topic Re: PDFIMPORT - Only importing markup comments - why? in AutoCAD Forum

PDFIMPORT - Only importing markup comments - why?

michael.costello7S8GZ — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 12:51:45 GMT

I have several PDF files that I need to make Autocad drawings from. When I use the command PDFIMPORT it only seems to be bringing in the 'approved' stamp at the bottom of the pdf page.
Is there a way around this so I can import the whole pdf image or do I need to to obtain the original pdf file minus the 'approved' stamp?

Re: PDFIMPORT - Only importing markup comments - why?

jreidKVSUZ — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 12:59:23 GMT

It sounds like they printed the drawing, stamped it and then scanned the drawing to make the PDF.

or they may have locked the PDF and put the stamp in their and that is the only item that is not locked.

Either way, yes, you have to ask either for the CAD File or a print of the PDF file directly from AutoCAD.

Tip, it the PDF you received looks like a scanned drawing, very few times will it convert correctly as well.

Hope this helps.

JRR!!!

Re: PDFIMPORT - Only importing markup comments - why?

michael.costello7S8GZ — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 14:25:31 GMT

I have managed to obtain the original pdf file before the client 'approved' stamp was added to the pdf, however when trying to import this into Autocad I get the following message -

No objects were imported

The specified page or area of the PDF file contains no objects

I believe this pdf was originally created from a CAD drawing done in Microstation - could this be why i'm unable to import it?

I'm trying desperately not to have to re-create the drawing from scratch if I can help it.

Re: PDFIMPORT - Only importing markup comments - why?

pendean — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:21:00 GMT

@michael.costello7S8GZ wrote:
...I believe this pdf was originally created from a CAD drawing done in Microstation - could this be why i'm unable to import it?...

That's how it was created, as a raster PDF: anyone can do it, many firms choose to do so to avoid others like you reversing their content to DWG without you paying for it. As noted earlier, we are not the ones to ask, you need to go ask the file creators for a DWG instead.

OR... you can purchase raster-to-vector conversion software: the free ones tend to be useless if you need a certain level of detail, the pricey ones may scare away most others.

OR... you can trace over the raster PDF to recreate your own: the free-to-autocad-subscribers RASTER DESIGN add-on makes that task a little easier.