Publish PDF from 2D CAD Files

Applies to 2018.2 Update and later

Configure lifecycle definitions and PDF options to publish PDF from 2D CAD files.

Note: You must have administrative access to perform these tasks.
  1. Create a user with access to Released files. See Assign Roles to Users for more information.
  2. Configure lifecycle definitions.
    1. Click Tools > Administration > Vault Settings.
    2. On the Vault Settings dialog, select Behaviors > Lifecycles.
    3. Select the definition to be modified > Edit.
    4. On the Lifecycle Definition dialog, select the Transitions tab > Work in Progress to Released > Edit.
    5. On the Transitions dialog, select the Actions tab.
    6. From the drop-down, select one of the following options.
      • Synchronize properties, update view and pdf using Job Server
      • Synchronize properties and update pdf using Job Server
        • Note: Selecting one of these options from the list does not automatically select the check box as well. Make sure to select the check box beside the option, too.
    7. From the Security tab, add the user created in Step 1, and allow Modify access under the Released state.
    8. On the Lifecycle Definition dialog, select Design Representation Process > Edit.
    9. On the Lifecycle Definition dialog, select the Released state.
    10. Select the Security tab, add the user created in Step 1 and assign it Modify access. See Edit Lifecycle State Security for more information.
    3. Note: By default, Vault is configured to publish 2D PDF files into the Released state only. Manually changing the 2D PDF state from Released to a different state will leave the 2D PDF permanently stranded in that new state.

  3. To enable the job server, click Tools > Administration > Global Settings > Integrations tab > Enable Job Server.
    4. Note: For Job Processor to generate DWF and 2D PDF files, launch AutoCAD DWG Trueview at least once on the Job Processor.

  4. Click Tools > Administration > Vault Settings > PDF Options > Options to launch the PDF Options dialog and configure the PDF publishing options.
  5. Publish a PDF from a CAD file.
    1. Select any AutoCAD DWG file or Inventor 2D CAD file.
    2. Click Change Category. On the Change Category dialog, select the Engineering category. Click OK.
    3. Click Change State. On the Change State dialog, select Released from the lifecycle state drop-down. Click OK.

This generates a PDF as an attachment to the selected file. Also, a thumbnail for the PDF displays in the Preview tab.

Note: To synchronize the revisions of the drawing file and 2D PDF file, set each file's Lifecycle Revision to be the same.
Note: To verify the Design Representation classification, click Tools > Administration > Vault Settings > Behaviors > Rules. On the Assignment Rules dialog, view the Rule Criteria for Design Representation.

PDF Naming

You can affect the PDF output file names by editing the Job Processor configuration file: JobProcessor.exe.config. The following are supported:

  1. Navigate to the <install dir>\Autodesk\Vault [edition]\Explorer\ directory and open the JobProcessor.exe.config file with Notepad.
    Important: Create a backup copy of the file before making any changes.
  2. Find the "<add key=>" section in the file.
  3. Add a line using the format <add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value=. See the examples for the file, Flower.idw, shown below.
Key Result
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(idw)$/&lt;_name_&gt;"/> Flower.pdf
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(idw)$/Prefix&lt;_name_&gt;"/> PrefixFlower.pdf
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(idw)$/&lt;_name_&gt;Suffix"/> FlowerSuffix.pdf
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(idw)$/Prefix&lt;_name_&gt;Suffix"/> PrefixFlowerSuffix.pdf
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(idw)$/&lt;_name_&gt;&lt;Revision&gt;"/> FlowerB.pdf where Revision=B
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(idw)$/&lt;_name_ &gt;&lt;Provider&gt;"/> FlowerAutoCAD.pdf where Provider=AutoCAD
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(idw)$/&lt;_name_ &gt;&lt;DateVersionCreated&gt;"/>
<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming.DateFormat" value="dd-MM-yy"/>
Note: Add both lines. Use dd=day, MM=month, and yy=year to format the date. (MM must be uppercase)
Flower27-10-17.pdf where the Date Version Created is October 27, 2017
Note: Some editors automatically convert "&lt;" to "<" and "&gt;" to ">". This may cause the Job Processor to fail. It is recommended that you use an editor that maintains "&lt;" and "&gt;", such as Notepad. The line can contain only the "<" at the beginning and the ">" at the end.

You can add only one line for Design.Represenation.Naming, so combine rules as needed, separating each with a slash. For example:

<add key="DesignRepresentation.Naming" value="\.(dwg)$/&lt;_name_&gt;&lt;Provider&gt; / \.(idw)$/&lt;_name_&gt;&lt;Revision&gt;"/>

Note: To add other property values, such as Provider, Company, etc, look up the System Name/Display Name of the property. For Vault Properties, use the System Name and for User Defined Properties, use the Display Name.
Parent topic: Job Server Administration