How to edit a pdf converted autocad drawing? (using autocad LT 2017)

[Anonymous]

Dear all,

I would appreciate if anybody can  help out, especially people who use autocad for electrical drawings interface. i am facing problem in editing an autocad file. The most i can do is, selecting any item with single click and deleting it or moving its position. I am using autocad LT 2017. Right now, I cannot 

1.edit existing texts

2. create new design blocks

3. paste a design block from other drawing to this one. 

The drawing that i have attached, was a pdf which i imported in cad LT 2017 and converted into a dwg format. The pdf used in this case has a highlight-able text.

thank you

[steven-g]

You can't edit the tekst because it has been converted to polylines, use 2012 but a quick look at the 20178 help files, points to a dialogue setting that may need adjusting so that Autocad can properly recognise text objects. However I had no problems with creating or inserting blocks!

[pendean · Accepted solution]

Q: did you install the 2017.1.1 Fall Update? It's found only on your subscription updates page, it added a command called PDFSHXTEXT command that converts what I suspect were shx fonts in the PDF to actual text. LT2018 has this feature built in too.

Q2: What other objects are you trying to edit that you cannot? Or do you just mean these shapes?

[Anonymous]

Yes you are right. i can move and copy certain objects in the drawing and other objects we cant. For example, in mentioned drawing, the block at the bottom right ('National Grid' logo and the Arabic equivalent of it written there) can neither be copied nor moved elsewhere. 

Regarding there has to be a way for a direct text edit, although in my case, one hack is to first delete the text and then write it again by matching the same font, but its cumbersome. 

[Anonymous]

A1: pdfshxtext command does not work on my CAD. I have checked it as you mentioned. i might have the older update but its CAD LT 2017.

Is there any other way to edit text directly or i must install LT 2018 for this? 

A2: The texts are selected the same way as you have mentioned, treated as shapes/lines. 

[pendean]

1. Go grab the 2017.1.1 update (notice the "point one point one" in the name) from your active subscription-only updates page https://manage.autodesk.com/cep/#products-services/updates
Read all about it here: http://blogs.autodesk.com/autocad/autocad-2017-fall-update/

2. Those as Polylines in the file you posted, not text, like PROPERTIES command says: just because they are shaped like letters doesn't make them actual words or letters. Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

Good morning , I just want to covert a pdf of an engine drawing,  back to an autocad drawing if this is possible?

I would be very grateful  if you can advise.

Kind Regards   Bill Devney  BRITISH STEEL UK.

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@pendeanwrote:

1. Go grab the 2017.1.1 update (notice the "point one point one" in the name) from your active subscription-only updates page https://manage.autodesk.com/cep/#products-services/updates
Read all about it here: http://blogs.autodesk.com/autocad/autocad-2017-fall-update/

2. Those as Polylines in the file you posted, not text, like PROPERTIES command says: just because they are shaped like letters doesn't make them actual words or letters. Hope that helps.

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[Anonymous]

CAN YOU HELP?

REGARDS BILL.

[steven-g]

All capitals is regarded as shouting on internet forums, and that 4 minutes after your original post !!!

It is possible but only if your PDF had been originally created as a vector PDF. If your not sure then post a copy of it here and someone could take a look for you.

[pendean]

So what have you tried? Your post is incomplete for remote assistance.