PDF printing with layers

[CARMELHILL]

I've come across, but rarely, a CAD drawing in pdf format that has the ability to turn of individual layers. Does anyone know if Chief can do this? Or is it a specific PDF print driver? 

 

I tried it a few times with an ADOBE printer driver but no go.

 

I thought it might be useful in the field on a 2 in 1 folding Chromebook. My Samsung Chromebook Plus is a life saver and I find new uses for it all the time.

[Renerabbitt]

12 minutes ago, CARMELHILL said:

I've come across, but rarely, a CAD drawing in pdf format that has the ability to turn of individual layers. Does anyone know if Chief can do this? Or is it a specific PDF print driver? 

 

I tried it a few times with an ADOBE printer driver but no go.

 

I thought it might be useful in the field on a 2 in 1 folding Chromebook. My Samsung Chromebook Plus is a life saver and I find new uses for it all the time.

No easy way to do it..I added it to the suggestions forum a couple of weeks ago for the second time.

Easiest method for me is to setup anno/layer sets to have all layers off 'cept the layer you wish to print. Send one sheet to the layout and print to PDF. Then switch anno/layer sets and print to PDF again. The using a PDF software like acrobat pro, You can combine and properly switch off layers(tutorials are on the web)

Here's an example one I did real quick:

Fell Street Electrical Reference.pdf

Note that without inserting buttons(HTML etc) to manage layers, web viewers don't typically allow you to turn them on and off. Making it an added layer of complication

[Chopsaw]

Thanks Rene,  When you have some time could you provide a link to a good tutorial or give a few more details on how you do it with Chief and Acrobat Pro.  I saw a great one of these a while back and have wondered how it was done for a long time.  The more people that are using this the more attention it will get from the chief.  Good place to also put a link back to your suggestion.

[Doug_N]

I think there may be a way to do it.  First export to an autocad file, then from autocad save as a PDF with layers.

 

Then Acrobat will have a layer set that can be turned on or off at least I think so.  I will give this a try tomorrow and let you know how it works out.

 

[KirkClemons]

It's also worth noting that layer support must be available in the program you are viewing the PDF in. For example, if you are viewing the PDF in a web browser, you will not see any layer controls like you do in Adobe Reader. So, if you are hoping to embed this in a website so that people can view the drawing, they will not have any indication that they can toggle layers on or off.

[MarkMc]

10 hours ago, Chopsaw said:

a few more details on how you do it with Chief and

this is with Bluebeam not Acrobat Pro but I'd guess they are similar.

The work is the original PDFs as Rene noted. A slightly simpler method might be to send each set to a layout page and print the whole thing to PDF. Then explode that into pages, then combine as layered PDF. The issue with that is you would  want to rename each file before combining to get layer names correct.

I love it when I get layered PDFs from architects but rarely go through the effort to make them. OTOH.

10 hours ago, CARMELHILL said:

I thought it might be useful in the field on a 2 in 1

Since I started using the HP Spectre I've started to add hyperlinks to a few PDFs using Bluebeam.

I add a link to each page, on the first page, at it's entry in the layout page table, then add a link back to the first page in the bottom corner of each page. Still a bit of work but I've found it handy and saves screen real estate so I don't need the navigation side bar on the little 13" screen.

 

It looks as if BB has added a simpler way to do that in newer versions. When I get some time I'm going to give it a test run to see if I want to upgrade one of my seats. I sent one done this way off to a contractor that I know uses an iPad and he liked it. I began offering it with drafting services so it may be something worth the upgrade. Example attached (first one I could find- currently have this stuff in a bit of disarray ;0

L_Sample.pdf

[Doug_N]

OK it works, and here is how to do it.

 

1)  Export from CA to a DWG file.  I used a 2017 version dwg file including all the layers that you need.

2) Open the drawing in AutoCad.

3) Export the file to a PDF file with layers 

 

Attached is the file in PDF with switchable visibility layers along with the original CA file, and the exported AutoCad file

MAYNARD_TUTTLE_.dwg

MAYNARD_TUTTLE_.pdf

MAYNARD_TUTTLE_.plan

[Chopsaw]

On 4/18/2018 at 5:15 PM, Doug_N said:

OK it works, and here is how to do it.

 

Thanks Doug, 

 

For those of you who may have been interested in this but do not have a copy of AutoCad, it all appears to function as Doug describes above using the free version of Autodesk DWG TrueView.  https://www.autodesk.com/products/dwg/viewers

 

I will be doing some more experimenting with this in the near future.  Seems promising.

[keithhe]

I know this is an older thread, but of interest to me. I don't use AutoCad but do have TrueView. I've tried what Doug said, as well as more to what I have, Chopsaw's method. Easy enough to export out of Chief as DWG, but from TrueView I can't "export". Is there even an export option in TrueView, or is it just Plot?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

keith. 

[Chopsaw]

1 hour ago, keithhe said:

Chopsaw's method. Easy enough to export out of Chief as DWG, but from TrueView I can't "export". Is there even an export option in TrueView, or is it just Plot?

