View Poll Results: Which is the Best .PDF to .DWG converter and why?

Voters
8. You may not vote on this poll
  • AideCAD Aide PDF to DXF Converter

    0 0%
  • AnyDWG Aide PDF to DXF Converter - probably the same as (1)

    0 0%
  • DotSoft - PdfConvert

    2 25.00%
  • AutoDWG - PDFIn PDF to DWG Converter

    4 50.00%
  • CAD-KAS - PDF 2 DXF 2.0

    0 0%
  • visualintegrity - pdf2cad

    0 0%
  • adobe illustrator / ghostscript to convert to .DFX

    2 25.00%
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Thread: What is the best solution for converting .PDF back to .DWG

  1. #1
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    Smile What is the best solution for converting .PDF back to .DWG

    I know there are plenty of posts out there asking about PDF to .DWG conversion, but I haven't found any discussions / or polls out there comparing the options available. Before choosing / paying for one, I want to post this note, and a poll and try to figure out which option is best for my needs.

    I was hoping to tap the community for a suggestion for a PDF to AutoCAD conversion solution. I've found quite a slew of options on the net, and would love to know if anybody has any first hand experience and can recommend for or against any of these.

    http://www.pdf2cad.com/
    http://www.cadkas.de/downengpdf11.php
    http://www.autodwg.com/pdf-to-dwg-converter/
    http://www.dotsoft.com/pdfconvert.htm
    http://anydwg.com/pdf-to-dxf.html
    http://www.aidecad.com/?gclid=CObhxp...FQpoSAod3iA5NA

    In addition to all these tool, I know there are also ways to convert to DXF files with Adobe Illustrator (a product I don’t own), and maybe just ghostscript?

    I'm not trying to steal engineering data when a company intentionally provides data as a PDF instead of more easily manipulated CAD data, but rather there are numerous scenarios I've encountered in my short time in the engineering industry, where the original CAD data would gladly be provided, but the only thing that's easily found is a PDF and CAD data is lost on a CD or file that’s gone missing somewhere, or the CAD program used was ancient and compatible with nothing… etc. etc. Rather than making other people work and dig around, I'd like to be able to work more directly and easily with PDFs that are given to me (obviously not scanned PDFs, but rather those printed from CAD files).

    Are there any tools that can convert pdfs back to .dwg format and preserve any layer data? Perhaps preserve text as text? Certainly those features would be preferable, but any recommendation for tools you are happy with would be much appreciated, or warnings (i.e. stay away from product A because of reasons x, y, and z.)

    Thanks in advance,
    Ethan in San Diego, CA

  2. #2
    Mod / Salary / SM Wanderer's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is the best solution for converting .PDF back to .DWG

    I'm going to move this from the AutoCAD General forum to this one, as I believe it will be better served here. Thank you.
    (there should be other threads in this forum on similar topics)
    Quote Originally Posted by elipman
    I know there are plenty of posts out there asking about PDF to .DWG conversion, but I haven't found any discussions / or polls out there comparing the options available. Before choosing / paying for one, I want to post this note, and a poll and try to figure out which option is best for my needs.

    I was hoping to tap the community for a suggestion for a PDF to AutoCAD conversion solution. I've found quite a slew of options on the net, and would love to know if anybody has any first hand experience and can recommend for or against any of these.

    http://www.pdf2cad.com/
    http://www.cadkas.de/downengpdf11.php
    http://www.autodwg.com/pdf-to-dwg-converter/
    http://www.dotsoft.com/pdfconvert.htm
    http://anydwg.com/pdf-to-dxf.html
    http://www.aidecad.com/?gclid=CObhxp...FQpoSAod3iA5NA

    In addition to all these tool, I know there are also ways to convert to DXF files with Adobe Illustrator (a product I don’t own), and maybe just ghostscript?

    I'm not trying to steal engineering data when a company intentionally provides data as a PDF instead of more easily manipulated CAD data, but rather there are numerous scenarios I've encountered in my short time in the engineering industry, where the original CAD data would gladly be provided, but the only thing that's easily found is a PDF and CAD data is lost on a CD or file that’s gone missing somewhere, or the CAD program used was ancient and compatible with nothing… etc. etc. Rather than making other people work and dig around, I'd like to be able to work more directly and easily with PDFs that are given to me (obviously not scanned PDFs, but rather those printed from CAD files).

