10 replies to this topic

[John Luther]

I have imported pdfs for various reasons.

 

I imported a pdf today (structural engineering) that was originally hand drawn (old school dude), then scanned and printed to pdf.

 

In the past, it seems (maybe I'm wrong) I have been able to draw over the pdf, but this pdf covers what I draw or note.

 

Is there something I am missing?

 

In the meantime, I am using an image of the pdf.

[Fred Russell]

• the best I've figured is the PDF now has a white, which is the blank part covering the background

[Keith Almond]

No, there's nothing you are missing. JPG's seem to be automatically behind the drawing, and PDF's seem to be in front. I haven't been able to find a way round it either.

[John Luther]

pdfs are so much cleaner - easier to read......maybe I was wrong about noting - drawing on pdfs

 

Thanks

[Kevin Rabenaldt]

Why can you not create a multi drawing and then work on the active with the pdf as the non active?

[Keith Almond]

The PDF's are still in the front!

[John Luther]

The pdf is a new Foundation Plan - and site (200 acre cattle ranch) had grandfather - father built home we demolished. Site was best on the ranch and sentimental with about 12 - 50 to 100 year old oak trees planted by family. The old home and new homes have drilled and reamed piers under structural slab, and overlay was required to check for old piers in conflict with new.   

 

We had footprint - pier locations of old foundation created on site at demo in a new SoftPlan drawing, and the pdf. All worked with image file import of pdf, but I did draw the PEs Foundation Plan with SP for future use, after posting this AM. 

 

We moved new foundation (polygon footprint) 4 times on paper for best result – only of 17 of 52 piers in conflict (no problem with backhoe), while maintaining a safe distance from oak trees.  

 

If I could figure out how to upload media to My Media - I could share a drawing or 2 for better understanding.

[Keith Almond]

John, if it's a true vector PDF and not a raster graphic in a PDF wrapper. You can import it into INKSCAPE, and SAVE AS a DXF drawing. You can then import the DXF into Softplan (and use EDIT > ADJUST SIZE to make it accurate). Then put it on it's OWN LAYER or it's own DRAWING and overlay it with your project.

[John Luther]

Thanks Keith. Would an original hand drawn foundation plan have certain vector and raster properties?

 

Anyway......all is well, as I created a SoftPlan version of the PE's hand drawn plan yesterday.

 

HO choice before I was involved - I never worked with this PE before - it is definitely "ARCHaic".

 

The forum software is not like the old - has me wondering how to upload media (to My Media) - so I could share a drawing or 2 for better understanding

[Brian Berzinskis]

Thanks Keith. Would an original hand drawn foundation plan have certain vector and raster properties?

 

Anyway......all is well, as I created a SoftPlan version of the PE's hand drawn plan yesterday.

 

HO choice before I was involved - I never worked with this PE before - it is definitely "ARCHaic".

 

The forum software is not like the old - has me wondering how to upload media (to My Media) - so I could share a drawing or 2 for better understanding

Any drawing that is scanned in will be raster based. Only PDFs that were exported from a program like AutoCAD are going to come across as vector.

[Keith Almond]

Any drawing that is scanned in will be raster based. Only PDFs that were exported from a program like AutoCAD are going to come across as vector.

 

Right, I missed (forgot) to scanned bit in the original post ...