Export drawings to pdf vs printing

[kadscad]

What is the point of exporting your drawings to pdf vs printing ¿

[BeKirra]

IMO "Printing to PDF" using a specified PDF drive is old school.

"Export to PDF" is straightforward and does the same thing.

But it is worth to dig more details in both dialogues.

[Gabriel_Watson]

You have access to more options (printer properties and advanced settings) when using print:

Because Export to PDF seems to be using an Inventor driver for it, instead of your preferred tool (when exporting to PDF, the "options" dialog only gives you the following):

[Frederick_Law]

Print only available with Acrobat installed.

[kadscad]

well, thats an issue. We use Bluebeam

[NigelHay]

We use the freeware CutePDF which works fine. There are many other PDF printers around.

For batch printing, I use drawing Porter from the Autodesk app store, also free.

[BeKirra]

Hi @kadscad & @Frederick_Law 

AFAIK, The "Microsoft Print to PDF" driver should be available when MS Office is installed.

Of course there is an option of rotate sheet 90° that "Export to PDF" doesn't provide.

But again, personally I prefer "Export to PDF" method as it is easy and simple to use.

HTH

[kadscad]

How does it name the exported sheets when you have multiple sheets in a dwg?

[BeKirra]

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@kadscad wrote:

How does it name the exported sheets when you have multiple sheets in a dwg?

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Here is an example for an exported multi-sheet drawing to PDF.

BTW using "Microsoft to PDF" in print dialogue doesn't provide the "Page Thumbnails".

[M.Cantu]

I know this is for an older post, but I do agree that Export to PDF is much cleaner and faster than your typical print option, however, if you're going to sign your PDFs electronically, you MUST use the print option. If you try to electronically sign (using Bluebeam or another 3rd party software), the PDF will not work if it was done using the Export to PDF option. It took us a while to figure that out. I don't know the technical reasons, but if any one can shed some light in this matter, we will be very grateful.