Making 3D PDF files are driving me crazy.

[jgjYRRKE]

Hello all.

So i learned that 3D .PDF is a great tool for showing your solutions to the costumer.

BUT, the limitations are driving me crazy.

* If i use Inventor to make 3D .PDF, the quality is great and it opens quickly on weaker PC's - Great.

* If i use Inventor to make 3D .PDF i am limited by the 4 templates - Bad.

* If i use Inventor to make 3D .PDF i can not see/use the other templates i place in the template folder - Bad.

* If i use Inventor to make 3D .PDF i can not customize my templates in Inventor - Bad.

* If i use 3D PDF Maker to make 3D .PDF then i can make custom PDF's with buttons, views, own logo - Fantastic.

* If i use 3D PDF Maker to make 3D .PDF this the quality is great but EXTREMELY slow to open - Bad.

* If i use 3D PDF Maker to make 3D .PDF then big assemblies in low res makes the program sluggish - Bad.

Even if i copy an existing 3D template in Inventor, i still cant see or use it, why??

Am i really limited to using 3D PDFs without customized template and buttons, logo etc. (Inventor) or fancy looking 3D PDFs that takes forever to open, hence making the worthless for big assemblies (3D PDF Maker)?

Im using Inventor 2018 Pro.

Intel Xeon 2.7 ghz 4 core

20GB RAM

Nvidia Quadro FX 1800

[mdavis22569]

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@jgjYRRKE wrote:

* If i use Inventor to make 3D .PDF i am limited by the 4 templates - Bad.

* If i use Inventor to make 3D .PDF i can not see/use the other templates i place in the template folder - Bad.

* If i use Inventor to make 3D .PDF i can not customize my templates in Inventor - Bad.

* If i use 3D PDF Maker to make 3D .PDF this the quality is great but EXTREMELY slow to open - Bad.

* If i use 3D PDF Maker to make 3D .PDF then big assemblies in low res makes the program sluggish - Bad.

Even if i copy an existing 3D template in Inventor, i still cant see or use it, why??

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While I see some issues with 3D PDF .....

I don't see all of the ones you posted.

As for the limited to 4 templates:  You can make as many as you need. They just gave 4 templates to start out with.

As sluggish ....can you share an example. Might be the PC or the PC and their graphics. 

Can you share a screencast video showing some of the issues, maybe myself or one of the others who use the 3D PDF's can help with some of the issues...

[jgjYRRKE]

Well, the sluggishness is only when i use the program 3D PDF Maker.
http://www.3dpdfmaker.com/en/

Brilliant program, but the files take 30 sec. to open afterwards, compared to Inventors 2-3 sec.

About templates in Inventor, then i cant see them when i want to change to a new one.

Do i need to save them as something special before adding them to template folder?

The image i attached shows a template called "Homemade".

I actually just copied the one called Blank and renamed it, but STILL i can not use or see the template when i export to 3D PDF in Inventor?

I only see the 4 original ones.

[mdavis22569]

So why not use the Inventor 3D PDF maker vs a 3rd Party one ?

[mcgyvr]

FYI..

To customize 3d PDF templates you need the full version of Adobe Acrobat DC and here is a link with somewhat helpful information..

Note template customization requires some fairly decent "programmer like" skills/conceptual understanding and potentially javascript.. Its far from a drag/drop WYSIWYG functionality..

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/sites/default/files/Inventor_Anark_Core_Static_PDF_Template_Reference...

[Frederick_Law]

I had modified template from IV with Acrobat and use them.

I have 6 pdf templates and I can pick anyone I need.

Is IV using the same template folder when you export to pdf?

[jgjYRRKE]

"So why not use the Inventor 3D PDF maker vs a 3rd Party one ?"

I dont know what you mean?

You are mixing Inventor and 3D PDF Maker.

It is two different programs 🙂

[mdavis22569]

I use the Autodesk 3D PDF maker .....

I have multiple templates.... ALL in my template folder. No issues finding them.

They have my logo's in them.

I've adjusted / customized them in various ways.  

[jgjYRRKE]

I dont have the Adobe version that allows editing, but when i copy an existing template and rename it, then i can not use it.

The original one (one of the 4 originals) i copied works fine.

I just right-clicked it and copied it, then changed name of the copy, but the copy dont show up under template selection, when trying to export to 3D .PDF

They should be identical except the name?

It's like it looses properties or something?

[mcgyvr]

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@jgjYRRKE wrote:

I dont have the Adobe version that allows editing, but when i copy an existing template and rename it, then i can not use it.

The original one (one of the 4 originals) i copied works fine.

I just right-clicked it and copied it, then changed name of the copy, but the copy dont show up under template selection, when trying to export to 3D .PDF

They should be identical except the name?

It's like it looses properties or something?

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It works just fine for me.. (I no longer have Adobe DC either as I gave up on 3d PDF's in Inventor)

But I can simply copy the Blank.pdf template and make Blank -Copy.pdf and use that without issue..

Are you sure you are in the correct folder?

Please show a picture from inside Inventor about how your copy doesn't work or can't be found..

Are you pressing the ... button to the right of the dropdown arrow to select your newly copied PDF template? You must as the new copy will NOT show up in the dropdown until it has been used to create a 3d PDF..

You must press this button circled in red to find your new 3d pdf template..

pdf.PNG

[jgjYRRKE]

As you can see, the new copy is not showing 😞

[mdavis22569]

Where is your IPJ and Application options pointing to as well? 

[mcgyvr · Accepted solution]

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@jgjYRRKE wrote:

As you can see, the new copy is not showing 😞

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@jgjYRRKE  Thats not the same folder shown in both of those... 

The fact that those English/Metric folders aren't showing is proof of that..

There are likely 2 (or more) locations with pdf templates on your computer. You are copying in one but Inventor is looking at another..

Bingo.. Problem solved

[jgjYRRKE]

OMG 😄

You are right.

There are more than one place for templates.

Thank you, hahaha 😄

It works now.

I can see the template.

[mdavis22569 · Accepted solution]

that's what we've been saying ....glad you're all set! 

[jgjYRRKE]

Sorry for being stupid 

[Frederick_Law]

We all do that sometime 

[Anonymous]

Where is Inventor's 3D PDF maker located? Does this allow you to create custom PDF templates?

[mdavis22569]

Hi @Anonymous 

Yes ... you can create custom PDF's.  You'll want NotePad and Adobe .... 

As for where is it... 

Doe  an Export it's there ...and a few other places within Inventor 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019...

[jgjYRRKE]

You can download a trial here: http://www.3dpdfmaker.com/

I like how easy it is to use and how many ways you can costumize the template.

BUT, the 3D .pdf i make with 3D PDF MAKER takes much longer to open and view than the ones i makes with inventor.

Both ways have their limitations tho.