Save as PDF

Discussion in 'SolidWorks' started by Martin, Mar 17, 2005.

  1. Martin

    Martin Guest

    I've been trying different approaches to converting a SW drawing file with
    about 20 sheets into a PDF file:

    1- Use the latest Acrobat PDF writer (as a printer)
    2- Use Bluebeam PDF writer (as a printer)
    3- Use "Save As" and choosing "PDF"

    [1] Failed miserably. Garbage out.

    [2] Ran. Didn't ask me for a filename or path. I searched the whole
    computer for the PDF file but couldn't find one. Don't know if it made one
    or saved it. It sure looked busy though.

    [2] Ran. Took a long time and made a PDF file. The trouble is that it is
    unreliable. Every time I run it there's a new error on a sheet. For
    example, the SW drawing file consists of about 20 11x17 inch sheets. Some
    are portrait and others landscape. "Save As" would randomly select a page
    and flip the orientation, cropping out big chunks of the drawing. I tried
    all options in the print dialog, including setting the orientation and zoom
    value for each and every page (what a pain). None made a difference.

    The only option that remains is to save as PDF multiple times under
    different file names and then use Acrobat to edit the files, pick-off the
    good sheets and make a new PDF. Again, a huge pain.

    Any ideas?

    Thanks,

    -Martin
     
    Martin, Mar 17, 2005
    #1
  2. SW2004 sp5:

    So far, I have had satisfying results with the "save as PDF", but as a rule,
    I limit the number of sheet in a drw to 8. We split in 2 files if more.
    (Loading time, browsing...)

    The irritating thing about it is that the printing format changes to
    portrait after using it. So I save the file just before, and close it after.
    Anyone has a cure for that, or am I doing something wrong?
     
    Jean Marc BRUN, Mar 17, 2005
    #2
  3. Martin

    Wooding Guest

    Try Pdf995 from http://www.pdf995.com/ - its free as long as you don't
    mind the advert for itself, but that will disappear if you pay. When
    you download it make sure you also get PdfEdit995. I've been using it
    with no problems for some months - it was even able to create a PDF from
    something that caused an error in Adobe Acrobat V4.
     
    Wooding, Mar 17, 2005
    #3
  4. Martin

    daniel Guest


    I have had success with this, but sometimes I find that the entire
    sheet is squished and stretched on the sheet – big-old mess. But I
    found that the problem goes away if I have acrobat open, and print a
    second time. File size can get very big if you use shaded views and
    high quality settings. I then re-compress from acrobat.

    Daniel
     
    daniel, Mar 17, 2005
    #4
  5. Martin

    Brian Mears Guest

    I'm not sure if it's exactly what you're after, but try this--PDFFactory:

    www.fineprint.com

    It sets up as another printer in your system. My experience is that it does
    an excellent job of creating pdf files--pdf output is exactly what I would
    see from the printer. The kicker for me is that it collects pages as you
    print, and creates a multi-page pdf.

    If you try it, let me know what you think of it. Good luck,

    Brian
     
    Brian Mears, Mar 17, 2005
    #5
  6. Martin

    Muggs Guest

    Martin,

    As Brian has already said Check out PDFFactory.
    I bought PDFFactory Pro many years ago before Save As PDF or Bluebeam, and
    I've been very happy.

    Muggs
     
    Muggs, Mar 17, 2005
    #6
  7. I had this problem( but I only use 1 page per drawing file) and put in
    a SPR. Luckily I was able to overcome the issue with help from
    Solidworks'forum, comp.cad.solidworks, and the online API Help. It
    seems to occur when the page setups on the Solidworks drawing do not
    match the printer defaults. After you save as a pdf, the orientation
    and paper size revert to whatever the default settings are on the
    printer (e.g. an 11x17 landscape will revert to 8 1/2 x portrait and
    the current print will be the BlueBeam PDF). If you save as a pdf again
    these new settings will be reflected in the pdf file.

    I have come up with 2 ways around this problem:
    1. (limited ) I made a new "printer" on windows and set the defaults to
    the paper size and orientation most commonly used. We release our
    drawings on 11x17 for easy handling; therefore I made a new (IP)
    printer with these as defaults (its still the same physical printer). I
    had to make sure the printer for the drawing is set to this one before
    I save as a pdf. Everything works fine. You can incorporate this into
    your templates.
    2. (advanced but unlimited, that I know of) I was using a macro to save
    as a certain filename using custom properties (search this group for
    great info from others about this). I had the macro take note of the
    settings for paper size, orientation, and scale to fit. I cannot recall
    if I had problems with the scale to fit, but I included it. Next I
    called the save as command. Finally I had the macro re-set the settings
    to the original ones. I have not had the problem since. Here is a
    sample from the macro.

    'setup for pdf
    Dim psetup As PageSetup
    Dim orientation As Long
    Dim psize As Long
    Dim scalefit As Boolean

    Set psetup = Part.PageSetup

    'get page setup settings before pdf conversion

    psize = psetup.PrinterPaperSize 'record papersize
    scalefit = psetup.ScaleToFit 'record scale to fit setting
    orientation = psetup.orientation 'record orientation

    'save as pdf
    Debug.Print Part.SaveAs4(pathname + ".PDF", 0, 0, e, d)


    ' return to original settings
    psetup.ScaleToFit = scalefit
    psetup.PrinterPaperSize = psize
    psetup.orientation = orientation


    I am working in SW2004 SP4.2. My macro passed testing in SW2005SP1.1


    HTH
    Kevin P. Kenny
     
    kevin.p.kenny, Mar 17, 2005
    #7
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