Parameters for PDF export

Specify the path and name for the PDF file in the data entry box or click

to do this in a dialog box.
Allplan proposes the name of the layout with the lowest layout number.

Add bookmark adds a bookmark to the PDF file. You can enter a name for the bookmark in the data entry box.
When you select several layouts, this name is used for the first PDF file. The file name assigned automatically is used as the bookmark for the other PDF files.

When you select Password, you can specify a password. A user who wants to open the PDF file must enter this password.

You can select this option only if the file already exists in the folder specified for the Path or when you have selected an existing file by clicking

. When you have selected several layouts, you must select the Combine layouts to a single document option, too.
Add to file adds the new PDF file to the existing file. Otherwise, you can overwrite the existing file.

Open with associated application opens the new PDF file in the application associated with the pdf file type.

This option is only available in the Layout module when you have selected several layouts for output. Combine layouts to a single document exports all the selected layouts to the file you have specified for the Path. Otherwise, a separate file is created for each layout.

You can specify the resolution the program is to use to export bitmaps, fills with gradients and OLE objects to the PDF file. You can enter a value between 32 and 2,400 DPI. The DPI value has an effect on the size of the PDF file and thus defines how long it takes to create the PDF file.

Page: the sheet size of the PDF file depends on the paper size set in print preview or on the size of the page in the Layout module. Therefore, the margins displayed in the PDF file are the same size as the non-printable area.

Printable area: the sheet size of the PDF file depends on the printable area. In print preview, this is the paper size set minus the margins; in the Layout module, this is the size of the page minus the margins.

Export as a bitmap exports the entire contents of the layout as a bitmap file. The advantage is that fills with transparency are exported as they are and that the resulting PDF file is protected against unauthorized copying, as it cannot be imported in vectorized form again.
However, the amount of data generated increases significantly, which may cause problems when you want to send or import PDF files of large layouts.

This option is only available in the Layout module. Entire layout contents exports the entire contents of the layout to the PDF file. The sheet size of the PDF file depends on the contents of the layout (the page size is irrelevant). If Document size is set to Page, the program enlarges the layout by the margins of the page.

PDF/A is an ISO standard that specifies how to use the Portable Document Format (PDF) for long-term preservation of electronic documents. As opposed to the standard PDF format or other proprietary CAD formats (DXF, DWG, DGN), the ISO standard provides a permanent, non-proprietary certification that can be accessed by everybody.

Advantages of archiving using PDF/A:

You can archive layouts straight from Allplan. You do not need additional tools or make edits later.
You can use a file format certified by ISO.
Digital layouts can be archived more quickly, easily and inexpensively than paper layouts.
Archive DVDs require less space for storage than paper layouts.

As opposed to the conventional PDF format, PDF/A is limited with intention so that archiving is possible:

Layers cannot be transferred
TrueType fonts must be embedded
Transparent fills are not possible
Key words cannot be assigned
Printing cannot be restricted or excluded

For more information on PDF/A see http://www.pdfa.org/doku.php.

Export layers creates a level in the PDF file for each layer in the drawing files and documents used. Hidden layers are not transferred as levels to PDF files. You require Acrobat Reader Version 6 or later to display levels in PDF files. You can download the current version of Acrobat Reader from Adobe's website.

Embed TrueType fonts integrates all TrueType fonts in the PDF file. This ensures that the document is always displayed correctly, whether or not the relevant font is installed.

This option is only available in print preview. When you select the Grayscale check box, color fills and bitmap areas are converted to grayscale during export.

Note: You can use

Save as a favorite to save the settings in the Properties area as a favorite file, which you can retrieve and, if necessary, adjust using

Load Favorite. You can use

Restore basic settings to reset the settings in the Properties area back to their defaults.