Importing PDFs

dmatho

Hi
If what you need to do is edit the data (rather than use the information in the PDF as a backdrop), then you need a software that will convert the PDf for instance into a DWG. The following are the most well known options: AutoDWG, Trix Systems, AnyDWG, AideCAD. They're all for-pay though.

Cheers,

Diego -

ton baeten

Goggin,

You'r probable not on a mac !? Import of pdf's is native on GSU for mac (pro).
I use it aswell for 2D-pictures, for 2d-plans as for text, no problem at all.
Text mainly to go as instructions/ellaborations for construction-drawings and -details.
I create my text in whatever text-editor I want, use the 'print to pdf' function on my mac and then import in GSU onto a 'always face the camera' surface.
Works really nice and fast.
I cann't answer the question, but is it sure the pdf-import is only native for GSU for mac ??

Goggin

Thanks for the info. I don't have Photoshop, but I have GIMP, so I'll try that.

What I'm trying to do is take floorplans in PDF format, and then get them into SketchUp so I can work on them (modify and/or do 3D modeling). I'm assuming I'll have to trace over them to make this work, but that's OK.

And, no, I'm not on a MAC (yet). I'm hoping Santa will bring me one this year. I have learned to hate MSFT...

brodie

I convert my pdf's to jpg.s (or whatever) using GIMP quite successfully.

-Brodie

Anssi

Adobe Illustrator can export a DWG file from a PDF too.

Anssi

Goggin

@unknownuser said:

I convert my pdf's to jpg.s (or whatever) using GIMP quite successfully.

-Brodie

Yeah, that worked about as well as expected. No sharp, clean lines or anything, but passable enough to trace. GIMP is about as slow to start on my PC as LayOut is.

Anssi

If you are technically minded, you can also try Ghostscript, that is a free Postscript/PDF clone, and some free plugins to that (pstoedit, if I remember right) to convert a vector PDF or EPS to a DXF.

Anssi

Goggin

@anssi said:

If you are technically minded, you can also try Ghostscript, that is a free Postscript/PDF clone, and some free plugins to that (pstoedit, if I remember right) to convert a vector PDF or EPS to a DXF.

Anssi

I'm technically minded, but will that have any advantages over using GIMP to convert to JPG? Will a DXF file have better line resolution?

Thanks.

ken

I use this program, which will convert PDF to DFX if the PDF was made by printing and not scanning. Some cost, but not much compared to the time saved.

http://www.cadkas.de/downengpdf11.php

Ken

Anssi

@goggin said:

I'm technically minded, but will that have any advantages over using GIMP to convert to JPG? Will a DXF file have better line resolution?

If the PDF is vector-based, importing it to SU as a DWG or DXF file would let you use the geometry in the file directly as a base for modelling, importing converts the linework directly into edges in SU. Even if it is not as good as having the original CAD file to model from, it would be more accurate than re-drawing it all by eyeballing from a raster image.

Anssi

Goggin

@anssi said:

@goggin said:

I'm technically minded, but will that have any advantages over using GIMP to convert to JPG? Will a DXF file have better line resolution?

If the PDF is vector-based, importing it to SU as a DWG or DXF file would let you use the geometry in the file directly as a base for modelling, importing converts the linework directly into edges in SU. Even if it is not as good as having the original CAD file to model from, it would be more accurate than re-drawing it all by eyeballing from a raster image.

Anssi

I'll try this, but is there a way to know in advance if the PDF is vector based or not? I expect that it was created by exporting from AutoCad (or something similar).