Expert: Bill DeShawn - 11/20/2006

Question
Hi,

I just asked you a question about layers and layouts. The person I am supposed to send these drawings to just suggested saving each layout as a .pdf file. I have to email these files to him. Will that work? And how do I save an AutoCAD drawing as a .pdf file?

Answer
You can't do it without third-party software.  Don't despair.  You can get a free version of PDF995 from software995.com.  
http://www.pdf995.com has it's own website because it's so popular.  I use it all the time.  One drawback is that it only does single page PDF's from AutoCAD.  That's because AutoCAD only does single page plots.  So, you plot to PDF.  A good side is that it does do multi-page PDF's on software that does multi-page documents like WORD or WORDPERFECT.  Another drawback is that everytime you save the PDF file, you get their website.  So, you have to be ready to close their website right after using their program.  
Give it a try. One hint, if you have wipeout frames turned on, the PDF file will print the wipeout black.  So, I configure a color (color-dependent plotting) to be screened at 0% and change the color of the wipeouts to that same color.  Then, you can see them on screen easily and they won't plot - not even to PDF.  And they mask objects behind very nicely.

Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn