12 Replies Latest reply on Jul 30, 2014 1:34 PM by Mathew Stevenson

Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014

Tim Mrazek May 1, 2014 11:32 AM

We require a way to create a PDF from our DWG's. I did find previous posts saying that solidworks takes care of this using the convert task. That post was back in 2011, so I wonder if 2014 changed this. When I run the task is gives me this error:

Error while converting file 'C:\Vault\Engineering\DA\DurexLogo-fixed.dwg':

An unexpected error occurred while executing the generated script. Script syntax error?

Error number: 91

Error description: 'Object variable or With block variable not set'

I do not know what object variable or with block variables are, but this is a file that is checked in and in a functioning workflow.

Even though the task list error is:

Error_message: The document does not meet the conditions of any workflow.

Error_code: E_EDM_NO_WORKFLOW (0x08004025D)

Solidworks 2014 SP1.0

EPDM 2014 SP1.0

Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014

Pete Yodis May 1, 2014 3:56 PM (in response to Tim Mrazek)

Tim,

I'm going to plug this product, because we are using it and it's really nice.

http://ehcanadian.ca/product/convert-with-draftsight/#reviews

Here is the comment I left on that site about the product...

"Lee’s Convert with DraftSight Add-in has been fantastic for us with EPDM. We needed an automated way to create PDF’s and DXF’s from DWG files. The built-in solution for EPDM (that uses SolidWorks to process DWG files) just did not provide the high fidelity of conversion to PDF, especially with GDT notes and other symbols. Using DraftSight to produce the PDF and DXF files ensures that we get a great quality conversion. We worked with Lee to get the functions of the add-in just right while he was in development. He graciously added capability as we needed for the DXF out and the ability to use variables in the file name or folder path. The ability to modify the script that runs in DraftSight for each task that runs with the add-in has allowed us to automatically bind all XREFs in our files before we create the DXF file to be sent out to customers. Lee was a real professional to work with and it really shows in this add-in. The EPDM community will be greatly served by this great Add-in."
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- Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014
  
  Mathew Stevenson May 1, 2014 4:04 PM (in response to Pete Yodis)
  
  We use http://www.flatterfiles.com/
  
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Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014

Tim Mrazek May 1, 2014 4:55 PM (in response to Tim Mrazek)

Do either or both of these require Draftsight Professional or Enterprise because of the APIs?
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- Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014
  
  Mathew Stevenson May 1, 2014 5:09 PM (in response to Tim Mrazek)
  
  No, http://www.flatterfiles.com/
  And works from more then just SOLIDWORKS.
  
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  - Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014
    
    Stephen Reed Jul 29, 2014 9:57 AM (in response to Mathew Stevenson)
    
    Mathew,
    
    Would you share your thoughts on Flatterfiles? This sounds like a potential solution to our problem with keeping current on our pdfs. I've visited their website but not ready to sign up for a trial or demo. Anything you can share on approximate costs to implement?
    
    Thanks,
    Steve
    
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    - Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014
      
      Mathew Stevenson Jul 30, 2014 1:30 PM (in response to Stephen Reed)
      
      Good Moring Stephen...
      
      Yes, Flatter Files has worked very nice for us. As we have yet to implement our new ERP system and may be going to something like Area to connect our SW Enterprise PDM to but until then, we need to make a PDF of the full drawing packages every time out Purchasing department makes an order for lots of 10 to 40. This causes use to make PDF's of 20 to 150 page drawing packages out of SW that can take 4 to over 16 hours each time as we reuse a lot of subassemblies from all over the ePDM system, you are required to find the main assembly in it own folder then use the BOM to open up each drawing and convert to PDF as something may have changed that effects this assembly. Then we need to take thease PDF's and combind them into a drawing package and email to the vendors.
      
      Flatter Files has eliminated this process. Now our vendors and purchasing department can log into Flatter Files and get what they need when they need it. It does take a lillte learning how to get the drawing packages but once or twice I think they have it. Worst case scenario is we just log into Flatter Files and download and email over the drawing package that only takes minutes as to the many, many hours it took before.
      
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    - Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014
      
      Mathew Stevenson Jul 30, 2014 1:34 PM (in response to Stephen Reed)
      
      We also use Flatter files to convert DWG and Tiff files to PDF as the Tiff files are old microfiche hand drawings from the 1970's
      
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- Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014
  
  Pete Yodis May 1, 2014 5:18 PM (in response to Tim Mrazek)
  
  The DraftSight based add-in only requires the free version of DraftSight. You do not need the premium version.
  
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  - Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014
    
    Tim Mrazek May 1, 2014 6:00 PM (in response to Pete Yodis)
    
    Did you run into issues of the Draftsight executable hanging during conversion. The process seems to hang. When I cancel the task, that cancelation hangs until I manually kill the task.
    
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    - Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014
      
      Lee CS Young May 1, 2014 9:30 PM (in response to Tim Mrazek)
      
      Tim,
      
      I can help you if you email me. lcsy@ehcanadian.ca. It's most likely due to the script that DraftSIght is executing. I can walk you through setting up the script first.
      
      Pete, thanks for the plug!
      
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Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014

Steve Ly May 4, 2014 4:57 AM (in response to Tim Mrazek)

I use this converter http://anydwg.com/dwg2pdf/, hope this helps.
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Re: Convert DWG to PDF EPDM 2014

David Cramer Jun 25, 2014 12:51 PM (in response to Tim Mrazek)

IES has a pretty good solution for this:

http://www.ie-sol.com/products/epdm-dwg-pdf-converter.html

The website targets DWG, but the utility can be extended to work with any input format or translator, check it out!
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