Guide to PDF Publishing

Transcription

1 Guide to PDF Publishing Alibre Design 9.2

2 Copyrights Information in this document is subject to change without notice. The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement or nondisclosure agreement. The software may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of those agreements. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording for any purpose other than the purchaser s personal use without the written permission of Alibre, Inc. Alibre, Inc Campbell Creek Blvd. Suite 100 Richardson, TX USA Alibre, Inc. All rights reserved. Alibre and the Alibre logo are registered trademarks; Alibre Design and Alibre PhotoRender are trademarks of Alibre Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

3 Contents Installation Installing Alibre Design...1 3D PDF Publishing Creating a PDF File PDF Publishing Templates Continuing with an Existing PDF Viewing Published PDF Files Improving the Quality of Published PDF Files Publishing a Model to HTML...16 i

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5 Chapter 1 - Installation C HAPTER 1 Installation Thank you for choosing Alibre Design! We welcome you to the ever-growing community of designers who have discovered the high value of Alibre Design's feature-rich modeling capability, unique team design features and modest price. Alibre Design is easily installed on your computer. Use these directions to get up and running in a matter of minutes. 1.1 Installing Alibre Design The Alibre Design Installer is available on the installation CD as well as from the Alibre website. To download the Alibre Design installer from the web site: 1. Sign in with your user name and password and go to the Support > Downloads page. 2. Click Alibre Design Client to download the version of Alibre Design associated with your license. We recommend that you save the installer to your hard drive in case the installation process is interrupted. 3. Once you have saved the installer to your hard drive, double click the file to begin the installation process. 4. Continue the installation as described below, beginning with step 4. To Install Alibre Design from the CD: 1. Insert the CD-ROM into the CD drive. Within a few seconds, a window appears. If the window does not appear, open the Windows Explorer, and double-click your CD-ROM drive icon to open the window. Note: If you are running Windows Vista, you will see this dialog. To continue, click Allow and the installation will proceed as described in the following steps. 1

6 Chapter 1 - Installation 2. Click Install Alibre Design on the CD menu. 3. Click Install Alibre Design Review the system requirements; then click Install Now. InstallShield initializes and launches the Alibre Design installation wizard. 5. Click Next. The License Agreement page appears. 6. Read the Product License Agreement and select I accept the terms in the license agreement, and then click Next. 7. Specify a name and organization if desired. 8. Choose whether this installation is for all users or only you. 9. Click Next. 10. By default, Alibre Design is installed in the Program Files directory on the C: drive. If desired, select a different destination folder. 11. Choose where to place shortcuts. 12. Select the language you prefer. 13. Click Install. 14. When the installation is complete, a message will appear prompting you to install PDFCreator. Click OK to continue. 2

7 Chapter 1 - Installation Notes: PDFCreator cannot be installed on the Vista operating system. In addition, if you do not install PDFCreator, you will be unable to fully publish BOMs or Drawings to PDF. If you choose to install a different PDF Printer application, you can print to PDF, but you will be unable to add a header or footer to the PDF. 15. Select the language you wish to use, and then click OK. 16. Click Next in the Welcome Dialog. 17. Read the license agreement, then check I accept the agreement and click Next. 18. Choose the Standard or Server Installation, then click Next. 19. Enter a name for the PDF Printer (the default is PDFCreator), then click Next. 20. Select the Location to install PDFCreator, then click Next. 21. Read the information in the PDFCreator Toolbar dialog, and then click Next. 22. Choose the components you want to install, then click Next. 23. Choose where to place the program's shortcuts, then click Next. (If you do not want a shortcut, check the Don't create a Start Menu folder option.) 24. In the Select Additional Tasks dialog, check the items that you want performed during the installation, and then click Next. 25. Click Install in the Ready to Install dialog. 26. Click Finish to exit the wizard. The Alibre Design Install Wizard will indicate that the installation is complete. 27. Click Finish. 3

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9 C HAPTER 2 3D PDF Publishing Alibre Design supports publishing parts, assemblies, drawings, and BOMs to PDF file format. Once published, these files can be viewed with the Adobe Reader. There are two levels of PDF publishing: Model Only Publishing Full Publisher Module Note: Users with licenses for Alibre Design Xpress and Standard have access to Model Only Publishing. Users with licenses for Alibre Design Professional and Expert have access to Full Publishing. PDF Publishing is not supported for licenses of Alibre Design Basic. Model Only Publishing Features Ability to publish PDF files with interactive 3D model, including rotate, pan, and zoom. PDF file can be viewed with Adobe Reader and above. Full Publisher Module Features Ability to publish PDF files with: Interactive 3D model, including rotate, pan, and zoom Assembly tree Drawings BOMs Exploded view animation with ordered steps Saved views PDF file can be viewed with Adobe Reader and above. 5

