Kevin K Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Stop me if you already know of this little option, or if it has been discussed previously. I have found it more than helpful over the years. For example, when you need to convert a PDF file into usable data into a VW file. Basically, you can import a PDF file, that has been created with a cad program, and NOT from a scan, and 'ungroup' the PDF and you will end up with 3 objects. 1) a bitmap image 2) a blank rectangle 3) the original lines, polygons, etc from the original file, which are to scale. I attached a VW 2020 version as an example. PDF TRICK V 2020.vwx 4 Quote Link to comment
Jeff Prince Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Ungrouping stuff in Vectorworks is the black magic/secret sauce to so many frustrating situations. Thanks for mentioning this, great tip. 2 Quote Link to comment
unearthed Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Yeah, I use if very often, what would be really useful would be VW adding some functionality to enable basic splitting into classes, e.g. there's usually polygons, lines, big pieces small pieces... Great for remaking graphics out of reports too. 1 Quote Link to comment
Boh Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 Yes this is very useful. Sometimes with larger file size PDFs you get thousands of polys from the ungrouped pdf. If you run a purge you can also get rid of a lot of the duplicated coincident line work to make it more user friendly. 3 Quote Link to comment
Kevin K Posted August 8, 2021 Author Share Posted August 8, 2021 Purge is definitely your friend! 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment
Ride Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 I do this regularly with my imported PDF's, but after they are ungrouped, a lot of the lines don't actually join properly. Is this related to the resolution of the PDF before ungrouping? Can that be increased to get better results? Quote Link to comment
zoomer Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 3 hours ago, Ride said: Is this related to the resolution of the PDF before ungrouping? I think yes. 3 hours ago, Ride said: Can that be increased to get better results? If the author saves the PDF with higher DPI. Line work is real vector data, but the resolution is not as accurate as we are used from a CAD. Even in CAD you can get a similar experience and effect, e.g. when you draw far from origin. So for me PDF content was never accurate enough - I hate ugly uneven numbers. Therefore I just use PDFs as graphical underlay and even switch PDF Snap off. Maybe a fine Grid Snap setting instead. Quote Link to comment
Ride Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 3 hours ago, zoomer said: So for me PDF content was never accurate enough - I hate ugly uneven numbers. Therefore I just use PDFs as graphical underlay and even switch PDF snap off. Ok, so it's not just me. Thanks for confirming. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.