topic Re: Blank boxes created in PDF when publishing in AutoCAD Forum

Blank boxes created in PDF when publishing

Matt_P83 — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 20:34:05 GMT

I'm having an issue where blank boxes are being generated in a PDF when creating a drawing set through the publish command (see attached images). On my site plans, they have dashed lines around them. On all other drawings, they are just a blank box. In Adobe Acrobat Pro, you can actually select the box (which is apparently an image), click on Edit Image, and delete the item from the PDF. The head-scratcher here is that there is nothing in the drawing to create this box. I'm fairly experienced with ACAD - all layers on/thawed, frame settings on, wipeout frames on, etc. and there is nothing showing in the file. I can actually verify that there is no actual object there by printing (ctrl+p) just the single page alone and the box is not generated. For whatever reason, this is only occurring when I use the publish command to plot my full sheet set. This does not happen on every page, just certain ones. Recreating the sheet from other "good" sheets does not help - the box comes back.

Anyone have an idea on what's going on here? 🤔

Re: Blank boxes created in PDF when publishing

pendean — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 21:18:59 GMT

So the problem does NOT exist is you do not use Acrobat Pro? You made it sound like that.

You seem to have checked for Wipeout frames. Did you also use FRAME command to turn on all other 'frames" them try to grab whatever those image objects are to delete? I think you did but not sure.

Are you PUBLISHing to an AutoCAD PDF driver? If not, test now, there are 5-ish of them right there is your program.

Finally, if all the above yields nothing.... Share a DWG file sample here that you can replicate the issue in on demand 100% of the time please, let's all have a look. Include your problematic PDF file here too.

Re: Blank boxes created in PDF when publishing

Matt_P83 — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 14:16:37 GMT

Changing the PDF/PC3 preset to "AutoCAD PDF" solves the issue. It was previously set to "DWG to PDF".

Still some pretty strange behavior. This issue popped up out of nowhere. It's also pretty crazy that you can still print the single page by itself using "DWG to PDF" without issue, but doing it through the publish command is a different story. Actually, after using AutoCAD for over a decade now - I'm not surprised at all 🤣

Thanks @pendean

Re: Blank boxes created in PDF when publishing

pendean — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 14:47:22 GMT

@Matt_P83 "autocad pdf" is not a stock driver: that appears when a migration from an older version is triggered and can be many things but never something constant. It can also be wonky for more users that not more often that not.

You seem to be in that "wonky" user group.

Re: Blank boxes created in PDF when publishing

acicci — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 16:56:59 GMT

resurrecting this a little. I had the problem, but with the opposite plot option. AUTOCAD PDF made white boxes appear, DWG TO PDF made them disappear. wild.

Re: Blank boxes created in PDF when publishing

pendean — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 17:55:19 GMT

@acicci "autocad pdf" is unique to you alone, a result of you (or someone at your PC) opting in to "import settings from a previous installation" or from someone else at your location. it is worth trashing and not using it since it does not meet with your needs.

Re: Blank boxes created in PDF when publishing

Matt_P83 — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 19:37:14 GMT

You're telling me these four different versions of "AutoCAD PDF" with descriptions of their individual purpose is basically ACAD vomit a previous installation? That looks awfully intentional. I'm gonna remain skeptical on that one.

Also, I have since experienced this back and forth on the different presets. What I originally thought was the solution is not. My best advice is to just switch to a different profile until it goes away. 🤦‍♂️

Re: Blank boxes created in PDF when publishing

pendean — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 20:23:17 GMT

@Matt_P83 But ... they also stated DWG to PDF solved the issue nd meets their needs. So...?

Re: Blank boxes created in PDF when publishing

acicci — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 20:25:24 GMT

er no

"Changing the PDF/PC3 preset to "AutoCAD PDF" solves the issue. It was previously set to "DWG to PDF""

They had it on DWG to PDF and changed to AutoCAD PDF...

Re: Blank boxes created in PDF when publishing

acicci — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 20:26:44 GMT

oh wait. my aplogies I thought this was a reply to me. sorry.