ACAD 2016 Plot to PDF - Dimensions won't output as comments.

[Anonymous]

I'm using ACAD 2016 and from the command line setting these values:

PDFTEXTRENDER = 1 (for TT fonts)

and

EPDFSHX = 1 (for SHX)

so that when I plot to PDF, I get my text output as comments in the PDF.

It works as expected - 

However, I have a layer (Dimensions) that does not get output to comments.

I've checked the Layer Manager - Dimensions is printable and in fact has the same

settings (except color) as all the other layers that appear as comments.

This is a client file so I did not create it.

Any ideas how to get the dimensions text to output as comments like the rest of the drawing?

[dmfrazier]

Copy one of the objects (I assume they are dimensions, but you don't say) on the "Dimension" layer that do not output to comments and change it to one of the layers that does print to comments. Does it print now?

[cadffm]

But you really wrote about TEXT or MTEXT objects and not about dimensions objects, OR?

(i know, the layer name is dimension, but i am writing about the type of your cad elements which are not appears as comment )

And if Text or MText: You yre using SHX-Font for this item?

[Anonymous]

Sorry - yes they are dimensions...

After copying one of the object to a different layer, it still does not output as a comment....

[dmfrazier]

When you changed the layer of the dimension, did the text color change? If not, does changing the color of the dimension text make a difference?

Do any dimension objects (regardless of layer or color) output as comments?

[Anonymous]

All the text is Text using SHX.

The items not showing as comments are Rotated Dimensions.

[Anonymous]

When I changed the layer of the dimension it did not output as a comment (although it did change color).

Changing the Color of the Dimension layer had no effect.

None of the Dimension objects output as comments.

I tried changing all the text, including the Dimensions, from SHX to Arial and everything came out as comments - including the Dimensions.

However, I cannot change all the text in practice due to concerns for reflowing, etc.

[cadffm]

I don't understand well or i have a wrong knowledge.

TTF Fonts never appears as comments (or?)
SHX Fonts can appears as comments, but not dimension-text.

I am wrong with some statement?

[Anonymous]

None of the Dimension objects output as comments.

[cadffm]

What i said..

[dmfrazier]

The "text" in a dimension object is (apparently) not stored in the DWG as "text" so the PDF driver is not able to recognize and process it as actual "text". (This is just a provisional conclusion based on limited observation, not on a deep understanding of the subject, so it could be somewhat inaccurate.)

I think the only way you can get the dim text to output as comments is to explode the dimensions.

[Anonymous]

I'm not familiar with that - can you briefly explain how to 'explode' dimensions?

Is this something that can be implemented via command line ?

[dmfrazier]

Associative dimension objects are essentially dynamic blocks, so they are exploded in the same way that blocks are exploded, using the EXPLODE command. This breaks them down to their constituent objects, such as lines, text, points, and solids (assuming there are solid "arrows" in the style).

You would select all the dimension objects and then execute the EXPLODE command. Everything will look the same, but the dimension text will now be a separate MText object and (I presume) will output as comments when you print to PDF. 

Just about anything can be "implemented via command line", assuming you mean "run from the command line", but I'm not sure how to best answer this question because I don't know what you mean, exactly. Do you mean "can it be automated, or scripted?" Sure, it can.

For what it's worth, I think changing the font of the text style in the dimension style, if it results in dim text being output as comments, is a better solution. There, the main challenge is to identify the font and select a suitable replacement font that doesn't significantly affect the appearance of the dimension text.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I'm going to be automating this output via script.

I tried exploding a single dimension by hand and it exported as a comment, so that definitely works.

(Too bad I can't change the kind of comment that is created in the PDF as it would help with searching)

I'd rather not change the font as it could lead to issues with text reflow, positioning, and possibly readability.

Of course, not all drawings will have the same construction, so it looks like, via script,  I'll need to identify

the objects that need addressing (in this case exploding).

Thanks for the info.

[dmfrazier]

Glad to help.

Not knowing what your workflow is, if these DWGs are going to be used by anyone downstream from you, I would just end by recommending that you not save the files with the dimensions exploded (or if you do, keep them to yourself).

[Anonymous]

Yeah, PDF output is the goal so all changes will be discarded.

Any insight you can offer into how to detect objects like the 'unexploded dimensions'

would be great.

I saw some rumblings about 'flatten' in my google searches but it doesn't seem to be useful

for my situation.

Thanks Again.

[dmfrazier]

There are probably some "better" ways to do this, but with a quick search thru some of my AutoLISP stuff, I found this  code, which will select all DIMENSION objects in the current DWG and store the set in variable "ss1":

(setq ss1 (ssget "x" (list (cons 0 "Dimension"))))

[Anonymous]

Great !

Right now that will work for the dwgs with Dimensions.

Do you happen to know if there is something I can search for within all objects

that would clue me in to a similar situation? Or is this very specific to Dimensions?

[dmfrazier]

This code will only help you select all dimension objects in the DWG.

Note that it might be desirable to also unlock all layers in the DWG (before selecting the dimension objects) so that any dimension objects on locked layers can be selected and exploded.

I don't know what it is about "text" that is part of a dimension object that makes it behave differently in this case from text or mtext that is not part of a dimension object.  Until you encounter a "similar situation" with other object types, I would not know what to look for. 

[dmfrazier]

Another thought: maybe you've already done a thorough search, but it may be that there are PDF drivers/programs "out there" that are able to deal with text embedded in dimensions (or other objects types) and successfully output the text as comments in a PDF.  DotSoft is one possible source.