How to Automatically Generate PDF from .*IDW or *.DWG: Autodesk Inventor

Check here an iLogic code for Autodesk Inventor that aims to save a copy of your drawing with *.pdf extension

The purpose of the code is to create a *.pdf copy at the time an *.idw or *.dwg file is saved in Inventor.

Working with this code allows the designer:

• Check changes against the last saved version,
• access quickly, via adobe Reader, your projects for discussion and demonstration,
• make sure that, after saving and closing the Program, your *.pdf is a faithful copy of your last modifications.

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For install:

1. Close all Inventor files;
2. Open your *.idw or *.dwg template, as you use;
3. Navigate to menu "Manage" and click on "Add Rule";
4. Enter the name for "Rule";
5. Copy the code below and paste into "Rule" that you just created;

6. ' Get the PDF translator Add-In.
   Dim PDFAddIn As TranslatorAddIn
   PDFAddIn = ThisApplication.ApplicationAddIns.ItemById("{0AC6FD96-2F4D-42CE-8BE0-8AEA580399E4}")
   'Set a reference to the active document (the document to be published).
   Dim oDocument As Document
   oDocument = ThisApplication.ActiveDocument
   Dim oContext As TranslationContext
   oContext = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateTranslationContext
   oContext.Type = IOMechanismEnum.kFileBrowseIOMechanism
   ' Create a NameValueMap object
   Dim oOptions As NameValueMap
   oOptions = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateNameValueMap
   ' Create a DataMedium object
   Dim oDataMedium As DataMedium
   oDataMedium = ThisApplication.TransientObjects.CreateDataMedium
   
   ' Check whether the translator has 'SaveCopyAs' options
   If PDFAddIn.HasSaveCopyAsOptions(oDataMedium, oContext, oOptions) Then
   'oOptions.Value("All_Color_AS_Black") = 1
   oOptions.Value("Remove_Line_Weights") = 1
   oOptions.Value("Vector_Resolution") = 400
   oOptions.Value("Sheet_Range") = Inventor.PrintRangeEnum.kPrintAllSheets
   'oOptions.Value("Custom_Begin_Sheet") = 2
   'oOptions.Value("Custom_End_Sheet") = 4
   End If
   
   PDFDirectory = ThisDoc.Path
   oFileName = ThisDoc.FileName(False) 'without extension
   
   If ThisDoc.Path =  "" Then
   MessageBox.Show("PDF file not created! Click the button again "Save" to generate the PDF copy", "illogical")
   Return 'exit rule
   Else
   oDataMedium.FileName = PDFDirectory & "\" & oFileName & ".PDF"
   End If
   
   'Publish document.
   PDFAddIn.SaveCopyAs(oDocument, oContext, oOptions, oDataMedium)
   'Launch the PDF file in whatever application Windows is set to open this document type with
   'i = MessageBox.Show("Preview the PDF file?", "PDF Preview",MessageBoxButtons.YesNo,MessageBoxIcon.Question)
   'If i = vbYes Then ThisDoc.Launch(oDataMedium.FileName)
   

7. Close the window and Navigate again to the menu "Manage" and click on "Event Triggers";
8. Select "Before Save Document" and click on "Select Rules..."
9. Select the rule with the name you just created and close the windows in "OK"
10. save the file.

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From this moment on, the new files created from this template will be creating an automatic copy in *.PDF.

Obs: The copy in *.pdf, will only run from the second time you save the drawing..

 

Good work!

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