Importing CAD engineering

cebolla · 16 Apr 2012, 04:14

I've received structural drawings from an engineer in CAD and want to put them on my title block in LO. I was thinking the best way would be to ask for the CAD drawing in pdf format, then convert into a jpg in photoshop, and then import it into LO.

Or is there a better way?

Is there a way to import a pdf directly?

Is there a way to scale a jpg (or pdf) to a certain scale? It seems to come in at a random scale, not at 100% of the image size identified in photoshop.

Thanks

pbacot · 16 Apr 2012, 04:41

On a Mac I import pdf to layout via the "insert"command. However I find (and I keep hoping someone knows the best answer) that the image will be downsized if you try to put it on a sheet of similar or equal size. You need a bigger sheet. I created a template in LO that is 60" x 60". I insert an Arch D pdf on there and it appears to be in scale. I can then copy and paste that image into an Arch D template page. What I like is that you change the original Pdf and you can update the reference in LO, preserving cropping (clipping mask) positioning etc. you've done in the meantime in LO.

Then later you can get the engineer to send updates using the same filenames (or you can "save as"), replace the pdf with the revised pdf, go to LO and update the reference.

cebolla · 16 Apr 2012, 19:31

Thanks for the suggestion, pbacot. I will try the larger size paper and see if that works for my scaling issue.

On a PC, I am unable to directly insert a pdf- I get an error message saying that it's an unsupported file type. That's why I convert to jpg first.

Does anyone else do this kind of thing? What works best?

sonder · 19 Apr 2012, 17:49

If your goal is to get their work on your title block, do the reverse. Export an ACAD file in paper space from Layout and send it to your engineer. This is what I do and it works flawlessly.

As soon as you are coordinating updating information from your engineer, you will be liable if you don't have the most current work. I would never do this.

cebolla · 19 Apr 2012, 19:13

Thanks, Sonder. You make an excellent point about liability. This is a deck for my parents' house so I wasn't in that mindset, but I should be- anything could happen in the next 10 years...

At some point, however, there must be times when you have to block information from others at a certain scale- do you import it all into SU and bring it in that way?

By the way, this is Lindy from Kings Beach- you can run but you can't hide!

sonder · 20 Apr 2012, 01:55

@cebolla said:

Thanks, Sonder. You make an excellent point about liability. This is a deck for my parents' house so I wasn't in that mindset, but I should be- anything could happen in the next 10 years...

At some point, however, there must be times when you have to block information from others at a certain scale- do you import it all into SU and bring it in that way?

By the way, this is Lindy from Kings Beach- you can run but you can't hide!

Haha - too funny. The only time that I bring information in is for the topogrpahic survey. That I bring in SU and view it through Layout. I do export ACAD info all the time for structural engineers, but have never had the need to do the reverse.

My workload will be better next week.

Glad you are on here. This is a great site for learning!