topic Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017? in Visual LISP, AutoLISP and General Customization Forum

How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 21:13:14 GMT

I currently have an underlay PDF in AutoCAD 2017. how can I edit it as parts? I have several lines. I have tried to ungroup it, explode it, block edit but it won't work. Is there a way to edit this? thank you

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

rkmcswain — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 21:36:39 GMT

If it's attached as a reference, then it's just that, a reference.

If you import the PDF as geometry, then you can edit it in AutoCAD.

See also: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-convert-a-PDF-to-a-DWG-in-AutoCAD.html

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 14:11:08 GMT

I clicked the link and it says this,

"Additionally, PDF underlays in drawings created with previous AutoCAD releases can be converted into editable drawing geometry using the PDFIMPORT command."

How do I do this?

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

rkmcswain — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 14:24:02 GMT

Select the PDF attachment.

The PDF Underlay contextual ribbon tab will appear.

Pick "Import as Objects"

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 14:57:46 GMT

That does not seem to do anything. It says no objects were found. I attached a picture of the error. I received the same error for all three options of keep, detach, and unload. Is there something else I should be clicking?

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

rkmcswain — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 15:04:25 GMT

Can you please attach the DWG and PDF files?

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 18:46:32 GMT

Please let me know what you think. The pdf , .bak ,and .dwg file are attached

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

rkmcswain — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 19:22:35 GMT

I'm not sure. My first thought was that maybe this was a scanned PDF, but I see it was printed from AutoCAD 2017.

@john.vellek - want to take a crack at this?

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

john.vellek — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 20:45:36 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I removed the underlay first. Then I used PDFIMPORT with the settings below.

After the import completed, I was able to explode the block and work on the individual entities. I did all of this in AutoCAD 2017.

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

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 20:58:35 GMT

I am having a hard time removing the underlay. For one, I can not find anywhere on the internet about removing the underlay. I have found how to hide or turn on or off, but not remove. How exactly do I remove the underlay.

From what I tried for "removing the underlay"( which for me was turning it off) did not allow me to import the pdf after this. When you say import pdf, you mean insert the pdf that is already in the drawing?

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

john.vellek — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 21:05:29 GMT

Hi @Anonymous

To remove it I opened my XREF Manaager (XR), selected the PDF and then detached it.

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 21:07:51 GMT

Could you please possibly attach some screen shots of the process?

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

john.vellek — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 21:35:01 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I apologize for the delay - I am building up a new workstation amongst trying to get work done too.

Please take a look at this Screencast and let me know if you have any questions.

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

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

john.vellek — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 16:03:05 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I am checking back to see if my post helped you with your problem. Please add a post with how you decide to proceed and your results so other Community members may benefit.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 17:29:30 GMT

That did work. the problem that I have is AutoCAD tends to change the symbols into something weird. I attached a .dwg file of what it sometimes does and what I want or even what it was looking like in the pdf. Is there a way to stop this from happening?

I have been working on some code but it does not seem to be working and I don't know why. I could you assistance.

I want the code to find all these weird symbols, left side of the .dwg file attached and replace them with ones that look like on the right side of the .dwg.

(defun c:quicks();defines the new command
(setq myss (ssget "X" '((0 . "MTEXT")))) ; creates a selection set of MTEXT entities
(if myss ; verifies there is a selections set to process
  (progn ; groups together processes
   (setq mylen (sslength myss) ; how many mtext ents
         mycnt 0 ; starting point counter
   )
   (while (< mycnt mylen) ; whiel loop to step through all ents
    (setq myent (ssname myss mycnt) ; pick the index item out of the selection set using cnt variable
       myentdata (entget myent); get the ents dxf data
       myins (cdr (assoc 10 myentdata)) ; get the insertion point (dxf code 10)
       mymtextval (cdr (assoc 1 myentdata)); get the text value in the ent
          mycnt (1+ mycnt) ; bump our counter for the next ent on next iteration
          blname "Unknown" ; set the blname variable to unknown to do nothing with.
    )
    (cond ; start conditionl block
     ((= mymtextval "(!") ; is the mtext value this?
      (setq blname "switch") ; then set my blockname to this
     )
     ((= mymtextval ")\"") ; Same as above
      (setq blname "recloser")
     )
     ((= mymtextval "kà")
      (setq blname "regulator")
     )
     ((= mymtextval ",%")
      (setq blname "sectionalizer")
     )
     ((= mymtextval "S")
      (setq blname "substation")
     )
     ((= mymtextval "k")
      (setq blname "fuse")
     )
     ;;add more options here
    )
    (if (/= blname "Unknown") ; if there is a blockname found
     (command "-insert" blname myins "" "" "") ; insert the block
    )
   )
  )
)
(princ)
)

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

john.vellek — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 17:46:22 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

The PDF that you attached showed those "symbols" exactly the way they are present in your drawing file. Do you have a different PDF that shows them correctly?

I am happy to look at that file to see if I can determine why they get changed when imported.

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 19:06:33 GMT

I would really like ot know why that happens. But, I can't attach the document as pdf or dwg file more than I have sent because of work security. Unless you know of a way to delete part of pdf underlay and not just hide it? Or know how to delete parts in adobe reader?

I do appreciate your help on this matter.

Re: How to edit an Underlay in AutoCAD 2017?

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 21:30:30 GMT

thanks you very much , fogger 30 min of trying to look for a solution these is it.

thanks again