Publish DWG to PDF file size is very large

[jcavanagh]

I'm running Windows 7 Professional and using AutoCad 2017.1.1  

Today I needed to send out a PDF of a set of plans for permit submittal.  So as usual I use the Publish command and I'm using the office standard Page Setup that is using the DWG to PDF.pc3 file that is located on the server that the whole office uses.  I made a PDF set of these drawings 2 weeks ago and the PDF size was 16mb, which is the expected size.  For some reason today the pdf is 96mb which is 6 times larger than the previous PDF that I made 2 weeks ago.  There are no images or PDF's that are attached to this set of drawings.  It's all 2D cad work with no thick of heavy hatch patterns.  To test, I opened a totally separate project and did a Publish DWG to PDF.  The file size for this PDF was also 6 times larger than the previous PDF that was made.  To further test, I went to another workstation to publish a dwg to pdf.  The PDF file the was created by this workstation was normal size, 16 mb.  So there must be a setting on my workstation that is incorrectly set.  I tried creating a new DWG to PDF.pc3 using PLOTTERMANAGER and I got the same result.  Any help would be muchly appreciated.

[cadffm]

Hi notta79,

what do you do with your posting (there is no question),
What kind of answer do you expect?

2016 and 2017 are different programs

BUT i am thinking you do not use the "same" Plotsetting, because 15 vs 33 is normal for 2016/2017 vs 2018 and 2016 vs 2017 should be almost identical.

Can you Upload a simple example? (one DWG with ready pagesetup and you both PDF 2016.pdf/2017.pdf)

[Anonymous]

I am also experiencing this issue and Bluebeam sent me here to try and find a fix.  I have attached one of the files that is having issues.

The only way we can get the file size down to something manageable is to have Plot Transparency checked, but even this sometimes results in files larger than 10MB.

If we make the viewport a rectangle, then all of these issues go away, but we all know that is not possible for every project.

I have all of the settings mentioned in this thread checked and still the PDF is very large.

Hopefully we can figure this out.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

that is what I get after I opened your dwg-file (some SHX are missed), then plotted Layout1 to "DWG to PDF.pc3".

Anything wrong with that?

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Alfred,

Thanks for a prompt response.  When we plot in AutoCAD using the DWG to PDF.pc3 file we get a similar size file, which is great, but unfortunately there are no digital signature fields present.  This is why we use Bluebeam within AutoCAD when we plot drawings that need digital signatures.  

Any chance you have bluebeam installed?

The SHX file is a shape file for some specific linetypes.  That shouldn't make a difference, but I attached it to this post just in case.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> Any chance you have bluebeam installed?

Sorry, no.

What about using AutoCAD to plot using "DWG to PDF.pc3", then open this PDF with a viewer and send it to the BlueBeam printer to get is signed?

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

That option is considered a work around.  We can plot them out with AutoCAD, open the PDF in Bluebeam and then manually enter the digital signature fields.  We currently have the digital signature fields already in our templates in AutoCAD, which eliminates several steps and saves a lot of time.

I should state that we are using AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018.  We recently upgraded from 2015 and these issues were not present until the recent upgrade.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I have been communicating with one of our specialists about the digital signature and the PDF issue.  We are in agreement that we don't think that incorporating a digital signature is a part of base AutoCAD functionality.

Is it possible your BlueBeam or another add-in/utility was doing this action?

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

[Anonymous]

John,

Thanks for taking some time to look into this.  Bluebeam responded to my ticket by stating they can longer help my situation and sent me a link to this specific thread for help.  I'm at a complete loss as to why this happening, but I know it only happens with oddly shaped viewports.  I figured I would reach out to AutoDESK and see if they have any ideas how to fix this situation.  

I cannot believe that we are the only company which is having these issues with AutoCAD and Bluebeam.  

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

When I opened your drawing file, I ran AUDIT and found 28 errors. I don't know if this is impacting the functionality of your BlueBeam process.

