topic Re: Insert PDF in Civil 3D Forum

Insert PDF

arpenteur — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:32:26 GMT

Hello everyone,

I know how to insert a PDF into the drawing. My question is. Is there a way to insert a PDF, that won't be heavy. Every time I insert a PDF, my drawing becomes very slow.

Thanks...

Re: Insert PDF

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:39:00 GMT

I convert the pdf to a tiff and attach the image for that very reason. It's not acceptable to have the delays you get with a pdf attachment.

Re: Insert PDF

samir_rezk — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:42:44 GMT

Hi @arpenteur

Like @Anonymous mentioned! Tiff files are your best option for this type of attachments! However I prefer to simply import it as AutoCAD geometry using the PDFIMPORT command!

Hope this helps,

Re: Insert PDF

arpenteur — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:54:28 GMT

HI drenaud

Thanks for your suggestion. It's working well.

Re: Insert PDF

arpenteur — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 14:55:19 GMT

This makes a big difference. I can also delete lines that I do not need.

Thanks...

Re: Insert PDF

Pointdump — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 19:27:59 GMT

Hi David,
I never thought of trying this. What's the best way to convert a pdf to a tif? I tried just now in PhotoShop and it seems to work pretty well, although the new tif was sizable. How do you attach the tif?
Dave

Re: Insert PDF

samir_rezk — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 19:48:46 GMT

Hi @Pointdump

use the attach image command to attach the tiff just like how you’d attach a jpg!

Most pdf application can save as a tiff as well like acrobat or Bluebeam

Re: Insert PDF

Pointdump — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:22:52 GMT

Hi Samir,
Thank you.
I only have Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, so no option there to save as tif. (I tried just now.) PhotoShop Elements works. Paint won't open a PDF, so no go there. I'll nose around and see if any free programs will convert a PDF to TIF.
It's been a while since I attached a PDF. Just now tried Attach >> PDF Underlay and it works. Also External References >> Attach PDF seems to be the same thing. Back in the day I used to attach and scale a PDF of Footings or Floor Plans as a background to my construction linework, and I remember my drawings became as slow as molasses in January.
I guess both IINSERT and MAPIINSERT will work also.

Dave

Re: Insert PDF

arpenteur — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:27:36 GMT

Hi Pointdump,

I just used the PDFIMPORT as suggested, and it works GREAT!!! I can also edit some lines in the PDF plan that I inserted. Also - nothing as slow as molasses...

Re: Insert PDF

AllenJessup — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:35:29 GMT

@Pointdump

Dave, I use https://www.irfanview.com/

Re: Insert PDF

Pointdump — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:38:44 GMT

Hi Roger,
Thank you.
I guess your PDF's are AutoCAD created so you can take advantage of vector information. But what about PDF's without vector geometry or raster images?
Dave

Re: Insert PDF

AllenJessup — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:39:52 GMT

PDFIMPORT can work. But I think it only works on PDFs that have vector info. Not the pure raster ones or converts them to a raster.

Re: Insert PDF

Pointdump — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 20:51:43 GMT

Allen,
Thanks. I'll try IrfanView.
"PDFIMPORT can work. But I think it only works on PDFs that have vector info."
I think you're right. Here's a side-by-side of a PDF. Left side I used Attach, right side I used PDFImport:

Dave