topic Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property in AutoCAD Forum

DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 19:19:43 GMT

I tried plotting to PDF using DWG To PDF.pc3. When you preview you see all the aerials but once it created the PDF the aerials are partially plottted.

and when you use AutoCAD 2015 - it prints perfectly.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

john.vellek — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 19:44:38 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

Is it possible to attach via eTransmit the files you are showing in your post? I would like to see if I can duplicate this behavior on my side in an attempt to resolve your plotting issue.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 20:06:58 GMT

You can’t, the dwg file is referencing several aerial (*.Tiff) each at least 24 MB of 18 inserted. I unloaded half of it and yet it won’t plot the entire aerial. Opened the same dwg file in 2017, same problem. But when opened in 2015, they plotted correctly despite all aerial where loaded. I’m trying to isolate the problem but still stumped. It’s not the aerials.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

john.vellek — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 20:13:14 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

You might actually be running out of resources during the plot operation. If you would like me to look at this you can etransmit the files and I will send you a secure upload location.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 20:31:14 GMT

I can provide your our FTP site. If that’s fine?

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 21:12:44 GMT

Please send a link to your secure ftp site to upload the E-transmit files for resolution. Thanks

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 21:30:45 GMT

There's no problem plotting to a plotter or printer. It only happens when you use DWG to PDF.pc3 to plot a dwg tp pdf. Using other alternative such as Adobe PDF to plot only hangs my AutoCAD. I have to terminate AutoCAD abrupty by using the end program at the Task Manager.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

john.vellek — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 22:00:53 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

This is what I found in your drawing set.

Each drawing file had 20 or more errors (I ran AUDIT, PURGE, and -PURGE>Regapps)
The geometry in your model that has been clipped. When I unclip it I find that you are trying to work with about 40 miles of geometry in one file.
The file also has 18 Layouts in the drawing which is, in my opinion, very risky and can impact performance.
All the TIFF files are brought into the model in a single XREF which means they have to be analyzed all together when doing anything in the drawing. This means you are loading about 230 MBs everytime you are working in the drawing.
Unloading (not detaching) any unnecessary TIFF files for a Layout sheet and then I am able to produce the PDF correctly with no loss.

I strongly suggest that you run Audit and Purge frequently. I also suggest that you consider splitting your file into no more than 5 layouts each. This will also perhaps help you to limit the number of Xrefs that are getting loaded.

Please let me know if you have any questions about my findings.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:30:14 GMT

Good assessment. But why was I able to print with no problem with AutoCAD 2015. I couldn't get it to plot properly to PDF on both 2017 and 2018. This drawing was before my time. Yes it does have such large aerial Tiff load and the previous drafter should have split the files at least no more than 5 tabs.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

john.vellek — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 14:34:42 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

There might be subtle differences in the driver versions between the current version and 2015 that would explain why processing the PDF fails part way.

If this were me, I would break the drawing up just a bit so it is more manageable and reliable.

You could also adjust some of the PDF settings when plotting such as reducing the Vector and Raster DPI.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 15:14:04 GMT

I have no problem plotting it directly to the printer with all the tabs and all the aerial tiffs loaded. The only problem is when it plots to PDF. I tried unloading tiffs that are not used and limiting the number of tabs. But the main issue is that why only in PDF? it plots to all my printers and plotters with no restrictions. There must be a size limiting on the PDF or AutoCAD driver DWG to PDF.pc3??? A setting that needs adjustment??? I saved my files to no more 6 tabs and unloaded 2/3 rd of the aerial and it still did not plot all the Aerials. I unloaded the rest of the aerials, except for the sheet i wanted to print, and it worked. I was able i plot to PDF in AutoCAD 2015 without any loss yet in 2018, i have to divide the file, unload aerials, etc... I believe there's some settings in AutoCAD driver DWG to PDF.pc3 that for some reason is limiting

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 18:08:29 GMT

I also notice the difference on file size

2015 - 7,533 kb - plot is successful to PDF (all aerial shows)

2017 - 2,298 kb - plot is plotting only partial aerial.

2018 - 12,051 kb - same result as 2017 but size is 6x bigger

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

john.vellek — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 18:12:00 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

Try using the AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3. Please also make sure in PDF options that you have Include Hyperlinks selected.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 18:19:16 GMT

For AutoCAD 2017 and 2018, I used both AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3 and DWG to PDF.pc3 (neither was a success)

For AutoCAD 2015 I used only DWG to PDF.pc3

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

john.vellek — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:22:27 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

When I print this sheet in 2018 and make some Vector DPI (600) and Raster DPI (200) adjustments in the PDF Options using AutoCAD PDF, My resulting file is under 6MB.

When I use publish and print all the layouts into a single file, using these settings, I have no loss in the TIFF images in the PDF.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:33:14 GMT

Changing the quality of the output is not what I really want. Scaling down the raster of 400 to 200??? The plot quality settings where not changed in 2015 and yet it plotted fine. Why then in 2018, I have to degrade the quality of my plots? I wanted to retain the same quality of plots as the 2015 version.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

john.vellek — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:42:48 GMT

HI @Anonymous,

The 600 Vector and 400 Raster still produce the PDF with the TIFF intact. I recommended dropping down to 200 as it will help to reduce file size and I doubt that viewing on the screen will show any difference.

Give it a try 🙂

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:49:01 GMT

Tried, nothing has changed. Still not plotting correctly.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:50:57 GMT

Gave up using 2018 to plot , using 2015 instead.

Re: DWG To PDF.pc3 not plotting property

schurthing — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:47:28 GMT

Just a couple of thoughts...
Your 2015 installation may be configured differently.

1. a) Check if indexing is turned on and set to 2 or 3: INDEXCTL

b) make sure "Demand load Xrefs" is set to "Enable": OPTIONS > Open and Save tab > External References > Demand load Xrefs

2. Try turning off background plotting: OPTIONS > Plot and Publish tab > Background processing options > uncheck both Plotting and Publishing.