Arrrrggghhh!!

[Ed_R]

I need some help here. I've been looking around for a month or more now trying to find something that will help me convert these simpole PDF files I already have into a usable dxf or dwg or what-have-you file. NOTHING seeems to work, I've gotten exactly ZIP to run properly, in fact, most of the time I am stopped DEAD just by loading the DXF into a drawing program- because they're all blank!
So, tell me, PLEASE, someone- let me in on this little secret. How do I take conventional PDF files and convert them into something useful? What software do I need to convert or load or what? I'm bloody on teh forehead from baning it against this wall for three weeks.

[ynneb]

Post a file and let a few of us try.
I know that PDF is an adobe file, and Illustrator is also an adobe vector program that exports DXF as well. You might want to try that.
Anyway post a file up here, I like a challenge.

[Ed_R]

I have TRIED, ynneb. I have Illustrator 8, of course it doesn't save in DXF but I had a friend save them in Illustrator CS as dxf's and THOSE come up blank .
I will need to know how to do this, which is why I've been banging my head against it so long, so if you manage to get it done PLEASE let me in on the secret!
Thios is supposed to be a pickguard for a guitar. if you are loading it into Illustrator, it's drawn in actual size.

[WhiteTiger]

This is just off the wall, but could you open it in acrobat and downsize it till it fits onscreen and do a capture and then use something like paintshop or photoshop to save it as something you can open with your cad, then resize to original?


Tiger

[Ed_R]

I don't think that'd be accurate enough for my purposes, and to be honest I think it's also beyond my capability. What would I use to capture it? That adds another layer to the mix and it's deep enough already!
I appreciate teh suggestion, though. I'm just about ready to throw it all out the window.
Been trying to get working files for weeks, from these and even from other people's dreawings and I'm just frustrated at every turn.

[WhiteTiger]

Got curious and gave it a try. Had to save the capture as a wmf, but turbocad opened it right up, no sweat.
EDIT> btw, I used paintshop pro to do the screen capture and used the save as to make the wmf. I think you can still get a demo download of it from their website.

Tiger

[Ed_R]

Waht the heck's a wmf? And what'd you use to capture it with?

[WhiteTiger]

wmf= windows meta file. just another graphics format. I did the screen capture from acrobat with Paintshop pro. see my edit in the post above.

One thing I just noticed, the .wmf opens in paperspace (not modelspace, which is blank). Could this be what's happening to you?


Tiger

[Ed_R]

It's all Greek to me at this point. I suspect that all the dxf translations need everythign in modelspace , nto paperspace, but I have no idea how to put it where it needs to be

[WhiteTiger]

You and me both

I'm just a so-so user of the programs, don't know much at all about how they do the magic behind the scenes. (I did warn you it was off the wall) lol


Tiger

[Ed_R]

I did add another layer and am about to test it but I'm not sure what layer it's looking for in teh processes.

[Ed_R]

Well thaqt was a bust.
Anyone got a gun?