AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012 DWG Format

[#1]

We're working on transitioning to 2010 from 2008 but it will take some time. I've heard that the PDF drivers for 2010 (maybe even 2009) are vastly improved over those in 2008. Is that the case, and if so, can that driver be used in 2008, replacing the one that came with that version? Edited by: paul.ashley@us.mcd.com on Mar 28, 2009 9:03 AM

[#2]

paul.ashley@us.mcd.com wrote:

> We're working on transitioning to 2010 from 2008 but it will take
> some time. I've heard that the PDF drivers for 2010 (maybe even 2009)
> are vastly improved over those in 2008. Is that the case, and if so,
> can that driver be used in 2008, replacing the one that came with
> that version?

The PDF output in 2010 is improved. The files are smaller, layered and
(when truetype fonts are used) text becomes searchable text. However
I'm pretty sure its impossible to copy parts of 2010 over to a 2008
folder and have it work. The driver is implemented as part of AutoCAD,
not part of Windows.

For 2008 I would recommend Adobe Acrobat and use its printer driver.

Terry
--
Never start any job without the right tools!
AutoCAD Add-on Tools at http://www.dotsoft.com

[#3]

Terry W. Dotson wrote:
> paul.ashley@us.mcd.com wrote:
>
>> We're working on transitioning to 2010 from 2008 but it will take
>> some time. I've heard that the PDF drivers for 2010 (maybe even 2009)
>> are vastly improved over those in 2008. Is that the case, and if so,
>> can that driver be used in 2008, replacing the one that came with
>> that version?
>
> The PDF output in 2010 is improved. The files are smaller, layered and
> (when truetype fonts are used) text becomes searchable text. However
> I'm pretty sure its impossible to copy parts of 2010 over to a 2008
> folder and have it work. The driver is implemented as part of AutoCAD,
> not part of Windows.
>
> For 2008 I would recommend Adobe Acrobat and use its printer driver.
>
> Terry
Or CutePDF Writer (free).

[#4]

I've been using CutePDF as a subsititute for buying Acrobat for all our users, who don't need all of Acrobats's bells and whistles. The nice thing about CutePDF is that it's one of the few out there that has architectural size sheets - though it still produces them in portrait orientation. Sometimes, however, I've found Cute's file sizes to be even larger than AutoCAD's, even when the resolution is set to 144. I'll have to experiment with this some more this weekend to confirm those numbers.

My biggest issue, though, is that our IT folks are very restrictive about allowing shareware, freeware, or open source software on our stations and won't make it available for easy download by our power users, so I, as a local admin, am left to manually load it for everyone. Rather a tedious job.

The 2008 AutoCAD PDF driver seems generally reliable but every once in awhile just seems to produce odd results. Edited by: paul.ashley@us.mcd.com on Mar 28, 2009 5:15 PM

[#5]

CutePDF makes the file size bigger but it usually loads twice as fast. I used it for some large maps we had and time how long it took to open with CutePDF and the standard Autodesk created PDF and it was noticeably faster. Can't say must about 2010 since I haven't used it yet.

[#6]

none wrote:

> Or CutePDF Writer (free).

I don't mind paying for software and enjoy the professional results it
brings. I get Adobe Acrobat on Dell machines for only about $100 extra
when buying MS Office. Adobe created the PDF spec, thats good enough
for me.

Especially in the area of PDF where I've seen the insides of some very
poorly written files.

Terry

[#7]

The funny thing about all of this fuss about PDF is that for AutoCAD I much prefer DWFs. They're so much smaller and easier to navigate. My team is doing a webcast on Monday and we pulled everything - Powerpoint slides, DWGS, JPEGs, and Excel spreadsheets - into Design Review, making is seamless when, as part of the presentation, we want to navigate around the DWGs. That process is slow and cumbersome in Acrobat.

The problem seems to be that no matter how hard we try to push DWFs, there are always hold-outs in some municpal back-office who insist on PDFs. I've even heard of reprographers who are still unaware of DWFs. Frustrating!

[#8]

Since you needed the identical post in three
minutes in three different groups it would be nice

if you at least pointed the posts in the 08 and 09
groups to the answer you got here. Also read

the rules of the groups.

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<
href="mailtoaul.ashley@us.mcd.com">paul.ashley@us.mcd.com> wrote in
message
href="news:6151184@discussion.autodesk.com">news:6151184@discussion.autodesk.com...

We're
working on transitioning to 2010 from 2008 but it will take some time. I've
heard that the PDF drivers for 2010 (maybe even 2009) are vastly improved over
those in 2008. Is that the case, and if so, can that driver be used in 2008,
replacing the one that came with that version? Edited by:
paul.ashley@us.mcd.com on Mar 28, 2009 9:03 AM

[#9]

though it still produces them in portrait orientation...........you can create custom page sizes in cute PDF which have the sizes defined as landscape rather than the default portrait sizes - see message from cute pdf support below,




Hello Mark

Please select exact matched paper size (and orientation) during printing (in print dialog box, click on Properties -> Advanced).

If you could not find a suitable paper size, you can add a custom paper size to match your document exactly and print using that size.
Go to Control Panel -> Printers and Faxes and Choose Server Properties command under File menu. Add your paper size on Forms tab.



Regards,
Support Team
Acro Software Inc

[#10]

I, too, like dwf over pdf, but also have the same issues. No one else wants to use them.
In the mean time we've been using AcroPlot Pro for our pdffing needs. Works great and supports line merge.
ACAD 2010 pdf now supports line merge, so I'm anxious to try it.