Error when plotting PDF - AutoCAD 2016

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

I've recently upgraded to the 2016 version of AutoCAD, everything is working flawlessy except for one little issue with regards to PDF plotting.

When I'm sometimes attempting to plot a file either by DWG to PDF or the new AutoCAD Prints I either get the Graphics Not Generated Error (error), A very high amount of MB as seen on the attached image (size) or I get a completely blank PDF which comes out at around 2KB. 

I've attempted to run audit/recover, purge and also reduce all the settings within AutoCAD to try get the plot to work, other people in my office are able to get the PDF to plot as the audit/recover doesn't find any issues with the DWG file. I'm also noticing stutter within AutoCAD when manipulating an object and that will normally indicate that the PDF will bug out.

I've also attached my specifications for the computer as it recently got updated, I'm currently running AutoCAD of a SSD instead of a HDD, really quite puzzled to as what could be happening as I'm quite computer savvy. 

Any help or information to as what could be possibly causing this issue would be much appreciated!

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> [...] everything is working flawlessy except for one little issue with regards to PDF plotting.

>> [...] I'm also noticing stutter within AutoCAD when manipulating an object

Looking to "flawless" and "stutter" it looks like something in your drawing makes it difficult for your workstation.

Do you have another workstation available to try that specific drawing ... and try also if another drawing makes the some problems on your system.

If you can recreate the issue with a new drawing and just a few objects, then create such a drawing and upload it here so we can look into the drawing's settings.

Some info's you might look to:

• If you have not done customizations reset the AutoCAD settings to default and during the first start afterwards do not migrate settings from previous versions if you were asked that.
• Start command _GRAPHICSCONFIG and verify your ATI/AMD graphic card is displayed as used (in case you have multiple graphic cards available), you can also try to disable the hardware acceleration and try the modification issue (and the plot issue) again.
• When plotting, disable transparency and make sure that your text objects are exported as text and not converted to graphic (which would result in really bigger file sizes.

HTH, - alfred -

[Anonymous]

Hi Alfred,

Thanks for responding - I've tried various drawings on my own workstation & the same drawings on other work stations which seem to have no problems at all with regards to maniuplating objects or PDF'in the drawing. 

It was a complete fresh install with a new AutoCAD profile so its the complete default settings still, with regards to the GRAPHICSCONFIG/hardware acceleration I've already tried but the problem still persists, I tend to get the Graphics Not Generated when using that. 

I've also tried to not use transparency but most of the drawings do need it for shadowing, but it doesn't really seem to effect the size of the drawing what so ever. Same issue with regards to the text...

Really quite puzzled to as how it's happening to be quite honest,

Regards,

L

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> It was a complete fresh install with a new AutoCAD profile

Make sure you have installed the latest service pack then.

>> I've also tried to not use transparency but most of the drawings do need it for

>> shadowing, but it doesn't really seem to effect the size of the drawing

No, the drawing's size is not different, but the PDF creation time + the PDF filesize can be very different.

When you look to _GRAPHICSCONFIG, what graphic card and driver is listed there (and compare that with the other workstations)?

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

AutoCAD & Windows, as well as the GPU drivers are all up-to-date as that was the first thing I did when I got the PC back. 

The size of the PDF is what I was indicating to not the drawing size. But even then the creation time of the PDF and the file size of the PDF do not change when messing around with options, I do notice that the creation time on other peoples workstations do tend to take a bit longer than what mine do. 

The video card & driver was linked yestarday as an attachment but the spec is as follows;-

AMD FirePro V4900 (1GB) & 14.502.1019 which is running on DX9

Most other people are running either a 2GB to 4GB AMD FirePro card instead,

Regards,

Lou.

[m_kingdon]

Does the drawing you are working on contain xrefs? From a bit of reading I read somewhere that a user was able to fix this problem but auditing the xrefs as well as the drawing.

[Alfred.NESWADBA · Accepted solution]

Hi,

>> which is running on DX9

Well, if the driver would be up to date (and the graphic card) your system should run on DirectX11 instead of DirectX9!

>> the creation time of the PDF and the file size of the PDF do not change when messing around with options

Oh, something went wrong here. When you change the PDF options (resolution, text as graphic) and the plot options for transparency (if transparency is used in the drawing) then you should see massive differences in PDF-filesize and creation-time-consumption (for mid to big drawing content).

If that does not make any differences on your system then create a new PC3 file on one of the other workstations, copy this new one to your system and try to use that PC3 for creating the PDF.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Most of the drawings I work from contain xref's as its a full site plan + the store (work for Asda), I've actually tried auditing the xref and the drawing but to no luck the audit didnt pick up any errors at all. 

Gone back to using DX11 as it speeds the drawing up but also causes the graphics to not generate at all but no error comes up through the plot and publish.

L.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for your time & help!

Don't ever think I'd of thought of changing the plot style to a new version, hope you have a good day and once again thank you!

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

[EDIT] as our post's crossed and a previous one is already the solution I erased this message here. [/EDIT].

At least good to know it's solved now 😉

- alfred -