wings Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 I am looking for a decent, inexpensive pdf converter for cad (ADT 2006 & AutoCAD 2013), and MS office software. Now that I am on my own, I can't afford $300.00 or so for Bluebeam, which my last company had. I just need something basic that will load on to my system easily (interface with autocad upon completion of loading), and flawlessly convert .dwg files to .pdf files. I am not looking for something that is so cheap it constantly gives pop-ups or leaves the companies website on the pdf's it creates. Thanks. P.S. This has probably come up before. I did do a quick search of the site but didn't find anything. Also, if this post should be moved somewhere else please do so, as this seemed to be the logical place for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReMark Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 CutePDF has been mentioned several times in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldon Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 I have used CutePDF for years and still do for Word documents. But for drawings I am now using Dwg TrueView which produces layered PDFs. The other advantage is that it can convert other drawings down to your version of AutoCAD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the ber Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 FreePDF (shbox.de) is pretty good, and it doesn't leave watermarks or anything. My favorite is DWGtoPDF in AutoCAD, don't know if it's included with 2009. DWG TrueView is free and excellent but it's also top heavy. No need to spend any money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sesheron Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 I have always just used the built in DWGtoPDF.pc3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevsmith Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Is there not an option to print to pdf in autocad without the need for 3rd party? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sesheron Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 The one I just said IS built in....AND not 3rd party Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wings Posted May 23, 2013 Author Share Posted May 23, 2013 I have always just used the built in DWGtoPDF.pc3 Can this be opened by standard .pdf readers? I found one that will do the trick. It will cost about 30.00, but will suit my needs. Thanks for the responses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sesheron Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Can this be opened by standard .pdf readers? I found one that will do the trick. It will cost about 30.00, but will suit my needs. Thanks for the responses. Of course it can be opened by all PDF readers. That is the whole point of PDF. It even keeps the layer information intact if you want it to. It's free. Why would you need to pay for a feature built into autocad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wings Posted May 23, 2013 Author Share Posted May 23, 2013 Of course it can be opened by all PDF readers. That is the whole point of PDF. It even keeps the layer information intact if you want it to. It's free. Why would you need to pay for a feature built into autocad? Well until you mentioned it on this forum, I had never heard of anyone using it. That's why I ask. I've been using Cad since 1993, and no one has ever used that feature/ conversion/ command. This is probably because until now, I've always worked at companies with IT departments, and license agreements for all kinds of software. There has always been a 3rd party pdf converter where ever I've been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sesheron Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Sounds like a classic "Bosses brother sells software licenses for a living" situations. A google search of Dwg to PDF.pc3 turns up about 50/50 results on yay or nay, depending on whether you need transparency. But I think that issue is gone as a couple versions ago. It really looks like something a lot of people use and just never talk about, like the line command. Its there and hardly ever causes a problem. Plus using the Dwg to PDF.pc3 allows pdf readers to use the search tool on all the text in the drawing. MS Office also creates pdf by default, I think that feature has been built in since version 2007. If you simply must go with a 3rd party plugin, go with cutepdf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wings Posted May 23, 2013 Author Share Posted May 23, 2013 Sounds like a classic "Bosses brother sells software licenses for a living" situations. A google search of Dwg to PDF.pc3 turns up about 50/50 results on yay or nay, depending on whether you need transparency. But I think that issue is gone as a couple versions ago. It really looks like something a lot of people use and just never talk about, like the line command. Its there and hardly ever causes a problem. Plus using the Dwg to PDF.pc3 allows pdf readers to use the search tool on all the text in the drawing. MS Office also creates pdf by default, I think that feature has been built in since version 2007. If you simply must go with a 3rd party plugin, go with cutepdf. I just don't think the people involved knew enough about the cad software. They assumed 3rd party was the way to go. I did know someone who used cutepdf and all of her documents had the watermark "cutepdf" show up at the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sesheron Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 That is too true. I love / hate hearing bosses discussing autocrats like they know how it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobDraw Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I've been using Cute PDF for years and have never seen that water mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neophoible Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I have always just used the built in DWGtoPDF.pc3It sounds like the right was to go. I've had problems with it in 2012. Perhaps I'm missing something. It will not rotate the paper properly, so I can get half my drawing or a much smaller version. That's why I turned to PrimoPDF; however, I hesitate to recommend it. It is free, but if you don't download it from the right source, you could end up with a virus. I know of at least one person who did. Not fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sesheron Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 It sounds like the right was to go. I've had problems with it in 2012. Perhaps I'm missing something. It will not rotate the paper properly, so I can get half my drawing or a much smaller version. Never ran into that before. I took the time once to customize it to only show the drawing sizes I care about: ANSI B, ANSI C, Arch D, ANSI E. They preview and print in landscape. I'm not one of those that hands out PDF's that are rotated 90 degrees vertical. Whenever I open one, the first thing I do is rotate it to be legible anyways. Adobe reader now can automatically adjust the rotation when you print anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLW210 Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 I've used CutePDF, PrimoPDF, Adobe Acrobat and Dwg to PDF, never had problems or watermarks. Everyone here at work on AutoCAD 2005 uses CutePDF or DWG TrueView with NO problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wings Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 I have always just used the built in DWGtoPDF.pc3 I am using autocad 2004 at the moment, and pc3 are not an option. Is there another way to make a pdf with this older version of cad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobDraw Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Have you tried any of the other numerous suggestions? They all work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the ber Posted June 27, 2013 Share Posted June 27, 2013 I am using autocad 2004 at the moment, and pc3 are not an option. Is there another way to make a pdf with this older version of cad? Use DWG Trueview. It is from Autodesk and it is free. A big advantage is that the PDF's will have layers that you can turn off and on using Adobe Reader. Plus, it's free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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