Layers within a PDF?

[uhcafigdc]

I heard that the PDF format supports layers that can be switched on and off. Pretty cool. Does anyone have experience using this feature for CAD drawings that can point me in the right direction?

 

Do I need to use Adobe Acrobat to do this, or can I do this with a free product? Right now I plot to PDF using PDF Creator as the plotter.

 

Can I plot to a layered PDF from AutoCAD somehow, or does this all have to be set up in some PDF-editing program after plotting?

[Dana W]

AutoCAD itself is capable of plotting directly to pdf, and I know, since the 2009 version at least, it produces pdf plots with the same layers as in your AutoCAD drawing. The layers can be turned on and off within the pdf document too. The pdf format is a selectable item in the AutoCAD default printer/plotter name dropdown list. When you open the page setup manager and click on the printer/plotter list box, you will select DWG To PDF.pc3. It's so easy you can do it by accident.

 

All you need is Adobe reader to open the pdf, and download the latest version if you don't already have it.

 

I suggest, once you have AutoCAD up and running, go to the Autodesk website and download DWG TrueView. It is free. Here's the link. http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=6703438&DCMP=ILC-DWG-PUV

It can plot pdf's as well. Just have your drawing all set up in AutoCAD, save and close it. Then open the drawing in TrueView. You can plot just as if it were still in AutoCAD. It uses all the plotting parameters you set up in AutoCAD for each drawing. TrueView does a lot of other stuff as well. Check it out.

[Cad64]

What version of Autocad are you running? Please update your profile.

[uhcafigdc]

What version of Autocad are you running? Please update your profile.

 

AutoCAD 2007 ADT. The built-in PDF plotter in this version is useless. I will check out DWG TrueView.

[Cad64]

Yes, the 2007 built-in pdf plotter was pretty bad. But in the newer releases it's actually pretty good.

[Dana W]

Yes, the 2007 built-in pdf plotter was pretty bad. But in the newer releases it's actually pretty good.

 

It isn't a whole lot better in 2009 LT. That's why I started using TrueView.

[Cad64]

It works pretty good in 2010 and 2011. I haven't had any problems with it.

Maybe it's because you're using LT.

[JamyB]

Is this possible in Architecture 2008? I've been looking in our Adobe PDF plotter settings, but no luck. Theres also a .pc3 plotter, but still no luck. Anyone?