After Audit, I also ran Purge, and -Purge>Regapps.  Then, I created a PDF using the Dwg to PDF driver. The resulting PDF opened automatically in my Adobe Reader. One of the options there is Certificates which is a tool to add Digital Signatures.  Is this an option for you?

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

[Anonymous]

John,

I ran audit on the file on our network and did not find any errors.  -Purge removed 20 or so regapps.  I then downloaded the file that I uploaded, ran an audit and it still found no errors.  I wonder where these are coming from?

Bluebeam works inside AutoCAD as a plugin. (i think that's the correct term)  We have the digital signature fields on our template drawings so we don't have to go through the process of adding them to every drawing.  You can't see them in the drawing when it's open, but when you 'output' the file with the Bluebeam plugin (from inside AutoCAD), it makes them visible on the PDF.  

I'm sorry, but using Adobe and inserting the fields is not an option for me.  Also, trying to insert 3 fields per sheet in a set of 54 sheets and trying to get them all to be in the same location/size would be very difficult and time consuming.

Bluebeam used to have forums where we could post questions like this and other users could help out, but they removed them 😞 .

Thanks again for your time 

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I used AuotoCAD 2018 to find the audit errors.

I have attached my version of the file. Can you try it with BlueBeam to see if it works as you expect?

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

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

I am using AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018.  

I downloaded your file, used the 'output' for bluebeam and the resulting PDF is still 21MB.  

I really appreciate you helping me out.  I hope we can fix this eventually.

Marcus

[john.vellek]

Hi Marcus,

You might add a post in the AutoCAD Civil 3D forum too since that might application change the behavior somewhat.

My intent of the last post was to see if BlueBeam would allow the digital signatures in the PDF from the file I provided.

As far as the files size, it sounds as if BlueBeam might be rasterizing all the content. The PDF I produce from AutoCAD 2018 using DWG to PDF is 530KB.

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

[pendean]

If I am reading your posts correctly:
1. In order to reduce the size of the final PDFs you can do it that by plotting to the AutoCAD/C3D included PDF drivers with no other changes in the file or in the PLOT PAGESETUP settings. Like Alfred's 500k pdf of your file.
2. If you try and repeat #1 above using the BlueBeam driver, you end up with 10mb PDF files unless you start making changes to your dwg file.
3. The temp workaround offered by all non-Bluebeam users here works but is cumbersome and you want to avoid that.

Did I miss anything?

[Anonymous]

pendean,

Yes, you are correct on all accounts.

This 21mb file is just one of several examples.  I've had files expand upwards of 80mb+ with this issue.

Thank you,

Marcus

[pendean]

If I may suggest something: start a new topic, title of the topic is
C3D TO BLUEBEAM PDF OUTPUT IS VERY LARGE

In the body of the topic note the three points (and expand on them as you see fit, especially about the need to the electronic signature automation), include your sample file, and post in the C3D forum over there https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-civil-3d-forum/bd-p/66

If you feel this forum is the best place for your issue instead then I suggest you still do the same thing (start your own topic) as the topic title you latched on to is not attracting the users you are looking for (keep in mind there are way fewer C3D users in here).

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Hi , I have the same problem with autocad 2018. none of those options are checked ( include hyperlinks, convert fonts....) please help! 

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I have the same problem with autocad 2018

When opening your file we see that 2 referenced files are missing, one PDF and one dwg.

That gives us not the same situation to recreate your issue.

We also don't know which layouts were published and which filesize you have got as result ...

It also would be interesting, how your PDF looks like and if you also get results higher than normal (filesize) when you plot a single layout to PDF.

- alfred -

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

without the missing referenced files I have created a PDF using command _PUBLISH, it has just 2MB (please find attached).

The only inconvenience on my system is that I don't have your fonts, that might be also part of your troubles.

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

Good Day,

I seem to be having the same issue with AutoCAD 3D Civil.  Below snip is my current settings. File size after printing is 16000kb plus. Any ideas on how to reduce this. I believe this is an issue on the Soundings xref dwg I have which is causing the problem due to the text? I have also included my drawing if you could please assist. Not that when we use AutoCAD 2012 on another workstation we don't have this issue at all.

Print Settings