 

Have a look at the "Batch Plot" options > Publish Options > Include Layer Information.

[keithhe]

Wow !! It had not dawned on me to use the Batch Plot option, but works great with my BlueBeam PDF (which I love and have been using now for decades). 

 

Only issue I see, and a common one for all PDF's in Chief, is line weights pretty much all need to be 1, or they are crazy looking in PDF version (way too "fat"). What works fine within Chief, or even DWG fails in PDF with any higher line weights. Never understood why that was, but with mechanical drawings I do all the time, on commercial projects, has always been that way. 

 

Otherwise, awesome to find your method and I thank you very much !!!!!

 

Keith

[Chopsaw]

30 minutes ago, keithhe said:

Only issue I see, and a common one for all PDF's in Chief, is line weights pretty much all need to be 1, or they are crazy looking in PDF version (way too "fat"). What works fine within Chief, or even DWG fails in PDF with any higher line weights. Never understood why that was, but with mechanical drawings I do all the time, on commercial projects, has always been that way. 

 

That should not be happening. Are you currently using X7 ?  You might want to post a plan file Backed Up from Layout... "Backup Plan Files and All Referenced Files"  ( Layout and settings )

 

Something is definitely messed up in your setup with the plan and layout sync.

[keithhe]

I think, but not certain, it has to do mostly with the DWG base files I use of a bunch of medical facilities we serve. They use a LOT of CAD blocks, and I have never been able to change the line weights, or any attributes, within those CAD blocks without exploding them. My experiment with your method showed some, but not all, of the text also seems to have issues. 

 

Give me a minute and I'll upload the "original DWG" i use as the floorplan baseline, *plan file, with layers I add, as well as the PDF where I'm seeing some issues with method you advised on. Would love to figure this out, because it has been a monumental PITA for me for a long time. I'm even more than willing to pay for your time if you have a suggestion to avoid the tedious "exploding" of their CAD Blocks. 

 

I'm currently on X11 as I only update every few versions.  

[keithhe]

I think, but not certain, it has to do mostly with the DWG base files I use of a bunch of medical facilities we serve. They use a LOT of CAD blocks, and I have never been able to change the line weights, or any attributes, within those CAD blocks without exploding them. My experiment with your method showed some, but not all, of the text also seems to have issues. 

 

Give me a minute and I'll upload the "original DWG" i use as the floorplan baseline, *plan file, with layers I add, as well as the PDF where I'm seeing some issues with method you advised on. Would love to figure this out, because it has been a monumental PITA for me for a long time. I'm even more than willing to pay for your time if you have a suggestion to avoid the tedious "exploding" of their CAD Blocks. 

 

I'm currently on X11 as I only update every few versions.  

[keithhe]

You reminded me I had not updated my signature field in a while, so just did most of that. 

[Chopsaw]

34 minutes ago, keithhe said:

Give me a minute and I'll upload the "original DWG" i use as the floorplan baseline, *plan file, with layers I add, as well as the PDF where I'm seeing some issues with method you advised on. Would love to figure this out, because it has been a monumental PITA for me for a long time.

 

If you like you can PM that to me or if it is not private info you can post it here so others with the same issues may learn something as well.

[Doug_N]

With AutoCad you can edit blocks in place to change line weights and edit text etc.  Just saying.

[keithhe]

Doug,

 

Thanks but I don't have or use AutoCAD. I've found that for the most part CA has served my purposes, for commercial mechanical work we do.

 

But changing the DWG floor plan files to use as a "base line" for my mechanical added layers has been problematic. Not with what I create, but the available CAD drawings they have, which beats redrawing the entire facility. So that part is good, but changing colors, or line weights of the blocks that come in with their DWG has never worked without first exploding their blocks.

[Doug_N]

3 minutes ago, keithhe said:

Doug,

 

Thanks but I don't have or use AutoCAD. I've found that for the most part CA has served my purposes, for commercial mechanical work we do.

 

 

CA Blocks can also be edited without exploding since X13.  Just saying.

[keithhe]

So tried to upload 3 of 4 files here, and forum after trying for a minute says "unknown error" and they turn red. So this didn't happen >>> Attached are 3 of 4 files I can upload without issue as they have no identifying information for my customer on them.

 

The one I can't (shouldn't) upload is the baseline floor plan I have not done anything with, that contains their title block, which I immediately remove and use my own in Layout. 

 

I can email them, as a DM here does not seem to have an attachment option??

 

Thanks, Keith

[keithhe]

17 minutes ago, Doug_N said:

CA Blocks can also be edited without exploding since X13.  Just saying.

 

Wow, that's good to know Doug !! Looks like it's time for my every few version update. I will do that over the weekend.

 

Also, suddenly last few responses on this thread have been VERY slow to post. Not sure if that is on CA or my end, but everything else seems to be working with my internet. 

 

Thanks !!