Tech Corner

Markup & Export Drawing to PDF

It is now easier to circulate your CADSIM Plus drawings to colleagues or clients, and you can even mark them up for review. One of the new features of CADSIM Plus v2.4 is an expanded drawing export facility. Aurel has licensed Software Companion’s ViewCompanion Pro for distribution with CADSIM Plus, which will allow you more choices for exporting your CP drawings to print, plot, share and distribute electronically via Internet and e-mail.

This utility adds the following graphic export formats:markupexample3

  • Adobe® Acrobat (PDF)
  • Adobe® PostScript®
  • Autodesk® DWF™
  • Autodesk® DXF™
  • JPEG Raster
  • Portable Network Graphics (PNG)

This is in addition to the existing graphic export formats supported directly by CADSIM Plus:

  • Hewlet Packard Graphics Language (HPGL/2)
  • AutoCAD® Script File
  • MicroStation®/Intergraph®

ViewCompanion Pro also includes a Markup feature. When you select File > Export > Preview for Markup… CP launches a Windows-based application that allows you to view and convert CP generated HPGL/2 graphics files into the other graphic formats listed above.

When you select Preview for Markup, you will be asked to choose scaling, rotation and monochrome options. Then the VC Pro interface will open, which allows you to view and annotate or mark up your drawing prior to exporting it in the format of your choice. VC Pro includes many options for tuning the output format.

To mark up your drawing, make selections from the Markup Toolbar. You can draw lines or geometric shapes filled with transparent or opaque color. You can add pointers and text notes. Insert a revision cloud, or add notes or picture files. You can even import your saved markups from a file.

When you have completed your markups in VC Pro you can save an external markup file, which is automatically given the name of your drawing with a .vcm file extension. The next time that you export a drawing with the same name for markup, your saved markups will automatically be included, and you can edit and update them. The markup function logs changes and markup status.

The most popular export formats include:

  • Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). PDF is a widely-used PostScript derivative that can be used to create high quality printable documents that are also small in size. PDF files can be viewed using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. They are suitable for distribution on the Internet or via e-mail. They can be printed on standard and PostScript printers and plotters. You can also send your PDF file to most commercial printers.
  • Adobe PostScript can be used to generate a PDF file, or spooled directly to a PostScript printer.
  • Autodesk DWF is an extremely efficient drawing format that creates small files for distribution via e-mail or the web. It was developed by the makers of AutoCAD, who also provide a free DWF viewer.
  • The Autodesk DXF is an AutoCAD exchange format that can be imported into AutoCAD and other CAD programs.
  • Portable Network Graphics (PNG) format is ideal for adding drawings to a web page. Microsoft Internet Explorer and other popular web browsers support this format without any additional software.