Batch Export PDF

[Kenja824]

Idealy, we would like to export the drafting sheets for an entire tool to PDF but have everything in separate files.

For instance....
The Assembly has 2 Bom sheets, & 5 Layout sheets. = 1 PDF file.
Detail #1 has 3 shts = 1 PDF file
Detail #2 has 1 sht = 1 PDF file
Detail #3 has 5 shts = 1 PDF file
Detail #4 has 2 shts = 1 PDF file

Is there a way to do this, or would there need to be a journal created that would do it? Is it even possible in a journal?
Not sure if it makes a difference, but we would not want to have files of all of the standard components. Just on make details.

 

[cowski]

Are the drawings contained in the same .prt file as the model, or are you using the master model method where the drawings are separate from the models?

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[Kenja824]

Master Model .... In the example above, the The assembly has the 5 sheets (11x17) and two Boms (8.5x11), then each Detail is its own part file loaded as a component. Also to be clear, this is NX9.

We have an Icon called Automated Plotting (not sure if everyone gets that or if it is loaded on our system) but it will search for all drawing sheets and give you a list and we will select only the drawings we like. Unfortunately, it only prints to a printer and we cant figure out how to get it to print to a PDF file that we save. Plus, there would be the problem of getting the files separated how we need them. lol

Unfortunately, this is not my best area of expertise and it has fallen on me to try and figure out how. lol

 

[jroberts76]

I have also been looking for a way to make .pdf files like Kenja824 is explaining...

 

[cowski]

So, to be clear, you have an assembly open (the displayed part) that has no drawing information in it and you want to open the associated drawings (of the assembly itself and each component) and export a pdf of each. Is this correct?

Are you using Teamcenter or native NX? If you are using native NX, do you use a file naming convention to denote drawing files, such as 12345.prt (the model) and 12345_dwg.prt (the drawing)? Do the model file and drawing file reside in the same folder?

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[jroberts76]

I have the assembly file open maaxxxxxs.f01.0019.prt (native nx) see attached pic for naming of the sheets in the assembly file. There are components loaded in the assembly file (details that make up the complete assembly) and they have drafting sheets. yes the file naming convention would start with a mbxxxxxxs.f01.0019.prt for the details in the assembly file. yes most of the time the details are in the same folder but not always. Can put in the same folder to make it easier if that would help. Yes would like for all assembly files & details to be exported into one .pdf file

 

[jroberts76]

attached is the assembly file naming for the drafting sheets...

 

[cowski]

jroberts76,
Since you are NOT using the master model method, you might find what you need in the following thread:
thread561-355885

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[Kenja824]

I apologize for not replying. I didnt make it to work Monday.

I attached a jpg showing the structure of (one) of our units in a tool. Explaining what we would want in a PDF file if we batch plotted one unit.

However, what the picture doesnt show is that this is only one unit (MAA50123L_009L) and its details.
I believe my bosses would also at times wish to batch-PDF an entire tool. Which would include the Tool Dwgs sheets and Boms as well as each Unit.
MAA05123L = (2) BOMS & (6) DWG SHTS
MAA50123L_001L = (1) BOM, (5) DWG SHTS, & (1)MB# Detail and its 5 DWG shts.
MAA50123L_002L = (3) BOM, (3) DWG SHTS, & (6)MB# Detail and their DWG shts. (However many sheets they may be)
MAA50123L_003L = (2) BOM, (2) DWG SHTS, & (3)MB# Detail and their DWG shts. (However many sheets they may be)
MAA50123L_004L = (1) BOM, (3) DWG SHTS, & (4)MB# Detail and their DWG shts. (However many sheets they may be)
etc...

(All Quantities are just examples and will be unknowns when creating the Batch files as we would prefer not to have to go into each file and find out how many DWG sheets each has.


Sorry if I get confusing. I try to be detail oriented but sometimes I get too detailed and make it more confusing.

 

[Kenja824]

I get the feeling I need to create a grip to do this, but I have no idea how to do anything with grips. lol

 

[cowski]

Kenja824,
One question that I'm still not clear on: is the drawing information contained in the same file as the model?

In other words, if I open one of your assembly or model files, maa50123l_009l.f01.0010 or mb343152l.f01.0010, and switch to the drafting application, will I find the drawings there, or are they in a separate, dedicated drawing file? Do I need to open another .prt file to find the drawing information? If the drawings are in a separate file, how would I find that drawing file?

If the drawing information IS in the same file as the model, you can probably use the same journal I linked to above.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[Kenja824]

Oh I see what you meant now.. Yes, the DWG sheets and modelling is contained in one .prt file. There was a time years ago when GM had us use separate files but we got away from that. We do still come across jobs like that when we do changes to old jobs, but not enough to worry about PDF for that format.

 

[BubbaK]

> I get the feeling I need to create a grip to do this,
> but I have no idea how to do anything with grips. lol

Well, some sort of program is almost certainly not the right solution. But I wouldn't recommend learning GRIP. If you don't know anything at all about programming, start with VB or C#, and use SNAP wherever you can. SNAP doesn't support PDF export (and neither does GRIP) but learning about SNAP is a good way to get started with NX/Open, too.

 

[cowski]

Kenja824,
Did the journal work for you?

BubbaK,
Is the following a typo? (emphasis mine)

Well, some sort of program is almost certainly not the right solution.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[Kenja824]

Hey cowski

I havent had a chance to delve into it as this was something I was trying to find otu for one of my bosses while things were slower and higher bosses have pulled me into a hot job for a bit. I hate leaving it open ended for now but I dont have much choice either.

 

[gelsonnicoletto]

Try this

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=366385

Gelson Z. Nicoletto
Eng. Supervisor
Mould Desing
Brazil