Multiply page PDF import

[tony.bischoff]

hello All

I need help, when I import a PDF from a PDF that is more than 1 page, how do I put that page back in its spot in the PDF. or can I open the whole PDF in 1 drawing? 

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

Hi @tony.bischoff,

I see that you are visiting as a new member to the AutoCAD forum. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

In my experience, you can only import one page of a PDF.  I suggest separating or copying the page to a new PDF to get them all into AutoCAD.

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

[MMcCall402]

I'm not sure I understand the part about putting the pdf page back in its spot.  The insert into the drawing only puts an image of the pdf page in the drawing and leaves the original pdf unchanged.

Multipage pdfs:  Yes, I've inserted them before. You can choose any selection of pages from the pdf. When inserting a window will open showing all the pages.  If you pick multiple pages to insert at one time you'll be prompted to place each one but they won't appear until the last one selected is placed.  I've had as many as 64 pages from one pdf in a single drawing.

[tony.bischoff]

how do you insert multiple pages? you don't me what you do but not how to do it, it looks like it only lets me insert 1 page on a drawing.

[maratovich]

You need to use the publication. This will create a multi-sheet pdf.

[tony.bischoff]

how? I don't know how to do that. can you give me a step by step?

[MMcCall402 · Accepted solution]

The attached screencast goes thru the process I use for inserting multiple pages from a multipaged PDF.  The initial placement of the pages in the dwg file is a little blind as you can't see any of the pages being inserted until the last one in the selection is placed.  They can be moved, resized or deleted after being placed in the drawing.

[david.harmsT6KLF]

Subsequent to referencing/inserting the multi-page pdf, how can I change to another page in the multi-page pdf? Is that possible?

[cadffm]

There is no ootb function for page switching, just via programming/tools

[rushabhthakkar_910]

Thanks for the Screencast..... 

[maratovich]

Maybe this will help you: AutoImportCAD 

[mdr_tim.sparks]

I need to be able to do this at a command line or with a program.  You said there is programming tools for importing all the pages of a PDF?

[maratovich]

---

@mdr_tim.sparks  написал (-а):

I need to be able to do this at a command line or with a program.  You said there is programming tools for importing all the pages of a PDF?

---

Did you read the message before yours ?

There is a link-the answer to your question.

[david.harmsT6KLF]

Yes, you can import all the pages. In the External References manager, rt mouse click and select pdf. Navigate to the desired pdf file. You can select a single page in the pdf, hold ctrl and select random pages or select all pages. When prompting for the insertion point, pick the various locations for the pages and be aware that the pages won't be inserted/xref'd until you are done picking all the page locations in the drawing. They will then display after picking all the points.

If you need to import only a selected page but then need to change it, here is the contents of the lisp routine (CHG_PDF_PAGE.lsp) that I use:

(vl-load-com)
;change sheet number, no error checking
(defun c:csn ( / pdf n)
(setq pdf (vlax-ename->vla-object(car(entsel))))
(setq n (getint "\nSheet number: "))
(if n
(vla-put-itemname pdf (itoa n))
)
(vla-update pdf)
(princ)
)

[mdr_tim.sparks]

Yes....I downloaded it too.  Was hoping for some Visual Lisp to do it with instead.

I downloaded a different app and it gives me a page count of a folder of PDFs that I can copy and paste into a lisp routine and drive the -PDFImport command.  Have not fully tested yet.

[mdr_tim.sparks]

Thanks.  I need to count the number of pages in the PDF so I can drive the PDFImport command.

It asks for page numbers.

[campbelllVTPBE]

I have a single PDF file containing 338 sheets of electrical schematics.

Is there a way to automate importing it into AutoCAD?

I tried one sheet and thankfully it did convert to editable AutoCAD objects and text which I think means the PDF was exported from AutoCAD?

Thanks much

[cadffm]

Hi,

do you have a problem to set 338 insertion point, or what is the problem?

If you insert the pdf, select all pages and Autodesk asks for the play

for page1.page2,

page3

and so on.

with SNAP on, it's faster to set all pages than asking here for anothre solution 😉

or use a tool like this: Click!

[david.harmsT6KLF]

Not that I am aware of w/o writing a special lisp app. It is possible to import multiple pdf sheets into one model. First, be sure to setup a grid with a spacing that works for the pdf sheet size. Then, turn on grid. In the reference manager, right click and select Attach PDF or choose it from the pull-down list at top left of palette. When the list of pdfs displays you can select 1, multiple specific ones or all. Have insertion point set to on-screen. Pick each grid point to set the insertion point for the pdf page. That's as close as I can get you to automating unfortunately. I suspect you actually want the pdf sheets in separate files in their own model. That being the case, my workflow is not acceptable.

As an option to try, reach out to the guy at https://jtbworld.com/ and see if he has anything that would work for you. Sometimes these guys will throw something together for nothing or for a small fee. In your case, I would call small $200 or less small considering the time it would save you.
If you do find something, let me know.
Good luck!

[campbelllVTPBE]

Step A - check Use Shift in Options

Step B - select multiple pdf pages in pdfattach

Step C - click your little heart out to place sheets on drawing

Step C.1 - take a week vacation while waiting for this to complete

Step D - select all for pdfimport

I was hoping to somehow automate Step C but not finding an easy way to do it. As several have said - I'll bet it can be done with custom programming but that would exceed my threshold of pain. Fortunately I'm paid by the hour.

Seriously - thanks for your help.