Import Portable Document Files (.pdf)
Portable document files (PDFs) are the format created by Adobe Acrobat. PDFs essentially capture 2D documents as static pages that are uneditable when viewer in a PDF reader. Although PDF files can contain text, raster graphics, vector graphics, and interactive objects, Trimble Business Center only imports raster graphics. Typically, PDF pages are imported to use as background images of a site in the Plan View. In order to see the PDF in the view, you need to georeference it. To import a file, follow the instructions in Import Data and see the notes on using imported PDFs below.
Using an import setting, you can also import CAD data from a PDF file directly onto sheets in a plan set.
Note: Import PDFs with cross-section data associated with an alignment using the Digitize Stored Cross-Section command.
Prerequisites:
- License; See the Subscription Plans page. For a license matrix by command, see the License page in the TBC Community. Also see View and manage licensed features.
Using imported PDFs:
- Prepare to georeference the PDF image by importing or creating two or more points that correspond to objects in the image. You can use these points to accurately position the image, or you can simply specify coordinates for the objects. Once PDF pages are imported, each page appears in the Project Explorer as an unreferenced image.
- Georeference the imported PDF image that you want to use.
Note: If you import and georeference multiple images, they may be laid over each other in the view. To see a specific image, right click it in the Project Explorer and select Bring to Front from the context menu. You can also select images in the view and right-click to use the other context menu commands to change the view priority of the images.
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Import Settings |
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DPI |
PDF pages import as raster images. Specify the resolution at which you want the image to import in dots per inch (DPI). Generally, 150 DPI produces a usable image. Increasing the DPI may make text or lines sharper, but the image size (and consequently the project size) may be significantly larger. |
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Page ranges to import |
If you do not want to import the entire PDF, specify individual pages separated by a comma (2,5,8,9) or a range of pages separated by a hyphen (5-9). |
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Import as sheet |
Select Yes to import CAD data (text, points, and lines) directly from the PDF file onto plan set sheets. A new plan set is created and appears under Plan Sets in the Project Explorer. If you import additional PDFs with this option enabled, each creates a separate plan set. |
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Plan set name |
Enter a unique name for each plan set you create from an imported PDF. |
Image icons:
When you import image files, their icons can help you identify what type of data they contain.
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Raster image |
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Vector image/PDF |
Similarly, when you use the Add/Remove Image Boundaries command to mask portions of images, their icons change to indicate that part of the image has been hidden.
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Raster image to which boundaries have been added |
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Vector image to which boundaries have been added |