    Are there any tools that can convert pdfs back to .dwg format and preserve any layer data? Perhaps preserve text as text? Certainly those features would be preferable, but any recommendation for tools you are happy with would be much appreciated, or warnings (i.e. stay away from product A because of reasons x, y, and z.)

    Thanks in advance,
    Ethan in San Diego, CA
    Melanie Stone
    @MistresDorkness

    Archibus, FMS/FMInteract and AutoCAD Expert (I use BricsCAD, Revit, Tandem, and Planon, too)
    Technical Editor
    not all those who wander are lost

  3. #3
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    Default Re: What is the best solution for converting .PDF back to .DWG

    that poll was pretty inconclusive, did you ever determine the way to go?

  4. #4
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    Default Re: What is the best solution for converting .PDF back to .DWG

    I thought the reason for using pdf format is to show the dwg information, not share the dwg information. Isn't it wrong to convert these files?

    Chris

  5. #5
    Administrator rkmcswain's Avatar
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    Exclamation Re: What is the best solution for converting .PDF back to .DWG

    Quote Originally Posted by FRAMEDNLV
    I thought the reason for using pdf format is to show the dwg information, not share the dwg information. Isn't it wrong to convert these files?

    Chris
    You are still sharing it with them. It doesn't matter if you send a DWG, DWF, PDF, TIF, or even a paper drawing. Each of those can be converted back to a DWG file with enough work.

    If you only want to show the information, then take a paper drawing to their office, show it to them, and then bring it back with you. That is the only foolproof way I can think of.

    I understand CADLOCK is pretty bulletproof also.
    R.K. McSwain | CAD Panacea |

  6. #6
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    Default Re: What is the best solution for converting .PDF back to .DWG

    People go out of their way to steal cars but that doesn't make it right. I don't think it would be appropriate to post the best tools to steal a car on an automotive forum.

    Maybe if someone could give me an example of where they receive a pdf and it was perfectly OK to convert it back to dwg.

    Chris

  7. #7
    Certifiable AUGI Addict robert.1.hall72202's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is the best solution for converting .PDF back to .DWG

    redraw, redraw, redraw, redraw

    Outside of converting files, designs can be redrawn.

    I always want my work to be shared. I am not creating
    the design for my personal use.

    Converting a pdf is ok by me. I hope 3 ba-jillion people
    want my work.

  8. #8
    Administrator rkmcswain's Avatar
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    Exclamation Re: What is the best solution for converting .PDF back to .DWG

    Quote Originally Posted by FRAMEDNLV
    Maybe if someone could give me an example of where they receive a pdf and it was perfectly OK to convert it back to dwg.
    Chris
    Details provided by client/approving agency that are provided in PDF format.
    R.K. McSwain | CAD Panacea |

  9. #9
    Certified AUGI Addict jaberwok's Avatar
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    Default Re: What is the best solution for converting .PDF back to .DWG

    Quote Originally Posted by FRAMEDNLV
    People go out of their way to steal cars but that doesn't make it right. I don't think it would be appropriate to post the best tools to steal a car on an automotive forum.

    Maybe if someone could give me an example of where they receive a pdf and it was perfectly OK to convert it back to dwg.

    Chris
    It may not be from AutoCAD. Just cause it's a drawing doesn't mean it's a dwg.

  10. #10
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    Default Re: What is the best solution for converting .PDF back to .DWG

    Quote Originally Posted by rkmcswain
    Details provided by client/approving agency that are provided in PDF format.
    Thanks you for the example.

    I guess some people do some work in other programs, corel and such that still support vectors and such.

    I have View Companion for some of the conversions.
    http://www.softwarecompanions.com/vcpro.html

    ViewCompanion does a decent job converting plot files to different formats (dwf, pdf, dwg, dxf, tiff and others). I have plotted some pdf to a hp-750 plot file and converted them to dwg. It will lose some text and images but the line work is to scale. It also has a nice batch feature.

    Happy converting,
    Chris

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