Batch PDF export with Blubeam missing drawing details

[Anonymous]

There's a user here who's running on AutoCAD 2013 with Windows 7 and is using the Blubeam plugin to batch export to pdf. However, with some of the drawings he's exporting, he's noticed missing details on the output pdf. Specifically, areas that should be more transparent are exported with a similar line weight, and with some mulitline elements, it appears as only a single line. In another instance, there's a centerline which is missing. The attached files show examples of both of these issues. I was wondering if anyone else had run into this situation and what might be done to get the Blubeam plugin to recognize the various elements in the drawings. I should add that when he exports the files one by one via plotting using Adobe, the output shows up exactly as expected. Thanks. Tim

[maratovich]

PLOT TRANSPARENCY ?

[Anonymous]

Plot transparency is checked, as is Object Lineweights, and Plot Styles. The batch pdf creator is using the default settings of the plotter as well.

[pendean]

>>>... is using the Blubeam plugin...<<<
BLUEBEAM support is over here and I bet they know the answer https://support.bluebeam.com/

[maratovich]

Check the usual printing with the help of the DWG to PDF.
What will be the result?
Are there any errors?

[Anonymous]

When the DWG in question was printed to PDF, it would display correctly if it was printed through Adobe, though using the Blubeam native PDF printer the same issue would recur. This replicated itself in various documents throughout the particular folder. However, there were similar drawings that were not affected by this problem elsewhere on the server. 

In digging a little deeper with the end user, it appears the files were opened with AutoCAD LT 2018 by another person, manipulated some, and then saved. Our going theory is that there might be something happening under the hood between the way LT 2018 saved the file (in an older format that 2013 could deal with) that ended up causing this to manifest itself in the way the Blubeam plugin would print the file to PDF.

However, this is going to be the catalyst to get this user upgraded to AutoCAD 2018, which will help to sort out if this is, in fact, the case. He's the remaining person on an older version in this particular office, so if all goes well we won't see this issue again. 

And I did reach out to the Blubeam folks as well, @pendean. While helpful with some suggestions, they didn't have a solid answer for this happening. My thought process was to check both areas because I know there is a pretty deep well of user knowledge on both and I wanted to cover all bases to see if anyone else had happened to run across this particular "undocumented feature".

Again, though, my hope is that the upgrade of AutoCAD to the latest version will right the ship and I won't have to worry about this further.

Thanks again.

Tim

[maratovich]

Why are you using BLUEBEAM ?
Have you tried Publish ?

[Anonymous]

In this instance, Blubeam is being used because the Adobe DC Pro plugin was no longer functioning at all within AutoCAD 2013. That started happening after the user was by needs upgraded from Adobe XI. Since Blubeam had become the de facto standard in the rest of that office, he installed that and it's been batch converting like a champ until this wrinkle revealed itself.

As for why Publish isn't used, if you're referring to the functionality off of "Batch Plot", I didn't offer it as a solution to him because I didn't even know it was there. I'm still pretty green on AutoCAD, being an outside IT consultant who sees it sporadically at only some of our clients, but when issues do crop up I end up learning so much more about the functions of the program. 

Now that you've pointed it out, I'm certainly going to offer it up as a solution to him as well, to see if it fits his needs without the outside program. I'm not sure how refined it is in AutoCAD 2013, but I imagine it should be more than ready for prime time now in the 2018 version to which he'll soon upgrade.

Tim

[pendean]

>>>... using the Blubeam native PDF printer the same issue would recur...<<<
>>>...Blubeam is being used because t...<<<
>>>...I'm still pretty green on AutoCAD...<<<

BLUEBEAM support is over here https://support.bluebeam.com/

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

It sounds as if this is really a BlueBeam issue.

If you would like me to try the customers files on my side I could try it in 2015-2018 using Dwg to PDF (the built in PDF driver). I suggest that they eTransmit the set so it includes fonts and plot styles.

Let me know if this is something you would like me to do.

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

[Anonymous]

John,

I appreciate the offer, but I agree with your assessment that this is likely a Blubeam issue. 

If, after the upgrade, the issue persists, I'll be hounding them to get this straightened out (unless the Publish/Batch Plot will more easily serve the needs of my end user).

Thanks.

Tim