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PDF export sheet total incorrect

Question asked by Logan Pegler on Jan 23, 2018
Latest reply on Jan 24, 2018 by Logan Pegler

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Hi there,

We are successfully using PDM to export our PDF's and DXF's from SolidWorks drawing files.

The DXF task takes any drawing file with a sheet labelled DXF and outputs this.

The PDF task takes any drawing file and outputs all sheets EXCEPT those labelled DXF.

As a whole this is working great, however one small issue we noticed was that due to the PDF task excluding the DXF page, the total number of sheets indicated on the title block is incorrect in the pdf. The titleblock on a page in the PDF would read 'Page 1 of 3', when there are only 2 sheets exported to DXF. As this is a property on the title block I don't think it is something we could change in the PDF task so I was wondering if anyone out there had any sneaky solutions I can't think of.

Some catches:

We cannot export the DXF out from the part file as we need to add grain direction + we have a small titleblock in the DXF containing important information about plate size, part number etc. This is not something we wish to add manually afterwards.

We don't wish to manage the DXF sheet as a separate drawing file inside PDM as there could be a chance it falls out of date with updates to the file.

Not all drawings have a DXF page, so for some it currently reads correct. This means we can't have a "Total Sheets - 1" property or similar.

Look forward to seeing some extra suggestions!

No one else has this question

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Jason Young Jan 24, 2018 3:34 AM

Can you not add a grain direction symbol into the face of the parts???

this would allow you to use the DXF output.

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Elmar Klammer Jan 24, 2018 4:47 AM

Hi Logan,

Two possible solutions:

A) When printing the drawings to pdf I run a macro that deletes all sheets with "dxf" in the name. Then exports out to pdf without saving the file. That updates the sheet count correctly

B) You can add static sheet numbering i.e. 1 of 5. There is a macro in this forum that adds a note to sheets and filters sheet names. Just like option A. It just doesn't auto update. You need to run the macro to update the numbering if you change the sheet package.

C) I advise people that plate drawing usually shows a incorrect sheet number. They know that in most cases where it says 1 of 2 that the missing 2 of 2 is a dxf sheet.

That works in some cases. If you need strict document control then you need to go to A or B or D (some other idea)

Elmar

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Logan Pegler @ Elmar Klammer on Jan 24, 2018 2:01 PM

Hi Elmar,

Option A sounds like the cleanest method as we may be able to integrate this into the task script in PDM so that it does this before exporting the PDF. Would it be possible for you to share this macro?

I'm not sure option B will be remembered by each engineer as new drawings are created so that would leave us with either your option C or leaving the DXF page in, each has their pros and cons.

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Greg H. Jan 24, 2018 9:15 AM

What's the harm of having the pdf incorporate all sheets? (i.e. don't remove the "dxf's sheets") We do something similar here. Everything is a pdf & we have a separate dxf for lasered parts.

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Elmar Klammer @ Greg H. on Jan 24, 2018 9:26 AM

One would be batch printing pdf's as you do when issuing paper copies to the shop. Also if you have drawing sheets without title block. Then your page numbering is still off on the print. But again your question is entirely a different point of view. It's a valid question. Just not an answer.

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Greg H. @ Elmar Klammer on Jan 24, 2018 9:29 AM

Oh, I was under the presumption that they had title blocks, as ours do. I might have misread. Just a suggestion though.

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Logan Pegler @ Greg H. on Jan 24, 2018 1:58 PM

Our DXF's do have title blocks, but only with the information required for the profilers, no sheet count etc. There isn't any harm in outputting the DXF page, but it looks a whole lot cleaner without it as most of the DXF profiles are out of bounds of the sheet due to being 1:1 scale.

It's just a preference really I'm just interested to see if there is a better way to do it, or how others are dealing with it.

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7 Replies

Jason Young Jan 24, 2018 3:34 AM
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Can you not add a grain direction symbol into the face of the parts???

this would allow you to use the DXF output.
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Elmar Klammer Jan 24, 2018 4:47 AM
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Correct Answer
Hi Logan,

Two possible solutions:

A) When printing the drawings to pdf I run a macro that deletes all sheets with "dxf" in the name. Then exports out to pdf without saving the file. That updates the sheet count correctly
B) You can add static sheet numbering i.e. 1 of 5. There is a macro in this forum that adds a note to sheets and filters sheet names. Just like option A. It just doesn't auto update. You need to run the macro to update the numbering if you change the sheet package.
C) I advise people that plate drawing usually shows a incorrect sheet number. They know that in most cases where it says 1 of 2 that the missing 2 of 2 is a dxf sheet.
That works in some cases. If you need strict document control then you need to go to A or B or D (some other idea)

Elmar
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- Logan Pegler @ Elmar Klammer on Jan 24, 2018 2:01 PM
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  Hi Elmar,
  Option A sounds like the cleanest method as we may be able to integrate this into the task script in PDM so that it does this before exporting the PDF. Would it be possible for you to share this macro?
  I'm not sure option B will be remembered by each engineer as new drawings are created so that would leave us with either your option C or leaving the DXF page in, each has their pros and cons.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
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Greg H. Jan 24, 2018 9:15 AM
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Correct Answer
What's the harm of having the pdf incorporate all sheets? (i.e. don't remove the "dxf's sheets") We do something similar here. Everything is a pdf & we have a separate dxf for lasered parts.
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- Elmar Klammer @ Greg H. on Jan 24, 2018 9:26 AM
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  One would be batch printing pdf's as you do when issuing paper copies to the shop. Also if you have drawing sheets without title block. Then your page numbering is still off on the print. But again your question is entirely a different point of view. It's a valid question. Just not an answer.
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  - Greg H. @ Elmar Klammer on Jan 24, 2018 9:29 AM
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    Oh, I was under the presumption that they had title blocks, as ours do. I might have misread. Just a suggestion though.
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    - Logan Pegler @ Greg H. on Jan 24, 2018 1:58 PM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Our DXF's do have title blocks, but only with the information required for the profilers, no sheet count etc. There isn't any harm in outputting the DXF page, but it looks a whole lot cleaner without it as most of the DXF profiles are out of bounds of the sheet due to being 1:1 scale.
      It's just a preference really I'm just interested to see if there is a better way to do it, or how others are dealing with it.
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
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PDF export sheet total incorrect

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