Exporting PDF Files

You can generate drawings for the electrical project in PDF format. You do not need to install a PDF printer such as PDF Creator.

  1. To open Export PDF Files, do one of the following:
    • Click Import/Export > Export PDF files .
    • Right-click an electrical project and click Export PDF files .
    • Right-click a book and click Export PDF files to export only the drawings that belong to the book.
  2. To specify the selection of drawings to export to PDF, do one of the following:
    • To export all drawings in your project to PDF, select All.
    • To select specific drawings, do the following:
      1. Select Selection.
      2. Click Select drawings .
      3. From the Selection dialog, select the drawings you want to export to PDF.

        For more information about using the Selection dialog, see Drawing/Folder Selector.

      4. To remove a drawing, click Remove from selection .
  3. Optional: Select view options:
    Option Description
    List mode Displays drawings as text.
    Thumbnail mode Displays drawings using a thumbnail preview.
    Configuration Configures the display options for List and Thumbnail views.
  4. Optional: To change the display of text and objects, click Drawing style .

    For more information about editing drawing styles, see Configuring Drawing Style Properties.

  5. From the Structure list, select a PDF structure option:
    Option Description
    PDF file by project Creates a single PDF file containing all drawings in the project.
    PDF file by book Creates a PDF file for each book of drawings.
    PDF file by page Creates a PDF file for each drawing.
  6. Type a folder path and file name in the File name field, or click . . . to open the Save As dialog.
  7. Optional: To change the default file and folder naming formulas, select Define document naming formulas.

    For more information about formulas, see Formula Management.

  8. Optional: To add bookmarks and hyperlinks in the PDF document using documents, components, and cross-references in the project, select Create bookmarks and hyperlinks.
  9. Optional: To include PDF files imported as data, select Export data files.

    For more information about importing data files, see Data File.

  10. From the Paper format list, select one of the following:
    Option Description
    Match drawing size Uses the drawing document format.
    (Standard document formats) Uses the selected standard document format.
  11. From the Orientation list, select one of the following:
    Option Description
    Automatic Uses the drawing orientation.
    Portrait Uses a vertical orientation in which the height is greater than the width.
    Landscape Uses a horizontal orientation in which the width is greater than the height.
  12. Optional: To render any symmetrical items in the drawing accurately as symmetrical items in PDF output, select Plot with symmetry.
  13. From the Scale list, select one of the following PDF document scale options:
    Option Description
    Fit to format Scales objects in the drawing to fit the selected PDF document size dimensions.
    (Predefined scales) Scales objects in the drawing to the selected predefined scale ratio.
    Custom Specifies a custom scale ratio using the specified document units.
  14. Optional:
    To enhance the accuracy of PDF document rendering, select the document fonts to export as geometric shapes instead of font characters. You can select TrueType fonts, SHX fonts, or both.
    This option can significantly increase the PDF file size.

  15. Optional: To specify the image quality of the PDF, do the following:
    1. Select Custom bitmap resolution.
    2. Type a custom DPI value in the DPI field.
  16. Optional: To configure the drawing view exported to the PDF document, select one of the following options:
    Option Description
    All geometry Renders all geometry within the bounding box of the drawing.
    Drawing boundary Renders geometry within the area defined by the Grid zone drawing parameters.

    For more information about drawing parameters, see Specifying Drawing Parameters.
    Current view Renders visible geometry within the last-saved view, or within the current view of open drawings.
  17. Optional: To use a custom plot style for the PDF document, do the following:
    1. Select Plot with style.
    2. Select a plot style.
    3. Optional: To modify the selected plot style, click Modify plot style .

      For more information about working with plot styles, see Modifying Plot Styles for Printing.

  18. Click Export.
  19. Select one of the following update actions:
    Option Description
    Update drawings Updates all reports, design rules, and terminal strip drawings.
    Continue action without updating Does not update report, design rule, or terminal strip drawings.
    Cancel Closes the command without performing any action.