10 2.1 Creating a PDF File To create a PDF file of a part, sheet metal part, or assembly: 1. From the File menu, select Publish to PDF, or select the Publish to Acrobat PDF tool from the PDF Publishing toolbar. The PDF Publishing Wizard opens, and the 3D Model tab is active. 2. Select a template to use. (See PDF Publishing Templates (on page 12) for more information) 3. Click Next. 4. If you want to add a header, select the Title tab and enter a title. Click the Font button to change the font of the Title. Please note: The Title can be one line only, and the text will not wrap. 5. If you want to add a footer, select the Footer tab and enter a footer. Click the Font button to change the font of the Footer. Please note: The Footer can be one line only, and the text will not wrap. 6. If you selected a template that includes text, select the Body Text tab(s) and enter text as necessary. Click the Font button to change the font of the text. To include a carriage return, press CTRL + Enter on your keyboard. 7. Click Next. 8. Check the Views you want to include in your PDF, if any. The default view (the state the model was in at the time you began the publishing process) is always included. 9. Click Next. 10. In the Page Layout section, select which page layout you wish to publish to. 11. Check the Put my logo on the top right corner button to include an image in the PDF; then click Browse to find and select the image. 12. In Save Location, browse to the location you want to save the PDF file to. Note: If you choose to save to an existing file, after clicking Publish, you will be prompted to choose if you want to overwrite the existing file or add the published page to the existing file at the end as an additional page. 6

11 13. Choose Preview if you would like to view the PDF file before saving it. This creates a temporary file that is deleted if you do not publish the file. 14. Click Publish. The PDF file will be created and saved to the location you specified, and can be viewed with Adobe Reader or higher. To create a PDF file of a section view: 1. You must be viewing the section view in the work area. 2. From the File menu, select Publish to PDF. The PDF Publishing Wizard opens, and the 3D Model tab is active. 3. Continue following the steps listed above for creating a PDF file of a part, assembly, or sheet metal part. To create a PDF file of an assembly in an exploded view: 1. You must have a license for full publishing. 2. You must be viewing an assembly in the exploded state. 3. From the File menu, select Publish to PDF, or select the Publish to Acrobat PDF tool from the PDF Publishing toolbar. The PDF Publishing Wizard opens, and the 3D Model tab is active. 4. Select a template to use. (See PDF Publishing Templates (on page 12) for more information) 5. Click Next. 6. If you chose one of the templates that includes exploded view steps, a. In Publish State, choose to publish in Exploded or Unexploded State. This will determine which state the model is displayed in the PDF. 7

12 b. Check the Include Explosion steps and descriptions box if you would like to include the steps in the PDF. Click the Font button if you would like to change the font of the exploded view steps in the PDF. The text "PDF Publishing" will update to reflect the new font. c. Click Next. 7. If you want to add a header, select the Title tab and enter a title. Click the Font button to change the font of the Title. Please note: The Title can be one line only, and the text will not wrap. 8. If you want to add a footer, select the Footer tab and enter a footer. Click the Font button to change the font of the Footer. Please note: The Footer can be one line only, and the text will not wrap. 9. Click Next. 10. Check the Views you want to include in your PDF, if any. The default view (the state the model was in at the time you began the publishing process) is always included. 11. Click Next. 12. In the Page Layout section, select which page layout you wish to publish to. 13. Check the Put my logo on the top right corner button to include an image in the PDF; then click Browse to find and select the image. 14. In Save Location, browse to the location you want to save the PDF file to. Note: If you choose to save to an existing file, after clicking Publish, you will be prompted to choose if you want to overwrite the existing file or add the published page to the existing file at the end as an additional page. 15. Choose Preview if you would like to view the PDF file before saving it. This creates a temporary file that is deleted if you do not publish the file. 16. Click Publish. The PDF file will be created and saved to the location you specified. To create a PDF file of images or text: 8

