Best practice for PDF prints and exports from CAD software

Creating PDFs for Dalux follows the same principles as standard drawing creation, with a focus on ensuring the files work seamlessly with Dalux features.

To get the most out of Dalux features, PDF settings must be properly prepared and documented to ensure consistency across all versions.

In this article, we’ll walk through best practices for PDF creation, helping you reduce errors and minimize disruptions for end users.

This article assumes that you are not using the plugin and are plotting/printing PDFs directly from CAD software.

AutoCAD Architecture is used as an example, but the principles apply regardless of the software.

Export setup

The export setup defines the output of the PDF, and even a seemingly small change can affect the feature for the end user when they use the compare feature. 

In the example below, the drawings are located in the same spot but use different line styles, which makes it difficult to compare the versions.

To avoid this, agree on a setup and save it for use each time a new version is produced.
Document the setup, including explanations of the fields, so colleagues can produce PDFs with same settings.

Paper size

The paper size will determine the extent of the drawing, and is very important for registrations in the Locations module, as they are placed according to the X, Y coordinates.

If you produce an A4 and use this for registrations, and later produce an A3, the previous registrations are placed in the wrong location. 

In the example below, the first version added was a drawing in A4 format, and later changed to A3. 

You cannot make the new drawing the same size as the old one unless a model has been added.

Alignment issues

If the PDFs look the same but are placed in different locations, it is very likely that the drawings were created with different angles.

In Dalux, drawings will be either at a 90-degree angle or misaligned to the left or right, if two versions are produced with different directions.

The easiest way to check if a drawing has been rotated is to take a measurement.

Normally, the X-axis is horizontal and the Y-axis is vertical.

In the example below, both drawings look the same, but one has been rotated 90 degrees.

Both drawings were created using AutoCAD’s built-in PDF plotter, but with different sheet orientations, and this affects the alignment in Dalux.

The same application can plot PDFs differently depending on the plotter/printer used. To see which plotter is being used, open the PDF in a viewer and check the document properties.

In the case below, the size and orientation appear to be correct. However, one of the PDF producers has angled the drawing by 90 degrees, which will result in it being displayed incorrectly in Dalux.

If registrations are placed on the level in Locations, they will remain in the 'old' location and will not automatically move to the new one. You cannot manually align drawings unless a model is available.

Use File areas

Use multiple file areas to ensure the quality of drawings, as specific versions cannot be deleted once they are authorized.

For example, activate 'Files' and 'Published Files' to enable a review before the drawing is published and becomes an official version.

This gives you the opportunity to spot any mistakes before the drawing is released for construction.