit API develops some of that functionality may be able to be recreated by a 3rd party but don't hold your breath.

Ironically DWF is a far better format to use as a basis for conversion into other 2D open formats than PDF is. I'll believe DWF can compete when I see a DWF viewer running on a cellphone.

Guy

[gordie_v]

what 3rd Party Pdf writer will Automatically name my files.
I now use Cute PDF and I have to manually name them a real Pain in a 60 + set.

we send all Print Jobs Via Pdf since we have had alignment
Problems with Prn files

also the ability to archive hyper linked multi sheet PDFs would be great.

we are looking into acroplot but I wondered if anyone is using something better

[cnevians@yahoo.fr]

little experience from france...

actually we work with lot of people that run on Mac OS X .. and apple ..
and of course PDF ....

so ... we assume that PDF writer not inclued in Revit ...
actually work with the original PDF maker from Adobe (Acrobat professionnal)
and that running perfectly here..
but all data are not vectorised
and lot of people here don't want to use DWF ...
(actually we create big page with illustrator and others vectorial software)
for create render page for clients.
(color is important!!! )

so use revit page builder some time (fore technic render...)
but for quickly imprim, we use PDF ....

so PDF is very important here...
if tomorow, we can use PDF from revit... we must change software (can change client or building ingenior!!!!)

good day ...

[aaronrumple]

what 3rd Party Pdf writer will Automatically name my files.
I now use Cute PDF and I have to manually name them a real Pain in a 60 + set.

we send all Print Jobs Via Pdf since we have had alignment
Problems with Prn files

also the ability to archive hyper linked multi sheet PDFs would be great.

we are looking into acroplot but I wondered if anyone is using something better

I actually posted a solution under tips and tricks last week which outlined how to set up Acrobat to work with Revit for automatic file naming.

http://forums.augi.com/showthread.ph...hlight=acrobat

I'm pretty happy with this solution, but Autodesk shouldn't make it so hard to find a solution.

[Wes Macaulay]

Cool tip Aaron.

Suffice it to say that DWF is horrid for anything but CAD, and for CAD it's great... if you're not doing anything else with the data.

If you're doing graphics work with Revit output, PDF is the ticket. Sometimes PDF995 won't play ball with Revit's hardcore printing system, so then I have to print to DWF (which is generally bombproof -- even printing to printers can in rare cases can fail).

Since PDF isn't owned by Autodesk, and it's now aligned with Autodesk's bitter (and totally dysfunctional) rival Bentley... pigs will figure skate in pairs on the lake of fire before Autodesk comes round to supporting PDF.

Which is too bad because PDF is extremely useful and versatile.

[Wes Macaulay]

As Haden noted, DWFs of Excel and Word docs are POORER quality and LARGER file size than PDFs of the same

So I recommend PDF for everything but CAD. DWF is gaining more acceptance at print shops, so that's one good thing.

DWFs tend to be better at vectorizing everything and as a result, everything looks great at any zoom level. If there are raster images in the document then I suppose you neither win or lose there.

[David Sammons]

I asked one of our local printing companies if they have the DWF viewer and if they can print DWF files. The told me DWF is an old file format that they have not printed since the 80's! Go figure...

As a result, I use PDF almost exclusively when exchanging drawing and other files.

[rhys]

Cool tip Aaron.

snip
Since PDF isn't owned by Autodesk, and it's now aligned with Autodesk's bitter (and totally dysfunctional) rival Bentley... pigs will figure skate in pairs on the lake of fire before Autodesk comes round to supporting PDF.
Which is too bad because PDF is extremely useful and versatile.

I wish they would support both - DWF looks good and 3d DWF is cool, but I can't help thinking that even if Autodesk has the arguably superior "Betamax" to Adobe's "VHS",even the great Sony Corp. couldn't beat a defacto standard and neither will Autodesk.