Import PDF File
This command allows you to bring in a Adobe .PDF file and covert it
into polylines or a .bmp image. In order for this command to work
you need to download and install Ghostscript from the website
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ghostscript/. For 32-bit computers
you'll want to download gs(xxx)w32.exe by clicking on the "Download
Now!" button located on the main page.
If
gs(xxx)w32.exe is not listed under “Download Now!” or you are
running a 64-bit computer, click on the “View all files” button to
the right of the “Download Now!” button. A list of Ghostscript
versions will appear below (i.e., 8.71, 8.70). After downloading
the .exe to your computer double click on it to install.
Ghostscript is a free software and should only take a few
minutes to install. Once it is installed, Carlson Takeoff will
automatically utilitize this software when you run Import PDF file.
After selecting the file you want to insert, the below window will
open.
Wait for the window to close on its
own (closing this window on your own will exit the command).
Next you will be prompted for Insert as Image, Insert Linework,
Save to Image File. Insert as Image will convert the PDF into a
.bmp image that is inserted into the drawing. When inserted, a .bmp
image is visible on the screen, but unusable as CAD linework. Save
to Image File simply saves the .bmp file without inserting it into
the drawing. Insert Linework will convert the PDF file into usable
CAD polylines and Use Colors for Layers will parcel out the
polylines onto layers based on the colors or gray scale of the
PDF.
If the PDF you are converting is a raster image, an
not a vector PDF, then you will receive this additional
dialog:
In this dialog, you can specify the
Layer, Color, Scale, and whether to draw the entities on the screen
or write a .dxf file. Minimum Polyline Length will reduce the
amount of line segments created from the conversion.
When you are inserting the converted PDF into the drawing, will you
receive the following prompts:
Pick point to insert PDF: Specify the insertion point for the PDF
converted linework by either picking on the screen or typing in a
coordinate (Example: 1000,1000).
Specify rotation angle: To accept the default value displayed,
press Enter, or enter the rotation angle (Example: 90).
Specify scale <1.0>: To accept the default value displayed,
press Enter, or enter a scale factor. If the scale factor is not
known, which is typical, accept the defaults to this prompt. The
proper scale factor can be determined by running
Inquiry>Standard Distance on a known distance on the site (ie,
the side of a building or the distance across the road). If the
side of a building is labeled as 60' and Standard Distance reports
it is at 120', then the Scale factor is 0.5 (60/120). Run
Edit>2D Scale, select the imported objects, specify a base point
of 0,0 and use the Scale Factor you determined with Standard
Distance to scale the entities correctly.
After the command has imported the PDF file, run View > Zoom
> Extents to see the converted entities.
Pulldown Menu Location: Tools > Import/Export
Prerequisite: a PDF file, Ghostscript installed
Keyboard Command: loadpdf