pdf Files 2

[BertRaccoon]

Right here's the situation. Our I.T. blokes away, so because of privileges etc I can't load onto my PC the full version of Adobe Acrobat. I only have Acrobat Reader.
I need to convert some DWG drawings into pdf files. If it's easier, I can convert those drawings into word then into pdf files. Please help!!!

 

[SteveSmith]

I have a limited PDF writer - 11 x 17 max size.
If you e-mail me the files I can convert them for you.

send them to:
steveasmith2000@yahoo.com

Regards, Steve Smith
Product Engineer
Staco Energy Products Co.

http://www.stacoenergy.com

 

[CarlB]

I suggest the free download of View Companion, at

http://www.softwarecompanions.com/viewcomp.html.

You get 30 days use. I think the program costs only $45. It converts AutoCAD .plt files of HP-GL format into pdf, and many other formats.

Good luck,
Carl

 

[blueprint]

Down-load Ottopdf off the web, it will do the job for you and it's free.

Peter.

 

[bds]

I use a product called CadPublisher (

http://www.jwgraphics.com.au).

It's a little pricier than ViewCompanion and it has a couple of annoying non-critical bugs, but overall it works pretty well.

 

[Kenneth]

The following option is convoluted, but it's free (and it works).

Go to

http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/

and download Ghostscript and Ghostview. Install both per the instructions. If you don't already have a postscript printer go to

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=1292

and download a "generic" postscript printer driver.

In your Windows application, print as normal expect print to a file using your previously installed postscript printer driver. You may want to change the file extension to "ps" (postscript) or "eps" (encapsulated postscript) as appropriate so that Ghostview will (automatically) recognize the file and open it when you double click on it. Open this postscript file with Ghostview/Ghostscript and use the pull-down menu to convert and save the postscript file to the Adobe Acrobat PDF format. The file is now in the proper PDF format and can be opened and viewed with Acrobat Reader, etc. You could undoubtedly automate/script the process, but it really isn't as cumbersome as it sounds once you've done it a few times (or maybe I've just done it too many times).

Personally, I think both our companies should just bite the bullet and buy both of us a copy of Adobe Acrobat ...

 

[queque]

Is there any free or inexpensive software to create a pdf FILE from AutocAD 2000?
I read the remarks above but was wondering if there are any
improvemed versions since 2002?
It seems that some folks can edit a pdf file and some can't, depending on how the pdf file was created.
Any advice is welcome.

 

[mrMikee]

Try this thread724-100318 for more info.

It seems pdf995 is a good program, it's free.

I used WIN2PDF and it works well, about $45.

And I know there are others.

Regards
-Mike

 

[xgrigorix]

How about using dwf - its already in autocad & the reader software is free. Just my 2¢.

 

[SteveSmith]

Here is a link to a free pdf writer for Autocad:

http://www.dwggateway.com/

Steve Smith, C.I.D.
Product Engineer
Staco Energy Products Co.

http://www.stacoenergy.com

 

[Engineeeeeeeeer]

Use CUTE pdf (google search). This is free, and it has options to print (to pdf) in A4, A3, A2, A1 and a range of other paper sizes.

 

[Packin31]

This one has work well for us

http://www.bluebeam.com

 

[queque]

I have a 18x24 paper print example of a water distribution system and sewer system.
It has detailed text specific to the Agency.
How can I extract the text for a similar
assignment for that agency?
If I scan the file into a pdf file, can I highlight the
text and paste it onto a AutoCAD drawing?

 

[mrMikee]

queque,

I have "PDF converter Pro 3" that allows you to edit pdf files and it may do what you want. However I found it to run very slow (at least on my hardware) and don't use it much anymore. It may be worth investigating.

http://www.nuance.com/pdfconverter/

Regards,
-Mike

 

[BubbaJ]

I suppose your IT "bloke" is back by now.

I use pdf995. It will convert any drawing size and is totally free. There is a "sponsor" page that pops up each time you use it, but it's worth it. You can also use it for other windows programs like word or excel. It is like adding a another printer, but it creates the pdf in lieu of printing.

http://www.pdf995.com/download.html

Good luck.

BTW, I am a structural engineer and the IT "bloke". When there are only 3 of us in the office, you have to wear a lot of different hats!

 

[queque]

to sduggan--
How do you convert from dwg to pdf?
Do you open the file in autocad then save it a a ??? file?
Need more help. Thank you.

 

[Firerunner]

I use Cutewriter (free) to convert our drawings to PDF. it acts like a plotter but gives you a pdf file.

 

[TravisMack]

I currently use 2 different programs to convert to PDF..

My favorite is AcroPlot Jr.

http://www.cadzation.com

Installing this creates a button in your AutoCAD and you can convert to PDF inside of AutoCAD.

I also use the PDF995

http://www.pdf995.com

Just set up the PDF writer as a plot device and you can print to any size you want.

Both of these work well.

 

[davsy]

I use PDF995 it basically works as a printer so all you do is plot to that printer and it comes out as a PDF, this is the same for any file type. Anything that you print to the PDF printer comes out as a PDF file (even if you highlight some text on a web page for example).

It is free software but you get a "sponsors" pop up unless you pay $9.99 (one off fee) if you pay the higher amount of $19.99 you get a couple of other bits of software (PDFedit) that allow you to manipulate PDF files such as combining different files into one so that you could take a full set of drawings and then print them to one file rather than lots of individual ones, very good for say a set of isometric piping drawings for a section of plant.

It has also proved useful for my expenses claims, I can scan all the individual receipts and then combine all the scans into one file and email the whole lot to the USA for payment, previously it was done by hand with all receipts stapled and then posted. Now they will accept one PDF file so everything is now electronic.

 

[saruman26]

I use Cute PDF (do a google search to find it). It will work in AutoCAD and almost all other applications (word, excel, etc.).