Inventor 2011 and 3D pdf

[natelora2923]

Using Acrobat 9 Pro Extended, can anyone save an Inventor 2011 file as a 3D PDF? When I try to convert a .ipt file or .iam file to a 3D PDF, I get a "conversion error" due to "an unsupported file type or damage file..." Can anyone else convert Inventor 2011 models to a 3D pdf?

A couple years ago I was able to do this with Acrobat 8 3D version when using Inventor 11. However, when I went to Inventor 2009 my Acrobat 8 could no longer convert to 3D pdf.

I am guessing that I am still dealing with a version mismatch using Inventor 2011 and Acrobat 9?

[mcgyvr]

Welcome to the world of Adobe and Inventor... The two companies must hate each other because Adobe doesn't release a patch for Inventor till about 2 months before a new version of Inventor is scheduled to come out. So you really only get a few months of being able to open the files directly without the conversion error. But somehow solidworks doesn't have that problem...

[petercharles]

"Why do you want 3D pdf's when you've got dwf's" is the usual cry.
"Because non Inventor users don't want to install a dwf viewer, even if it is free, when they've already got a pdf reader that will display 3D pdf's" is the reply, a reply that drifts away to a black hole and oblivion.

[Anonymous]

In most cases it's not a want it a can't.  How
many people out there have admin privalages to be able to install software in a
work environment.  To much of a pain to go through the request procedure to
get DWF viwer installed .

style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">

<petercharles> wrote in message
href="news:6395692@discussion.autodesk.com">news:6395692@discussion.autodesk.com...

"Why
do you want 3D pdf's when you've got dwf's" is the usual cry.
"Because non
Inventor users don't want to install a dwf viewer, even if it is free, when
they've already got a pdf reader that will display 3D pdf's" is the reply, a
reply that drifts away to a black hole and oblivion.

[mcgyvr]

I fully understand why there is DWF and PDF. What I don't understand is why Adobe quickly updates their software to work with Solidworks but it takes months and months to update it to work with Autodesk products. I wonder if its Adobe or Autodesk causing that lag.

[petercharles]

To much of a pain to go through the request procedure to
get DWF viwer installed .
How did we allow IT departments to be the masters NOT the servants!

[thaddeus]

Its incorporated in SolidWorks, one can saveas pdf with the option of 3d.

Sometimes when I really need a 3d pdf from inventor, I import the assembly into SolidWorks and save as 3d pdf.

I would think Autodesk could easily export as 3d pdf if they wanted, not just if the customer wants.

[jeanchile]

You may know this already but no one has seem to mention it yet so I'll be the one who may end up looking like the fool...

I have only been succesful in creating a 3D PDF directly from an IV .iam file once (I don't even know how). All other times I have converted to a step file first, then created to PDF from that flawlessly. I would try that if you haven't been doing this already.

Hope this helps.

[mcgyvr]

I haven't used acrobat 3d in a while but you used to be able to just do an OpenGL capture that grabbed the 3d model from Inventor if you had the model open. Now with DirectX you would think that Acrobat would allow a directx capture but I don't think it does.

[thaddeus]

If you update Adobe Acrobat Pro Extended 9, it will make 3D pdf's directly from IV 2010 ipt & iam files, it may crash if there are positions in your iam file.

If you need to do a 3D capture using IV 2010 you must use the software selection in the hardware setting in Inventor and unmaximize the working file window (else you get the - + & close buttons) also turn off the ucs and navigation bar, also if you have an image in the background that too must be replaced with one of the default backgrounds.

Its a pain, but it will work.

Oh and the full view of the model must be in the screen, anything that is outside of the window boundaries will not show up in the 3D pdf.

[natelora2923]

Good suggestion! I saved my Inventor 2011 .iam file as a step file, then used Acrobat 3D version 8 to make a new 3D pdf from the step file, and it worked! No need to upgrade Adobe to version 9 Pro Extended like I originally thought.

[LonesomeJoe]

... hmmm... let's see if I've got this straight... as I remember, SolidWorks has some kind of utility like dwf for their 3D models, and if I make one of them and send it to Fred, he can open it even if he doesn't have SolidWorks -- because the viewer is embedded in the file... but if I make a .dwf and send it to Fred, he cannot view it without installing a dwf viewer... so I have to make a 3D .pdf, and regerdless, Fred's gotta either install Adobe viewer or AutoDesk .dwf viewer... sounds like this is an AutoDesk issue... and an Adobe issue. The solution, it would seem is for AutoDesk to embed the viewer in the file for .dwf export. I really can't recommend getting SolidWorks because a) this is an AutoDesk Discussion Group, and b) while I know how they came up with "Solid", I have NO IDEA where they got "Works"...

[thaddeus]

Joe

Yes, SolidWorks makes a dwf like output, but they also can output a 3D pdf directly.

That is what bothers me, solidworks listened to their customers and made an additional output even though it could overshadow their e-drawing output.

Autodesk on the other hand argues that the dwf is all you need.

[s.wile]

DWFx files can be read with Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 with NO downloads. When exporting the DWF change the file type to DWFx. Design Review is no longer a download issue.

Stan

[hansome_one]

This has happened the last couple of releases of IV. We use 3d pdf's as well, they are simple. I am not sure why adobe and autodesk don't get together as well. As I remember it took about 4 or 5 months for the service pack from adobe to fix this for IV 2010. Until the update, i guess keep wishing. I see that they just released CS5, to it shouldn't be to long.

[ferrisb]

Can always put email and the net on an old pc in your office, unplug workstation from the network and tell them to stay off the computer you draw with.

A bit extreme, but I've had to do it in the past and it's a pretty effective way to get your point across. Edited by: ferrisb on May 28, 2010 3:09 PM

[2grumpy]

conclusion is obvious - Autodesk need to buy Acrobat and incorporate it.. it would be better idea than dwf

[guyh]

Still no solution for direct support with this... I wish either Adobe or autodesk would take the lead and support it rather than having to use a step file.  It's something we are starting to use a lot when sharing ideas with suppliers and customers.

[Henry.Huang]

Not the best way, but it can work.

1, install inventor publisher 2011 R1. If you do not konw this prodcut, please viste the following link.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?id=14640987&siteID=123112

2, luanch publisher and create a new file.

3, insert *.iam or  *.ipt or other file format.

4, publish- adobe PDF and select the 3D pdf option like attached jpg file.

Now you can opne the 3D pdf file.  

[mcgyvr]

Well...since Publisher has it I would hope the same functionality would be pushed into Inventor... Heres hoping for 2012 Inventor 3d pdf functionality...