Converting AEC File Formats - Adobe Acrobat and PDF for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction - page 63

In this demonstration, we took an AutoCAD drawing and, using Acrobat Professional 7, created a
review workflow that did not require the reviewers to have AutoCAD - or Acrobat Professional 7 for that
matter.
Extending the review to those working with Adobe Reader 7 opens up the review cycle for facilities,
owners/operators, construction personnel - virtually anyone! Good luck with your new simple and easy
review cycles!
MicroStation to PDF - Jo Terri Wright, Bentley Systems
Bentley Systems, Incorporated partnered with Adobe Systems to publish authentic Adobe PDF documents
directly from their MicroStation and ProjectWise product lines. Bentley publishes PDF documents from
DGN and DWG files which can contain vector and raster data as well as 3D models. All that is needed in
order to view any PDF created with the Bentley products is Adobe Reader.
MicroStation users produce authentic PDF documents using the print and batch print interfaces the
same way they print to paper or other formats so there is nothing new to learn. These PDF documents can
retain file and level information, include engineering links, searchable text, 3D models, a password to open
the document, and bookmarks for multi-page documents.
The intelligence that can be added to the PDF document increases when it is created using MicroStation
PDF Composer, free to all MicroStation V8 2004 Edition SELECT users. MicroStation PDF Composer
includes all the same features as MicroStation's PDF functionality plus the ability to add digital signature
fields, specification documents, user defined intra-document links, and bookmarks for external links, points
of interest, and embedded documents.
Using Bentley's AEC managed environment ProjectWise, users can include links in the PDF document
that point to the originating design file or components within the design that are stored in ProjectWise. This
enables authorized users the ability to see the current state of a project. With ProjectWise, generation of
Adobe PDF documents can be automated to run at specific times, upon workflow-triggered events, or
triggered by a design change.
PDF Creation from MicroStation
MicroStation printing offers users the ability to print to a Windows printer or to a collection of printers
delivered with the software. Bentley now delivers a printer for generating Adobe PDF documents called
pdf.plt. This printer enables users to take advantage of their printing setup and existing pen tables to create
PDF documents. PDF options are given in the PLT file for turning on or off the ability to retain file and
level information, engineering links, searchable text, bookmarks for multi-sheet PDF files, and for setting a
password to open the document.
The PLT file can be copied several times and modified to eliminate the need to modify the printer each
time you need different options. For example, PDF_standard.plt has all options turned off,
PDF_level_search.plt has levels and searchable text on, and PDF_all has all options on.
Practice File
This demonstration uses a file named BikeFrame.dgn available from the topic's Web site. Download the
file to follow along with the discussion.