PDF and Line weights

[Ivan006]

Hi Everybody,

 

I have a couple questions.

 

1. I received a cad drawing in a PDF format. I want to convert the PDF into a dwg, without having to insert the PDF onto a blank drawing sheet and tracing over the image. I've downloaded several trial versions, but a lot of them either explode the PDF into little fragments or give me parts of the PDF in many drawings. Is there a software that anyone recommends I try that could make the conversion better? Has anyone had any success with this. I have the full version of Adobe 9 Pro, but it only converts from dwg to pdf.

 

2. I'm looking for a list that shows the color numbers and the lineweight associated with that color in mm (and inches if possible). Does such a list exist? Please let me know

 

I'm running AutoCAD 2008.

 

Thanks,

 

Ivan8)

[JerryG]

What program are you using to convert back to dwg?

Converting from a image to a dwg will never be perfect.

I think the best way to achive what you want is to still trace over

the image.

[Ivan006]

I've tried the following programs:

 

PDF to DXF - creates several Dxf files, and you have to piece them together. The drawing is still exploded into little bits.

PDF to DWG - Creates a viewer with no option to save the drawing

PDF to Image - This only produces a tiff file that is shown as a white box in my AutoCAD

PDF to DWG Convert 1.845 - this one has expired for me.

 

Tracing is such a long process. :-(

[Ollie8974]

Is the original drawing a Blue Print or a cad file?

If it is a cad file have it sent as a cad file, instead of converting to a PDF.

If it is a drawing ,then the only thing to do is draw it out in AutoCAD. I have had to do this several times, agree it is a PTA.

[Glen Smith]

That's the rub. People often use PDF's as a method to send out files that they don't want the recipiant to be able to modify. What you are looking for would enable you to recreate the other persons work in much less time than it took them. I'm not saying you are doing it for nefarious reasons, and in my current job such a utility would often be helpfull. The problem is that IF it was easy to convert from PDF back to a DWG (or any other type) file, PDF would lose its whole reason for being.

 

We got a set of plans for a older large building in PDF as that was all that the owner had, we paid for them to be converted to DWG so that we could use the wall window and door layouts to put our security information into them. Even with the conversion we spent MANY hours cleaning up the converted drawings to the point where they were usable. In terms of money spent it may have been cheaper, (both time and money wise) to simply redraw/trace them

 

Good luck.

Glen

[Ivan006]

The original file is a cad file (made in 1994), but the person who made the CAD drawings didn't keep the cad file in their archive for that particular year, only the PDF's. I know.......why? I asked the same question - that's a whole different issue altogether. >-(

So I'm forced to either trace over the drawing or find a converter. I'd rather do the 2nd option since these drawings are on large ('D' size paper).

[Tankman]

pdf2cad works, but does fragment lines, circles, etc.

 

A bit of clean-up but, gets the job done in a pinch.

 

www.pdf2cad.com

 

Try their trial program. The program is also speedy, a few seconds, done.

[f700es]

Try adobe illustrator, there is a 30 day demo. If it is a vector PDF you open the PDF in illustrator and export as a dwg. You will need to clean up the arcs and circles though.

[Glen Smith]

The original file is a cad file (made in 1994), but the person who made the CAD drawings didn't keep the cad file in their archive for that particular year, only the PDF's. I know.......why? I asked the same question - that's a whole different issue altogether. >-(

So I'm forced to either trace over the drawing or find a converter. I'd rather do the 2nd option since these drawings are on large ('D' size paper).

 

I hear ya, like I said there are legitimate and leagal reasons for needing to convert - the problem is that if it was as simple as running it through some convertor and getting a "perfect" document out the other side - PDF's would go away and some other new file type would take its place.

 

I would suggest that you start doing the conversion and celan up process while you look for a better solution. This is going to take some time.

 

Glen

[Ivan006]

Try adobe illustrator, there is a 30 day demo. If it is a vector PDF you open the PDF in illustrator and export as a dwg. You will need to clean up the arcs and circles though.

 

I'm just going to have to trace the drawings. Right now this is the best and clearest method for tracing. Adobe illustrator makes the pdf onto cad more clearer than importing an adobe file into cad. Thanks for the idea and the help.

[Cadologist]

Personally I wouldn't trust 'any' conversion program with regards to utilizing a design into the existing PDF information, reason being that a PDF typically isn't dimension-accurate with slight variances due to the line thickness vs. dimensions so even if you can somehow convert it cleanly, I bet if you measure distances between two known points, they won't exactly match that dimension listed. If you scale, by reference those two points to make them that dimension manually, and then check two other completely different point distance, it'll not match what it says.

 

If your doing direct design work off the existing PDF entities, the only proper way to do this is manually redraw it and/or somehow get the actual ACAD file from 'whoever'.

[kiki27679]

Hi everyone,

 

I've heard that's possible to conver pdf to cad in illustrator. But there is a problem, because when i open pdf in illustrator the whole drawing is in one object. How can I explode it to individual liles?

 

SOMEBODY HELP PLEASE!

[Tankman]

I'm just going to have to trace the drawings. Right now this is the best and clearest method for tracing. Adobe illustrator makes the pdf onto cad more clearer than importing an adobe file into cad. Thanks for the idea and the help.

 

For clean tracing, the *.pdf can be saved as a *.jpg.

Then inport the *.jpg image into AutoCAD, scale first, "draworder", "B" (back).

Use a color you can deal with; i.e.: red usually works for me.

 

There, in my experience, no sure fire way to accomplish the mission.

[kiki27679]

Unfortunatelly, i didnt mean tracing, thank you though . The drawing is too big to trace it, it would take me absolutely ages and i would go mad.

 

Anyone elese any ideas?

[Ivan006]

Hi everyone,

 

I've heard that's possible to conver pdf to cad in illustrator. But there is a problem, because when i open pdf in illustrator the whole drawing is in one object. How can I explode it to individual liles?

 

SOMEBODY HELP PLEASE!

 

This is the issue with going from PDF to CAD, it's impossible to go from an old PDF drawing to CAD unless the PDF was made from a CAD software (CAD to PDF). When I open the PDF in illustrator, I just export the PDF file into a dwg format and work from there. Unfortunately I've never heard of an explode feature in Adobe illustrator.

 

Thanks Tankman for the tracing suggestion.

[f700es]

If it is lines and arcs in Illustrator it does have an "explode" it is called "Un-group" but this only works if it is a vector PDF and not a raster one.