[Coosbaylumber]

PDF to Acad converter...


I work at home and in an office. At home have one system and in office have yet another. In a few days now will be receiving a PDF type file at home of a plan, that was done by another, years ago. For years now, the customer cared little about how fast the project got done, for was a small firm and just cared that it got done in 2-3 months then. In time to move on to next project then. On this PDF file, they paid for everything, it got converted to the new page format and sat on their home computer a few years. The customer basically has a grading plan that is 6-10 years old, and does not meet today's standards. I need to not really re-drawn all of it, but update it then and get it signed off for a permit. He had it scanned and saved as a PDF, and now wants to get going on the project while bank loan costs are down.

As I often get donated (free) computers at home to work off from, I need a conversion program that can be used to convert this format. I used to use Ghostgum on the home computer for the occasional (twice per year) a conversion, but since going to a newer OS, that old comfortable computer bound up the well used hard drive and it stopped working. Now then something new again.

Here is the situation first which may need explaination. At home, got one computer connected to another via wire. One downloads things from internet, and the other one then works in Acad. No problem there for me. Thus the new conversion must easily work off the Internet computer, by itself, and not the secondary one (which has ACAD upon it). It has to run in a stand alone situation. I have found a few places with Trial Offers, only to find they require the latest and greatest edition of Autocad, lottsa RAM, a very high speed download program connection, and M-S Windows 7 now, plus a pre-payment of $500 or so. I got none of that at home. But I do have time, and if it takes 10-20 nimutes to download OK, (instead of being instant). But if the new freebie software is requiring the above then the deal is off. At a few web sites they do not tell you of such until you have in hand via purchase their software. I do not need anything that fancy or fast, for I only do such once or twice per year. Oh, you do not have the latest installed then we can't help you.

Got any suggestions for doing such an occasional type drawing on the old sly?


Wm.

[ReMark]

I haven't come across one freebie or trial version that has done a halfway decent job of converting from PDF to AutoCAD. The end product tends to have all objects, even text, broken down into a series of lines. This would be fine if the original drawing a a single box with the word "to" in it but anything more than that becomes a nightmare to work with as one spends more time editting the drawing (just to be able to work with it efficiently) than doing anything meaningful (like real work).

I'd digitize the PDF file right in AutoCAD but you probably don't have a digitizer or do you?

[Tankman]

Try the free trial at www.pdf2cad.com or, try Inkscape, a free program.

If you insert the image onto a blank *.dwg, use "DRAWORDER" and send it to
the background "B".

You'll have to scale the drawing from a known dimension and sorry, start over.
At least this'll get you out of the gate.

If you have Adobe Pro you could take "Snapshot" and past into your photo editor, i.e.: M$ Paint. Save as a *.jpg.

Insert the *.jpg image into a blank *.dwg, same result, get cracking.

Over the weekend I must have, during the rain, converted half a dozen images
to *.dwg files. Easy enough while the World Series was on, then the NFL on Sunday afternoon.

Like ReMark stated, lots of bits 'n pieces; i.e.: an "A" is usually three individual lines.

[ReMark]

After you've made the conversion and start working with the converted file you'll learn the true meaning of the word "exasperation".

If you have "time" then digitizing the image is the way I would recommend.

[Coosbaylumber]

Tank...

Had tried the software noted, and respondant said Iff'n I had not paid for the full version of software, they could not help nor disclose software details. Hung up. End of conversation.

So, I look elsewhere.

Wm.

[Tiger]

I agree with the suggestion to trace the image on your own. Import it as a PDF or as a JPG or even a TIFF if possible, and start tracing. It is a tedious process, but if like you say you do this twice a year, it shouldn't be impossible.

And the client gets a good, working DWG-file in the process.

[Tankman]

Tedious what else? Tiger is correct, import as an image or convert to *.dxf.

Might you have Adobe Pro?

Attached *.jpg was a "Snapshot" taken in Adobe Pro 6 and pasted into M$ Paint. The result was saved as a *.jpg image.

If the *.pdf was a scan, would be a bit cleaner if converting if the *.pdf had been created (output) in AutoCAD. Originally this was a scan.

This image was indeed a "Snapshot" taken from a *.pdf which was indeed generated in AutoCAD. I created the *.pdf in AutoCAD which I made using this same routine.

The image *.jpg was inserted into AutoCAD '05.
Image using "Draworder" was sent to 'B' (Back).

I then using red so I could see on the white, drew a horizontal line and a vertical line, using the intersection, a circle.
The circle measured 2+ inches, I scaled up to 92" which I needed.

The rest, given dimensions and a bit of fudging, isn't terrible but,
could as Tiger states, "A bit tedious."

Have fun. After you've got enough, un-attach the image and get workin'!

PS. The image and drawing have to be in the same file to view; i.e.: My Documents (temporarily).

[Coosbaylumber]

Originally Posted by Tiger

I agree with the suggestion to trace the image on your own. Import it as a PDF or as a JPG or even a TIFF if possible, and start tracing. It is a tedious process, but if like you say you do this twice a year, it shouldn't be impossible.

And the client gets a good, working DWG-file in the process.

I cannot afford the time involved with any tracing. As mentioned already, this time would have to go against the client's bill or be absorbed.


Wm.

[Tankman]

Originally Posted by Coosbaylumber

I cannot afford the time involved with any tracing. As mentioned already, this time would have to go against the client's bill or be absorbed.

Wm.

We're only here to help. Time is important, naturally, however, we do what we have to do to make the presentation.

It is what it is!

[ReMark]

Then it is up to the client to provide the drawing in the best manner possible (one that can be opened and editted in AutoCAD without conversion) or absorb the cost of manually tracing it.