AutoCAD prints from PDFCreator are not adding layer information

[RobertMyb]

All PDF prints from AutoCAD through PDFCreator (a software by pdfforge) are not searchable.

I print manuals from AutoCAD to PDF using PDFCreator. It works a lot better for me than using any other drivers. However, the PDF files are not searchable. If i try to search any text, it says that there are no search results. I can also see that there are no layers in the PDF.
Any print form Excel or Word, or any other app, is searchable. It is just AutoCAD that will not add PDF layers.

This is a big problem as my customers can not search for anything and these are big PDF files to page through.

Is there a way to add PDF layers when printing trough PDF Creator from AutoCAD so that the files are searchable?
Please let me know so that I can be sure whether something can be done or I should just use a different driver.

[cadffm · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>>" are not searchable"

That's on you / your settings and object/data.

Are you talking about TrueType-Font or SHX-Font Texts?

For TrueType, make sure this option is anabled in your .pc3 configuration file <see my picture below>,

if this doesn't work: Please share a sample drawing

>>"I can also see that there are no layers in the PDF"

That will work for full supported drivers only, the autodesk-drivers

[pendean]

Ask PDFForge Support about their driver if the tips above from @cadffm are not easy to follow.

Why do you think a free PDF driver is better? Elaborate.

In the meantime... <<<...or I should just use a different driver....>>>
Use the AutoCAD built-in PDF drivers, they are better layer-aware that 3rd party PDF drivers.

SHX fonts require you to turn on PDFSHX variable (look it up in HELP): is that what you are using? Your long post never actually mentions any relevant details that I could find so that's a guess that should fix the issue.
TTF fonts do not require anything special, but your PDF driver has to be AutoCAD-friendly. Maybe it is not.

[RobertMyb]

Hi @cadffm 

Thanks for replying.

I am actually not sure which fonts are which, to be honest, but I think it is True Type.

So I did set the true type as text and it worked, but only if I print from model space or print from the default page layouts ('Layout1" and Layout2" that appears when you open a drawing). It still does not work if I print from an inserted drawing template (.dwt) that I have setup for different drawing types. I have setup the plot style the same as what I did when I printed from model space or the default page layouts, but the PDF's are still not searchable. Only if I print from model space or default layouts.

I need it to work from my setup layouts. Can you help me with this?

I attached a dwg of one page from the manual and one default layout and one setup layout. I just removed all logos and company information.

[pendean]

---

@RobertMyb wrote:

... I am actually not sure which fonts are which, to be honest, but I think it is True Type.

---

it appears you are using TTF fonts, excellent.

Looks like your 3rd party PDFdriver is not AutoCAD-friendly? Zoom into the text of a PDF from there, does not like like this by chance?

Those are just graphics, not actual text.

This is what searchable text in a PDF looks like (below and attached), crisp edges and no streaks

@RobertMyb Why is your window only 81mm in width? did you loose track of your scales? Your DWGunit setting are set to mm

[cadffm]

Hi,

Why do you not know which font type you are unsing?

Select a (M)Text, check out the STYLE setting, open this style (command STYLE, seleect the one and [Change], check out the used font,

 you will see some fonts with a TT Symbol (TrueType) and some with another Symbol (SHX).

You are using TT as pendean stated before, the the answer is: Read my post above again!

Start PLOT command, select your printer, press the [Properties...] button right of the printer name

and follow my Screenshot above, change this setting to what I highlighted.

Q: Are you using the windows driver directly, or are you using a .pc3 file ?

Because if you want to change it, you (have to) create a .pc3 file and you have to use it in future (because the setting is stored in this file)

[RobertMyb]

I just did not know how to check. But thank you for explaining.

I did do exactly what your post above said. Please read my post again!

I did exactly what you said and it worked. But it only works when I print from model space and default layouts. It still does not work on my drawing templates in layout space.

But I will try to figure out why.

Thank you. 

I am using a .pc3 file.

[RobertMyb]

Thank you.

I do not have a scaling issue. That is just a representation drawing of a door to fit on A4.

[RobertMyb · Accepted solution]

I figured out why it does not work on my templates. It was because I had the 'Plot Transparency' box ticked. Once I unticked it, it worked.

Thanks again.

[cadffm]

Hi,

>>" and it worked. But it only works when I print from model space"

Sorry, I ignored this part of your reply, I don't know why.

You found the difference, it was a different plot/pagesetup:

The transparent option isn't supported 100% for (all?) 3rd party drivers, Acad prints as picture.

It's works with the AutoDESK PDF drivers (only?)

[Simon_Weel]

As for the layers - PDFCreator doesn't add that information. If you need the layers in your PDF, then use the DWG To PDF printer.