PDF Import Shows Text as Squares?

[Anonymous]

When importing some .pdf files into AutoCAD, text within the .pdf is displayed as boxes rather than text. I think this has something to do with the font, but I haven't been able to find a lot of information and I'm out of ideas to fix it. I'm attaching two images, one showing the boxes and one showing the original .pdf with identifying and sensitive info redacted. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> text within the .pdf is displayed as boxes rather than text

When you select such a text-rectangle replacement and look to the property window ... which object type does it show?

If it's images then the PDF was printed as raster and not as vectors (or at least the characters are printed rastered instead of text) and so you get images imported.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply! However, the object isn't an image, it's MText. Here:

[brettgatti]

Does the PDF file look correct when it is opened in a PDF viewer?  If opened in a PDF viewer, can you select/query the text to see what font was used?

[Anonymous]

Yes, it displays correctly in a pdf viewer. The font is listed as "ArialNarrow".

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> However, the object isn't an image, it's MText.

Looking to the property window of your selected text ... also this content looks like incorrect (at least unreadable).

So I guess the PDF is using a characterset that can't be used (or is misunderstand) by the importer.

- alfred -

[brettgatti]

Is this text in English or in a different language?

I came across this thread as well  - PDF Import Text

What are your Import PDF settings in regard to text?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Alright, that makes sense. Any ideas on how to fix it? Is there some way to force AutoCAD to recognize the font? Perhaps a patch or font library or some such thing?

[brettgatti]

Can you request the original True Type font from the creator of the files?

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, no. Any other ideas?

[brettgatti · Accepted solution]

Perhaps try opening it in your PDF viewer and reprint it to a new PDF file? 

If you were able to post the file, I'd take a look at it but since you had to redact a bit from the images that you posted, I'm assuming that is not an option.

[Anonymous]

Reprinting it did the trick! Thanks a ton!

[brettgatti]

Glad it helped.

[Anonymous]

Tried all the above and it still came in as squares. PDF font is on my system.

[ChicagoLooper]

This is PDF issue, not an AutoCAD issue. Your desire to look for and chase a solution in Acad will only frustrate you. 

This is  a guess, the squares appeared only after combining single page PDF docs onto a multi-page doc. Correct?

Do you have a PDF maker (not a pdf viewer)? Open the corrupt PDF in your PDF maker. Go to File=>Save as Other=>Reduced Size Pdf. Next, in the ‘Make Compatible With’ dropdown, select version 8.0 or later, then click OK. You may overwrite the the corrupt pdf doc during this procedure. 

Notes: As you are adding pages to your multipage pdf doc, you may see squares hijacking your font. Don’t worry, keep going and complete all the steps. If you add or delete pages to your multipage doc, you may have to perform the steps all over again. 

[TerryDotson]

Be aware that PDF files may contain embedded fonts allowing them to show properly in PDF viewers.  However those embedded fonts may be licensed and the PDF exaction tool does not have the right to extract it to your system.  Even though you may appear to have the font already on your system it may not be the same.

Manually correct these by retyping in AutoCAD or ask the provider for a PDF with more generic fonts, or better yet ask for a DWG file.   The PDF format is the most over estimated file format ever available.

[Anonymous]

Tried the save w/compatibility - same result. I think you are right. The PDF wins. Will start typing room names.

Thx

[Anonymous]

On command line type "PDFSHX"

Set value to "0"

[leonids.smagars]

If this is "a PDF issue", how come other CAD software is able to import PDF into DWG with the text correctly without problems? 

Run into this today. That other software was cheaper and has features like extremely useful BCOUNT command, which AutoCAD LT does not, but had too many problems, which might have led to wasted time and lost files. So a few hours ago we got AutoCAD LT again and... I run into this issue. So now I'm importing PDFs still using that cheapo program, while its licence isn't over yet.