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Export PDF Files

Sets of drawings are the primary deliverable for most design groups. Creating a drawing set to distribute for review can be complicated and time consuming. Electronic drawing sets are saved as PDF files. You can view or plot PDF files using Autodesk Design Review.

To output a single drawing, use the Plot dialog box.

Procedures

To export all layouts to a multi-page PDF file

You can save all layouts to a PDF file with the EXPORT PDF command.

  1. Near the bottom-left of the drawing area, click any layout tab.
  2. From the Application menu , click Export PDF.
  3. In the Save as PDF dialog box, inspect the Current Settings. If the settings do not meet your requirement:
    1. From the PDF Preset list, select the PDF preset that most closely matches your requirements.
    2. Click Options.
    3. Make further changes to the settings for the PDF file, if required.
    4. Click OK
  4. In the Export drop-down, select All Layouts.
  5. In the Save as PDF dialog box, select the other desired options, enter a file name, and click Save.

To export selected layouts to a PDF file

You can generate individual PDF files for each layout or generate just one multi-page PDF file.

  1. Press and hold the Ctrl key and near the bottom-left of the drawing area, click the layout tabs that you want to export.
  2. Right-click and select Publish Selected Layouts.
  3. In the Publish dialog box, in the Publish To: drop-down list, select PDF.
  4. In the PDF preset drop-down list, select the preset that you want to use.
    Note: The program includes several PDF presets that are optimized for the purpose identified by its name. For example, the AutoCAD PDF (Web and Mobile) preset generates PDF files optimized for viewing on mobile devices and Web browsers.
  5. In the Publish Options information section, verify that the options meet your requirement. If not:
    1. Click Publish Options.
    2. To generate a multi-page PDF file, select Multi-sheet file. To generate one PDF file for each layout, clear the Multi-sheet file check box.
    3. Specify the settings for the PDF file.
    4. Click OK.
  6. Click Publish.
    Tip: You can improve publishing performance by turning off background publishing. To turn off background publishing, clear the Publish in background check box (Publish Controls group) in the Publish dialog box.

To Export Model Space to a PDF File

You can export model space to a PDF file by plotting model space to an AutoCAD PDF plotter configuration.

  1. Click the Model tab at the bottom left of the drawing area.
  2. Click Home tab Output panel Plot.
  3. In the Plot dialog box, under Printer/Plotter, in the Name box, select the most appropriate AutoCAD PDF plotter configuration (PC3 file) to match your requirement.
    Note: The system ships with several AutoCAD PDF PC3 files that are preset to generate PDF files customized for the purpose identified by the PC3 file name. For example, the AutoCAD PDF (Web and Mobile) PC3 file produces PDF files optimized for viewing on mobile devices and Web browsers.
  4. Select paper size, plot area, plot scale, orientation, and other options.
  5. Click OK.
  6. In the Browse for Plot File dialog box, select a location and enter a file name for the PDF file.
  7. Click Save.
Parent topic: Export DWF, DWFx, and PDF files

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