PDF Underlay Copy-Paste Between Drawings

[Netelaana]

I  have standard PDF details that I want to copy between drawings. It has worked in the past, but now is not working. I've tried both "DC>import layout" as well as just a simple ctrl+c / ctrl+p. It does paste, it just shows up as a only a grip, and properties show it as VERY large in the negative dimension (see screenshot below). Changing the scale does nothing, changing size does nothing. Any ideas what is going on?

If I do a new pdfattach, it works fine, but then I have to re-attach dozens of pdf's every time for our standard sheets (not ideal).

Is there a better way of transferring bulk pdf underlays from one dwg to another?

Thanks in advance for any help -

 

[cwr-pae]

Can you post the drawing and pdf? If we can reproduce the issue, we may can find a solution.

[Netelaana]

Can't do the exact dwg, but a purged down one still behaves the same way.

I have drawing "A-2" that is my existing drawing with PDF "Example PDF" underlay xref'ed into paperspace

I have a new drawing "B-2"

I would like to copy-paste the PDF's from paperspace "A-2" to "B-2"

The pdf is right in the root ".\example pdf"

This happens regularly to many dwg's, so its not just an isolated issue.

Note: if I start with a brand new drawing, bring in the xrefs, and then copy-paste to 2nd brand new drawing, it seems to work, so it must be something embedded in the dwg that survives  a wblock and -purge>all

Thanks!

[doni49]

I can't tell you what's causing it.  But I can at least confirm for you that when I test your files, I have the same issue.  In fact, after pasting them into the destination file, they don't appear in the XREF dialog like they normally would.  I also tried pasting into a brand new dwg file (that I created).

I tested it in C3D 2023 and C3D 2024 both.

I also opened the PDF in Blubeam and saved it to a new file (I thought maybe the PDF was corrupted).  That didn't help either.

Then I created a new file (in C3D 2023), attached your PDF file to it and copied the pdf to my clipboard.  Then I created ANOTHER new file and pasted the PDF file into it.  That shows up fine.

I'm attaching my dwg files.  

[doni49]

I just did one more test.  I opened your B.dwg file and pasted the pdf in there (having copied it from MY source file).  It pasted in fine.  I suspect that there is some sort of corruption issue in your A.dwg file.

[Netelaana]

Thank you - ANY idea of where to look to find (and weed out) the corruption? This issue is occurring in many drawings, and as you found, survived a wblock and purge.

[doni49]

Not really.  Inserting as a block into a new dwg file has always been my go-to for fixing a corruption issue.  Sorry to say I don't have a better answer.

Reach out to your reseller (the one who sold you your C3D license(s)).  If they don't have an answer, they have access to people at Autodesk (beyond anything you or I can do).

[doni49]

One more thing to try.  Create a new dwg file insert your PDF into it.  Then maybe you can copy/paste any other elements into it.  Then treat that as your source file.

[Joe-Bouza]

Did you modify upon inserting the original? origin scale??

[Netelaana]

The first screenshot I had fiddled with the scale (set it very small) to see if I that was the issue (which it does not seem to be). It comes it with the same scale as the original pdf from the original drawing, its just that the height and width are "-2.00e+20" and it only shows up as a grip, and does not show up on the xref list.

I also tried running it through a dummy new drawing (Source -->copypaste to dummy--->copy paste to destination) and that did not work, it won't even paste into the brand new dummy file.  its also not the pdf  - if I pdf attach it from scratch into a new file, it copy-paste's fine.

The work-around is just to redo "pdfattach"... but it is a long way around with dozens (~40+) pdf underlays. As mentioned its not isolated to one drawing, and the bug survives wblock & purge, so I would love to root it out so I am not spreading it around.