AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012 DWG Format

[#1]

Help--I import PDFs in Drawings and it takes forever to print.  PDFs are only 400KB, so not big files.

[#2]

What size is the print job? the PDF size is not important, it's what size the print job doing to your device is: PDFs are compressed until you bring them into AutoCAD, then they become uncompressed and the plot files are huge.

Find out by setting output to file, place that file on your desktop and list it in Windows. bet it's huge.

[#3]

Pendean,

Thank you for your response.  The drawing size in only 400KB, so not that large.  The slowness is basically after I select Print Preview, it comes up in a couple of seconds, then it takes 2-3 minutes for it actually to start printing.  The print preview says ‘regenerating sheet’. 

I don’t actually know your terminology of ‘setting output to file’, but I checked the size of the drawing before and after inserting the PDF and it was only about 100KB different.  Is there a way of importing the PDF as a ‘block’ so it doesn’t ‘become uncompressed’?

Thanks for your help.

Eric

[#4]

DWG file size is not important to your issue. PDF file size is not important to your issue.

The reason the plot function is slow I suspect is due to the size or the PRINT JOB: all programs, AutoCAD included, send information to a printer to print what you seek. When there is a lot of information it takes time. It can take a lot of time. I suspect that is your problem. Only way to confirm it is to plot to file so that you can see and comapre the plot job size to your DWG and PDF file sizes.

Your printer/plotter is fine with a 400k plot: but that is not what you are sending it, I suspect you are sending it a 10MB+ PRINT JOB sized file instead (again, this has nothing to do with your DWG or PDF file sizes). You don't control a print-job size, your driver and AutoCAD do based on the information being sent.

[#5]

Dean,

Thank you for your help.  I did the 'plot of file' and yes, the file is 6.2 MB.  A similar drawing, without a PDF was 780KB.  It is clear that you know what is happening.  However, in your wisdom, have you run across a 'work around' or another way of inserting PDFs into drawings so we don't have to wait for the Print Preview.  Any way of keeping the PDF as a 'block' so that it doesn't 'uncompress'?

I appreciate your help, but maybe aren't there any other options.

Eric

[#6]

Sorry, but there is no workaround: it is what it is for us end users. If your printer/plotter has the ability, adding more RAM to the device or a harddrive seems to help, as does having the fastest possible connection to that device, and as always, good processor speed on your computer with sufficient RAM.

Autodesk and possibly your printer manufacturer would both have to re-write the core code for their programs/drivers to fix it. So not in any version shipping now.

What are you plotting to? Using what driver? method of connection to the device? some drivers offer some relief, most do not. maybe someone here can offer some tips.

[#7]

Dean,

Thank you for our help.  You have be outstanding, as usual.  Yes it is disappointing that there isn't a 'work-aound', but thanks again for your efforts.

Eric