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Converting file to PDF
2

Converting file to PDF

Converting file to PDF

(OP)
I would like to know if there is a way to convert a 2D
drawing to a PDF for e-mailing purposes?

At the moment we create a cgm then open it up in
another software to convert to PDF.

Much appreciated,
Thanks

RE: Converting file to PDF

We use www.pdf995.com for converting the HPGL plot files to PDF.

"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli
CAD/CAM System Analyst
Ingersoll-Rand

RE: Converting file to PDF

Another way to convert to PDF is to create a Postscript queue that creates a plot file to disk.  You can use Ghostscript (free for download at http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost) to open the .ps file, view & convert to PDF.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.
www.enkei.com

RE: Converting file to PDF

(OP)
looslib, thanks very much!

I have now loaded the pdf995 software, created a pdf file
but I'm having a problem with the thickness of the line.
ie. I have created an A4 pdf drawing but am unable to read any of the dimensions due to the line thickness created.
Is there a way of making the line thinner?

Thanks

RE: Converting file to PDF

You should be able to set the line thickness in the plot queue.  I don't recall off hand what the switch is though.

-Dave
"Everything should be designed as simple as possible, but not simpler"

RE: Converting file to PDF

(OP)
Thanks Gunman

Unfotunately I've tried finding any setting related to
line thickness but have been unsuccessful as yet.

Has anyone else any suggestions?

Thanks

RE: Converting file to PDF

Below is a copy of my one of my plotter settings.

E_SIZE_PDF    
   Despooler Name          = UGIIPS           
   Plotter Vendor          = POSTSCRIPT  
   Plotter Type            = Electrostatic  
   Number Of Pens          = 8
   Controller ID           =   
   Plotter Model           = POSTSCRIPT  
   Plotter Switches        = /SP=XX/AR/PG=44.0625X34.0625  
   Media Control           = Continuous Form
   Distance Between Plots  = 0
   Output Mode             = Disk File
   Plotter Com Line        =   
   System Queue Name       =  
   Directory Pathname      = C:\PLOTS\IN  
   Tape Density            = 1600
   Message Com Line        =   
   Horizontal Maximum      = 0
   Vertical Maximum        = 0
   Steps Per Inch          = 1440
   Optimization Level      = None

In the plotter switch field the “SP=XX” is one way to define custom line thickness and custom color. If you change it to "SP=MX" it will be Monochrome/custom color.

For more info refer to page 199 in the UG plotter.pdf

Hope this helps
Jeremy

RE: Converting file to PDF

(OP)
Thanks Jeremy,

Unfortunately I've only been working on UG for 2 months
now and am not much of a wiz kid when it comes to UG
settings, the settings you list, are they for the actual
plot settings for when you plot thru UG? or are the settings
for the pdf995 software? The page 199 you refer to, will I
find that in the UG help files or is it stored else where?

Confusion reigns!

RE: Converting file to PDF

Southerly,

The parameters listed by UGperson are set in the plotqueue manager.
This plotqueue manager still 'thinks' as a pen plotter where every colour is mapped to a different pen and each pen can be wathever you choose.

The most flexible way (to me) to work is to assign different line thicknesses to various line colours and to change the plot colour to black. This can be done in the ugmetric.def (or ugenglish.def).
By setting the SP=XX parameter in the plotqueue manager the settings of the ugmetric.def file are used in your plot.

All you further have to do is to make internal rules on what colour to use where in order to have the right line thickness on the plots.

We for example use green, orange, purple, brown, dark red, gray and olive for normal line thickness, bleu, white, pink, cyan and aquamarine are thin and yellow is thick. Red was left unchanged and will still plot as red, normal line thickness. This rule was based on the default colour settings for drafting objects in UG. Mind that these colours are based on the colour palette of UG V16. You will have to redefine your colour palette in NX to have the right colours with numbers 1-16.

As you notice plotting with UG requires extraterrestral skills. We were promissed a new userfriendly plotmanager years ago. We're still waiting.

RE: Converting file to PDF

But the wait is getting shorter. There is light at the end of the tunnel. NX 3 will have the new plot interface.

"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli
CAD/CAM System Analyst
Ingersoll-Rand

RE: Converting file to PDF

(OP)
Thanks 'gieter'

I think either I'm not quite with it or we've gone off the
track a bit. My plot setup for ug prt drawing files are
not the problem.

My problem is when I create a pdf using the pdf995 software
the drawing dims are not readable due to the pdf line
thickness being too fat.

I would like to use the pdf995 software because it is one
hell of a lot quicker to create a pdf file than the way
I currently do.

Is it possible to change the default line thickness of the
pdf file or does one have to change the existing ug plot
settings?

RE: Converting file to PDF

Go into your ugii_env.dat file & add the following line:

UGII_WMF_LINE_WIDTH_SCALE_FACTOR=.25

See if your PDF coming from pdf995 is now a little thinner with the line weights.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.
www.enkei.com

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