13 1. From the File menu, select Publish to PDF, or select the Publish to Acrobat PDF tool from the PDF Publishing toolbar. The PDF Publishing Wizard opens. 2. Select the General tab. 3. Select a template to use. (See PDF Publishing Templates (on page 12) for more information) 4. Click Next. 5. If you selected a template that includes an image, click Browse to find and select the image you wish to publish. 6. Depending on which template you selected, select the Title, Footer, and/or Body Text tabs and enter the text you wish to appear in each location. Please note: The Title and Footer can be one line only, and the text will not wrap. To include a carriage return in the Body Text section, press CTRL + Enter on your keyboard. 7. Click Next. 8. In the Page Layout section, select which page layout you wish to publish to. 9. If you chose the Image with Text template or the Text Only template, check the Put my logo on the top right corner to include an image in the PDF; then click Browse to find and select the image. 10. In Save Location, browse to the location you want to save the PDF file to. Note: If you choose to save to an existing file, after clicking Publish, you will be prompted to choose if you want to overwrite the existing file or add the published page to the existing file at the end as an additional page. 11. Choose Preview if you would like to view the PDF file before saving it. This creates a temporary file that is deleted if you do not publish the file. 12. Click Publish. The PDF file will be created and saved to the location you specified. 9

14 To create a PDF file of a 2D drawing: 1. You must have installed PDFCreator during the installation of Alibre Design. Note: PDFCreator cannot be installed on the Vista operating system. If you choose to install a different PDF Printer application, you can print the drawing to PDF, but you will be unable to add a header or footer to the PDF. 2. You must have Full Publishing capability. 3. From the File menu, select Publish to PDF, or select the Publish to Acrobat PDF tool from the PDF Publishing toolbar. The PDF Publishing Wizard opens, and the BOM/Drawing tab is active. The Drawing Template option is selected. 4. Click Next. 5. If you want to add a header, select the Title tab and enter a title. Click the Font button to change the font of the Title. Please note: The Title can be one line only, and the text will not wrap. 6. If you want to add a footer, select the Footer tab and enter a footer. Click the Font button to change the font of the Footer. Please note: The Footer can be one line only, and the text will not wrap. 7. Click Next. 8. In the Page Layout section, select which page layout you wish to publish to. 9. Check the Put my logo on the top right corner button to include an image in the PDF; then click Browse to find and select the image. 10. In Save Location, browse to the location you want to save the PDF file to. Note: If you choose to save to an existing file, after clicking Publish, you will be prompted to choose if you want to overwrite the existing file or add the published page to the existing file at the end as an additional page. 11. Choose Preview if you would like to view the PDF file before saving it. This creates a temporary file that is deleted if you do not publish the file. 12. Click Publish. The PDF file will be created and saved to the location you specified, and can be viewed with Adobe Reader or higher. 10

15 To create a PDF file of a BOM: 1. You must have installed PDFCreator during the installation of Alibre Design. Note: PDFCreator cannot be installed on the Vista operating system. If you choose to install a different PDF Printer application, you can print the BOM to PDF, but you will be unable to add a header or footer to the PDF. 2. You must have Full Publishing capability. 3. From the File menu, select Publish to PDF, or select the Publish to Acrobat PDF tool from the PDF Publishing toolbar. The PDF Publishing Wizard opens, and the BOM/Drawing tab is active. The BOM Template option is selected. 4. Click Next. 5. If you want to add a header, select the Title tab and enter a title. Click the Font button to change the font of the Title. Please note: The Title can be one line only, and the text will not wrap. 6. If you want to add a footer, select the Footer tab and enter a footer. Click the Font button to change the font of the Footer. Please note: The Footer can be one line only, and the text will not wrap. 7. Click Next. 8. In the Page Layout section, select which page layout you wish to publish to. 9. Check the Put my logo on the top right corner button to include an image in the PDF; then click Browse to find and select the image. 10. In Save Location, browse to the location you want to save the PDF file to. Note: If you choose to save to an existing file, after clicking Publish, you will be prompted to choose if you want to overwrite the existing file or add the published page to the existing file at the end as an additional page. 11. Choose Preview if you would like to view the PDF file before saving it. This creates a temporary file that is deleted if you do not publish the file. 12. Click Publish. 11

16 The PDF file will be created and saved to the location you specified, and can be viewed with Adobe Reader or higher. 2.2 PDF Publishing Templates Templates available when creating a PDF from a Part, Sheet metal Part, or Assembly Workspace: Model Only, Full Page The published PDF file will have one page which shows the 3D model. Model Only, Half Page The published PDF file will have one page which shows the 3D model only in the upper half of the PDF page. The rest of the PDF page will be blank. Model with text in lower half The published PDF file will have one page which shows the 3D model in the upper half of the PDF page. The lower half of the PDF page will include your custom text. Templates available when creating a PDF from an Assembly Workspace while in an exploded view (only available if you have a license for full publishing): Exploded View, Full Page The published PDF file will have one page which shows the assembly in its exploded view and a title (if one is specified). 12

