PDF to DWG converter through AutoCAD (AutoCAD2018)

[Milt-Fitz]

Hi All,

Is there a way to go from PDF to DWG using a converter or export command through AutoCAD (AutoCAD2018)?

I think this was a "Test Question" through the Beta Site and since we've been released for our NDA, and since AutoCAD2018 has been released,

I'm posting the question to see if this has been done successfully without using PDF to CAD or one of the other conversion software tools?

I've been told the main reason for "not" using the PDF to CAD, or DWG software is so the end user is able to retain layer information.

This is shown (layer information) on the Converted PDF file, and I'm sure it is in the original DWG files however the customer or consultant in this case is unwilling to share his original AutoCAD files (not sure why but I take it that collaboration with other trades is not something they do often)

Anyway, as usual any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Milt

[john.vellek]

Hi @Milt-Fitz,

If I understand your question, you (your customer) is trying to prevent others from using his PDF files in their AutoCAD drawings.

Vector based PDFs can be imported into AutoCAD 2018 using IMPORTPDF which will convert the data into AutoCAD vectors entities.

Text can be converted using PDFSHXTXT

Raster PDF files can be attached to AutoCAD files as images that can be "snapped" to.

To prevent re-use, I suggest using raster based PDF files with an embedded watermark. In addition I would keep as low a DPI in the PDF as possible.

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

[Milt-Fitz]

John,

Thank-you for your prompt reply....

This is not working in the version that I am using (refer to screen view)

I am / will post this to the Beta Forums site and also notify the appropriate person in regards to the error.

Thanks again for trying to help,

Milt

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

command name is _PDFIMPORT, not IMPORTPDF 😉

That command was introduced with AutoCAD 2017, not 2018.

- alfred -

[Drafter1981]

To All,

Just following up from my home account. Seems, I was mis-informed as to how to initiate the command.

Trying this now using the - "PDFIMPORT" -  as the initiator command. The only hang-up seems to be the time to import the file.

At the time of submitting this update, the import is still incomplete, (60 minutes has passed) and from looking at the original PDF there are over 900,000 objects so I may not be getting back to submit a report until tomorrow.

Anyway, thanks again to Mike (from the Beta team)

 

[john.vellek]

HI @Alfred.NESWADBA,

Thanks for the correction!

I apologize @Milt-Fitz & @Drafter1981 that I misled you.

[Drafter1981]

Alfred,

Just following up...It looks like we were both posting at the same time... 

Anyway, Mike from the Beta Team got to me before you did however, I don't think he is on the Forums.

Thanks anyway, and like I said hopefully I'll have more to report by tomorrow.

Thanks again and talk to you all later,

Regards,

Milt (a.k.a. Drafter1981)

[john.vellek]

Hi @Drafter1981,

From your image, this appears to be a pretty complex PDF. Can you share it so I can try the import on my side?

[Milt-Fitz]

John,

Sorry but I cannot share this file... Thanks for asking and for your concern

I will post up the results within the hour. It seems for this project right from the beginning we were given the wrong information.

That being said, the PDF conversion process did eventually work.

Thanks again,

Milt

[Milt-Fitz · Accepted solution]

To All,

Thanks for your input and help. Special thanks to John for pointing me in the right direction, Alfred  from here in the Autodesk Community, and Mike from the Beta Team (I don't think he's on the Forum) for clarification. We were able to resolve how to use the PDF to DWG command (PDFIMPORT) and we did use it twice with "Varied" success.

The 1st time we had issues, not only because of the size of the file but we were told the "Color scheme" and "Layering" was very important.

This did not carry through because the "Changes" were made in ADOBE, not AutoCAD. Obviously this caused a whole host of problems and issues.

The 2nd time (a different project) the process was much smoother. With the exception of the time factor I think this is a viable solution for anyone that's in a pinch to get, or use drawings that need to be converted to AutoCAD.

Thanks Again