PDF Import ...

[keiths]

I have PDF images i.e road signs, is it possible to drag and drop from a tool palette.

 

Or can somebody recommend an alternative solution.

 

At present i download an eps file of a sign, convert to pdf, then import in to DWG.

 

Can i make the PDF into a block...

 

Do i need to create a DWG of the sign and convert in to a block.

 

at present i am alittle lost with what to do... i am after a quicker way to reduce my time producing dwgs.

 

P.S at present i attach them as a JPEG

[ReMark]

Have you tried PDFATTACH?

[keiths]

Hi Remark... yes i am doing that at the moment.. i was trying to find a quicker way if any !

[ReMark]

I can't think of a quicker way. Maybe rkent or nestly can. I think I saw each of them over in another thread earlier. Perhaps they'll see your thread and chime in with an alternate suggestion or two. I do however like the idea of using the PDF as a basis for a new block. That would work quite well for all your future needs.

[Murph_map]

Have you searched for the signs in dwg format? I know at one time there were a bunch of them out there. I know that ESRI GIS programs (ArcGIS/ArcMap) had a ton of them in its program in BMP format that I converted to dwg with raster design years ago.

[keiths]

Do you know if i can add PDF's to the tool palettes...

[ReMark]

I don't know but it would be very simple to test.

[RobDraw]

I would highly recommend that you use a format other than PDF. AutoCAD takes a performance hit when it comes to PDFs. If you are going to have multiple instances of multiple PDFs, your drawings will probably slow down dramatically.

[keiths]

Hi Rob,

 

I am trying to produce traffic management dwg's and for the signs i have been downloading from a website as a eps file, converting to pdf and trying to convert to a block... i am lost big time and i am wondering if this is the best way.

.

My only option would be to draw each sign in cad.... all advice appreciated !

 

Keith

[ReMark]

Can you show us an example or two? I'd image that some of the signs you are looking for probably already exist as CAD blocks on other websites. No sense recreating the wheel so to speak.

 

I've got to leave shortly. Here are links two website with AutoCAD blocks. The first one, CADforum, is Czech but like CADTutor has members from all over the world. The second one is Australian.

 

http://www.cadforum.cz/cadforum_en/default.asp

 

http://www.draftsperson.net/index.php?title=Draftsperson.net:Free_AutoCAD_Blocks

Edited November 22, 2013 by ReMark

[keiths]

Hi ReMark,

 

I have searched endlessly for the signs in a cad format, i download them from the following site in an eps format before converting to PDF..

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/traffic-control-devices-manual/sign-specifications/

 

I am trying to add them on to the tool palettes so i can drag and drop onto my dwg's...

 

am i just better starting from scratch and draw each one indvidually...

 

 

Keith

 

[ReMark]

I viewed just one sign (Arrow type F) and based on the dimensions given I could very easily recreate it in DWG format so if you can do the same I'd recommend it rather than use the PDF of each sign.

[keiths]

Example.pdf

 

 

Hi ReMark, Many thanks for the reply going to take a while to recreate each sign in dwg...lol do i create or write a block.. do i make the sign with plines and than hatch a solid for the colours or is there a quicker way....all advice appricated... i ahave attached an example...

Edited November 25, 2013 by keiths

[ReMark]

PDF files attached to drawings tend to have an impact on the file size of the drawing thus affecting performance. I suppose this could be somewhat controlled by the judicious use of PDFs but on a really busy drawing you might start see a lag. Personally if I did not create a block I'd use a TIFF rather than a PDF.