SI4 - Saving drawings as PDFs from Visio/AutoCAD - D-Tools Forum

Bob Pothier · 03-15-2006, 03:12 AM

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to take a moment and let everyone know what I have found regarding Adobe Acrobat and its use in Visio and AutoCAD. Adobe Acrobat comes in four flavors. Obviously there is Reader which only allows you to view PDF documents and gives no editing ability. Then there are three others that allow you to view, edit and create PDF documents, Acrobat Elements, Acrobat Standard and Acrobat Professional. I am referring to the newest release of Adobe Acrobat which is version 7. Only Adobe Acrobat 7 Professional allows you to create and convert Visio and AutoCAD drawings into PDF documents. If you do not own, nor plan to purchase, a plotter then you could install Acrobat 7 Professional and save your drawings in PDF format for complete compatibility with all blueprint houses and places like Kinkos. Acrobat Professional allows you to create large-format PDF files (ARCH, ANSI, ISC) and preserves layers in AutoCAD and Visio. I am attaching a nice PDF (imagine that) that explains the comparison between the versions if you would like to view it.

BlakeV · 05-09-2006, 11:30 PM

Not a big deal but sometimes visio shadeing can be lost when converting to PDF. The shadeing comes out solid.

05-12-2006, 01:49 PM

Are there limitations as to the size of PDF files that can be saved within Dtools? I receive a memory limitation error every time I try and save the project.

Anyway you know of to reconstruct AutoCad layers of a file that was converted by the architect to a PDF without keeping the layers? The architect has been removed from the project and the file has way too much junk in it.

Thanks.

**Kevin Mikelonis** · 05-12-2006, 02:18 PM

There is a great company I have used for years to convert drawings, either hand drawn or electronic to any AUTOCAD format I request.

They charge per sheet and are very resonable as there fees are based on per sheet turn-around time.

Check out www.q-cad.com

08-16-2006, 03:01 AM

You should get CADwizz Max. You can open any version of AutoCAD and save back to any other version of CAD or you can also export to a PDF file or a graphic file. We use it everyday. For 77.00 US it's a great tool.

http://www.cadwizz.com/

02-01-2007, 08:04 PM

All if you are talking about just making a pdf to send to the architect to be inlcuded in the build drawings then try CutePDF. It is free and has been reliable for me for a few years now. It requires you to install Ghostscript which is also freeware though the GPL license. It doesn't keep layers, but does a very nice job.

And yes you can create large pdfs. I have just created several E size documents today.

Bill Battaglia · 02-27-2007, 04:48 PM

If you are looking to pass this information onto Architects, then take a look at Autodesk Design Review:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet...112&id=4086277
It does work with Visio as well as AutoCAD. Similar to Adobe Acrobat but this allow Architects with AutoCAD to drop this into a CAD file as a Layer to see you markups/redlines.

For converting CAD file CADWizz is the way to go.

Hope this helps,

Bill Battaglia
designecentral, inc.
D-Tools Certified Partner

07-24-2007, 03:30 PM

I have found a software that works great. It is called PDF Redirect, it functions as a printer. So if you are in visio and you want to make a pdf out of it all you need to do is: 1.) Click File, 2.) Click Print 3.) Use the drop down menu and choose PDF Redirect as the printer 4.) Click Print, PDF Redirect program opens automatically, 5.) Choose where you want the pdf to be saved, 6.) Give the pdf a file name, 7.) Click Save. Now you have your Visio file in a pdf.

PDF Redirect can be found @ www.download.com

Cheers,
Michael