Merge two overlapping drawings in to one documents

[Craigap]

Hi

We have a project with a number floors that are split across two PDF drawings, with a certain degree over overlap. I would like to be able to be able to merge the two in to a single document and remove the overlap.
Is this possible within PDF-XChange Editor?

[PHK]

Yes.

• Create a blank page that will be your canvas onto which you will merge the elements. I prefer to start with the largest possible (300"x300") and then crop to size later.

• Open the first element (one of the drawings to be overlapped). It is best if that is cropped to only the region of the page that is intended for the canvas. Save that cropped page as a single file.

• Repeat for all elements, if more than two pages to be overlapped.

• In the Comments panel, find those Comments that are titled "Stamps" and open Stamp properties. Under Style, select a reduced opacity such as 40% or 60% so that later you can see the degree to which the overlaps are acceptable.

• Open the Contents panel of the first element. Select and copy all of the contents for that element.

• Go to your blank canvas and use the Paste as Stamp tool to drop the element onto the canvas. The default is to drop it in the center of the canvas but it is best to move it immediately off center so as to not create a stack of elements.

• Repeat for all elements.

• Open a second element stamp (assuring the same opacity setting). If it overlaps with the first, move it close to the first. You can move it either by clicking and dragging or by "nudging" it with the keyboard arrows (shift-arrow moves it more).

• Repeat for all elements.

• When all elements are on the canvas, move them as above so that the overlaps are 'true.'

• When happy, change all the opacities to 100% as above, flatten, and crop.

• Save the canvas page as a file. The other element files created above are now superfluous and may be deleted.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]