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PDF explode

15 REPLIES 15
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Message 1 of 16
sdowden
29559 Views, 15 Replies

PDF explode

Anyone know how to explode a PDF in Autocad Civil3D 2011?  I need to be able to manipulate the PDF by removing parts and drawings new sections.

Thanks.

15 REPLIES 15
Message 2 of 16
Jason.Hickey
in reply to: sdowden

You can't explode a PDF, it's a raster-based format. There are third party programs out there that will convert PDF's to DWG's, but the process tends to be ugly at best. Google PDF to DWG for more info.



Jason Hickey
Premium Services Specialist
Autodesk, Inc.

Message 3 of 16
sdowden
in reply to: sdowden

Thanks.  I thought I was told at AU there was a way to do it.  Oh well.  Thanks for the info.

Message 4 of 16
civilspace
in reply to: sdowden

It's not exclusively raster-based.  Try plotting a drawing to PDF, and then adding it to a fresh drawing as an xref.  Now, try to draw a line using endpoint snap from one of the lines inthe PDF.  Magic?  No, it's the vector component of PDFs. 

 

So, given that, there *should* be a way to explode.

Regards,
Anthony
Message 5 of 16
neilyj666
in reply to: sdowden

The snaps depend on the origin of the pdf - dwg to pdf will allow snaps but a pdf derived from a scan for example will not have vector information..

neilyj (No connection with Autodesk other than using the products in the real world)
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Message 6 of 16
Murph_Map
in reply to: sdowden

If you have Raster Design you can take a snapshot of it then paste as an image into AutoCAD and use RD to edit.

Murph
Supporting the troops daily.
Message 7 of 16
TerryDotson
in reply to: sdowden

Take a look at DotSoft's PdfImport, it will import the contents of the PDF.

Message 8 of 16
civilspace
in reply to: TerryDotson

Of course it depends on the source; the PDF is a container which can hold compressed raster and vector.  The thing is AutoCAD is already recognizing the vectors (this surprised me greatly the first time my snaps took to it).  Therefore the only reason we cannot currently "explode" (bind/burst) the PDF appears to be down to autodesk limiting the functionality. What we have is a block/group that prevents exploding.

 

Is this a security matter?  Possibly.  The vector output of linewidth in a PDF usually results in two endpoints at each end in order to represent the thickness.  Text is *often* exploded to paths.  Sometimes, lines are simplified (generalized in compression).  Curves are broken into segments, which in the wrong hands could imply certainty about the accuracy of the data.

 

My guess is that the explode/import functionality is being shelved until they can resolve the matter of ownership/security.  When you can create a vector PDF and choose for it to unexplodable, then we might see the functionality appear (but there's still an incredible wealth of drawings in PDF form that will be insecure)

Regards,
Anthony
Message 9 of 16
michael.robertson
in reply to: sdowden

Adobe Illustrator can convert vector based pdf files into DWG and DXF format.

Mike Robertson
FL. Dept. of Transportation
CADD Applications Developer
Message 10 of 16
civilspace
in reply to: sdowden

As long as we've moved onto work-arounds:

 

Inkscape is a free open-source alternative to Illustrator.  http://inkscape.org/

 

Just open the PDF, and save as DXF.

Regards,
Anthony
Message 11 of 16
907Trekker
in reply to: civilspace

I just stumbled across this yesterday, I had never heard of Inkscape before.  It worked pretty good, a few things didn’t convert or came in funny but I’m not complaining.

 

Thanks for the great tip Anthony,

 

Mark

Message 12 of 16
Triguy04
in reply to: civilspace

That worked great. Thanks for the Tip
Message 13 of 16
randy.smith2
in reply to: Murph_Map

Hello and good morning!  What do you mean by "take a snapshot of it"?

Please, and thank you!

Message 14 of 16
tboehler
in reply to: sdowden

The 2017 and 2018 versions have the ability to import a PDF as vectors (PDFIMPORT).  The conversion to vector success depends on how the PDF was created.

 

 

Message 15 of 16
FDGJames
in reply to: tboehler

PDFIMPORT does a better job than all of the 3rd party converters I have tried. 

 

Still, if you have to use other software, I can recommend Print2CAD.  It takes awhile and makes a huge file, but if your pdf was made with colors it will separate them into different layers.  Still requires cleanup afterwards...


AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018.3
Message 16 of 16
Murph_Map
in reply to: randy.smith2


@randy.smith2 wrote:

Hello and good morning!  What do you mean by "take a snapshot of it"?

Please, and thank you!


In Abode Reader under Exit there is a Take a Snapshot. 

Snapshot.png

Murph
Supporting the troops daily.

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