17 Exploded view, Half Page The published PDF file will have one page which shows the assembly in its exploded view and a title (if one is specified) only in the upper half of the PDF page. The rest of the PDF page will be blank. Exploded view, Top, with Exploded View Step Information The published PDF file will show the assembly in the exploded view in the upper half of the PDF page with all of the steps listed under it. Exploded view, Left, with Exploded View Step Information The published PDF file will show the assembly in the exploded view on the left side of the PDF page with all of the steps listed on the right. Templates available when creating a PDF of an image or of text only: Cover Page The published PDF file will have one page which shows the image in the top half, and your custom text in the bottom half. Image with Text The published PDF file will have one page which shows the image in the top half, and your custom text in the bottom half, along with any specified Title and Footer. Text Only The published PDF file will include your custom text. 13

18 Templates available when creating a PDF from a Drawing Workspace: Drawing The published PDF file will have one page which shows the sheet that was active when the publishing process was started. Templates available when creating a PDF from a BOM Workspace: Bill of Material The published PDF file will have one page which shows Bill of Material. 2.3 Continuing with an Existing PDF If you have previously created a PDF file, you can continue adding data to that PDF at a later time. To continue working on an existing PDF: 1. Open the file containing the model, drawing, or BOM that you wish to include in the PDF. 2. From the File menu, select Continue Previously Created PDF, or select the Continue Previously Created PDF tool from the PDF Publishing toolbar. The PDF Publishing Wizard dialog appears. 3. Select the appropriate radio button to choose whether you want to Append to the last PDF you created, or Append to a different PDF. 4. If you chose the option to append to a different PDF, click Browse to choose which PDF to append to. 5. Click Next. 6. Continue in the PDF Publishing wizard as described in Creating a PDF File on page 6. 14

19 2.4 Viewing Published PDF Files After you have published a PDF file, you can view the PDF using the Adobe Reader version or higher. To view a published PDF file: 1. Ensure that you have installed Adobe Reader (version or higher). 2. Browse to the location you saved the file to. 3. Double-click the file, and it will open in the Adobe Reader. 4. To access the 3D tools, left-click once on the image of the model, or right-click the image of the model and choose Enable 3D. To view any additional views included in the file: Not all files will include additional views. The views must have been selected during the publishing process. 1. Ensure that you have installed Adobe Reader (version or higher). 2. Browse to the location you saved the file to. 3. Double-click the file, and it will open in the Adobe Reader. 4. Left-click once on the image of the model, OR, Right-click the image of the model and choose Enable 3D. 5. From the Views drop down list, select the view you wish to view. Note: You can also select the Model Tree tab to see a list of all of the published views. To view the explosion animation of an assembly Not all files will have the explode animation. The file must have been published that way originally. This capability is available with the Full Publishing package. 15

20 1. Ensure that you have installed Adobe Reader (version or higher). 2. Browse to the location you saved the file to. 3. Double-click the file, and it will open in the Adobe Reader. 4. Left-click once on the image of the model, OR, Right-click the image of the model and choose Enable 3D. 5. Click on any of the steps in the list to see the assembly explosion at that step. 6. Click Reset, then Explode to view the animation of the entire explosion. 7. To view the implosion, click Reset, and then Implode. Note: You must click Reset each time you want to select either Explode or Implode for the animation to work correctly. 2.5 Improving the Quality of Published PDF Files Following these suggestions can improve the quality of your published PDF files. Before beginning the publishing process: Make sure your workspace window is maximized Choose a white background for your work area Make the model fill as much of the work area as possible before publishing to PDF Be as concise as possible with all text 2.6 Publishing a Model to HTML You can send the image of a model directly to an HTML file if necessary. To publish the model to an HTML file: 1. Open the file containing the model you wish to publish. 16

21 2. From the File menu, select Publish 3D PDF of model only in HTML, or select the Publish 3D Model in HTML tool from the PDF Publishing toolbar. The PDF Publishing Wizard dialog appears. 3. In Save Location, type in the location where you want to save the file, or click the Browse button to specify the location. 4. In File Names, enter a name for both the PDF file and the HTML file. 5. Click Publish. Note: This creates an HTML file with an embedded PDF. Depending on the security settings of your web browser, you may see a security warning when opening the file, due to the active content. 17