Anyone successfully created 3D PDFs using Bentley Viewer?

[Anonymous]

I'm experimenting with Bentley Viewer to create 3D PDFs of Autocad models.  I keep getting a black PDF "viewport" with no content.  All of my layers are listed and all the "pieces" are shown in the tree in the PDF output file.  But the document is blank.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I'm experimenting with Bentley Viewer to create 3D PDFs of Autocad models.  I keep getting a black PDF "viewport" with no content.  All of my layers are listed and all the "pieces" are shown in the tree in the PDF output file.  But the document is blank.

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I haven't used that one, but the Bluebeam 3D PDF's out of ACAD are totally painless and really quick.  If you are still shopping around, I'd suggest grabbing a trial of Bluebeam Revu.  

[Anonymous]

We use Bluebeam Revu - Standard.  I don't see how to use it to create a 3D PDF.  On the Bluebeam site it says Standard can create a 3D PDF from a IFC or U3D file.  But I don't see how to get Autocad to export either.  There is a plug-in for Revit in CAD and Extreme versions.  But we don't use Revit.  Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

We use Bluebeam Revu - Standard.  I don't see how to use it to create a 3D PDF.  On the Bluebeam site it says Standard can create a 3D PDF from a IFC or U3D file.  But I don't see how to get Autocad to export either.  There is a plug-in for Revit in CAD and Extreme versions.  But we don't use Revit.  Am I missing something?

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Do you have an OUTPUT ribbon tab in ACAD? If it's not there, open Bluebeam Administrator (it's a separate application) and check to see if the ACAD is listed for plugins.

Edited by
Discussion_Admin

[Anonymous]

I have. I use infrequently however and every time I try it takes some playing around. If memory serves me I think you need to create the 3D PDF from model space.

Not sure if that helps but yes, it does work.

Edit: What I meant by "from model space" is to save your file while in model space then close. Now open in Bently Viewer to create the 23D PDF.

[Anonymous]

No.  It wasn't there.  So I installed and rebooted Autocad.  Now when I choose Create PDF from the Bluebeam panel of the Output tab, it tells me my trial has expired.  But our software is not a trial.  It's fully licensed.  Revu itself is still running fine.  *sigh*

What SHOULD I see next to create the 3D PDF.  I'm going to have to be in a holding pattern until IT comes and enters the license info in this new dialogue box.

[Anonymous]

The last icon, Create 3D PDF is not there.  Just the first three.

[Anonymous]

Just got off the phone with Bluebeam tech Support.  You must have Revu CAD or EXTREME to have the plug-ins activate.  Not just Revu STANDARD - which is what we have.  Are you running CAD or EXTREME?

Also - are you running Autocad and NOT Revit?  What version of Autocad?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Just got off the phone with Bluebeam tech Support.  You must have Revu CAD or EXTREME to have the plug-ins activate.  Not just Revu STANDARD - which is what we have.  Are you running CAD or EXTREME?

Also - are you running Autocad and NOT Revit?  What version of Autocad?

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I have a ton of ADSK software loaded, but I have used the BlueBeam plugin for 3D PDF's in ACAD and Revit 2016 and 2017.  I have Revu Extreme.

[Anonymous]

That's what I do - but I get no model in the PDF - unless it is WAAAAAAY out of the screen/window range.  But I get the same results when I move the model to #0,0.

[Anonymous]

" I have Revu Extreme/"

That's why it won't work for me.

So you can print to a 3D PDF in AUTOCAD with Extreme?  Their online materials seem to indicate that can be done just from within Revu.  NOT Autocad.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

" I have Revu Extreme/"

That's why it won't work for me.

So you can print to a 3D PDF in AUTOCAD with Extreme?  Their online materials seem to indicate that can be done just from within Revu.  NOT Autocad.

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Yup, right in ACAD.  Upload a dwg and I can generate it for you.  

Sidenote: Some offices have multiple versions of Revu for different users.  Anyone else in your office have extreme?

[Anonymous]

I just tried it and I got lucky with my first attempt. Here's a screen shot of the Bentley Viewer print dialog.

Rather than selecting "print to PDF" from the file menu I selected "Print", then selected Bentley Driver and checked "Print to 3D"

When opening in my PDF viewer I had to trust the content, and I clicked a boxed question mark that appeared.

[Anonymous]

Just got off the phone with Bluebeam Tech Support again.  They say the plug-in does NOT work in Autocad for generating 3D PDFs directly.  That it ONLY works in Revit like that.  They say in Autocad you have to export as a IFC file and then you can bring it into Revu separately.  Then again, I've not found in Autocad where you cna export an IFC file either.  *sigh*

[Anonymous]

That's what I do.  And I get a blank model space in the PDF.

[pendean]

>>>...experimenting with Bentley Viewer to create 3D PDFs...<<<
The place to ask for help assuming you did it all correctly per the instructions (attached)  https://www.bentley.com/en/support

OR... post your dwg for us to try.

[Anonymous]

Am talking with folks on that forum simultaneously.  Just didn't know if the issue was something I was doing wrong in Autocad in prepping the file for Bentley View or something I was doing wrong in Bentley view once I got the DWG file in.  A Bentley Rep has a copy of my file (had to send privately rather than post as content on this file is a bit confidential at this point) and I will share what I hear back.

[pendean]

Thanks: I noticed this vid too that may help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCob3yy6zr4

[Anonymous]

Yes - stumbled across that video this AM as well when I started my quest for answers. (Though I could do without that soundtrack!  LOL)  It's a good introduction and those are the steps I did - but still no content.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the Bentley rep sees what is wrong.

[Anonymous]

Looking at this from a different perspective. Do you know if your PDF reader is capable of viewing 3D PDF?