"Suggested" Engineering PDF redline features

[hjgravis]

Greeting to all,
I just started using the FREE version as I needed to redline (markup) Engineering drawings (building blue prints).
I was successful, but with a struggle. Please consider these ideas for future revisions....

1.) the ability to "rotate" the camera image (90 degs, 180 degs, 270 degs, or variable rotation).
2.) the ability to "flip" the camera image (vertical axis, horizontal axis, mirror image).
3.) the ability to set the scale factor for the "measurement" function. The measurement function is scaled to the "drawing size" (IEC A3,A4, or ANSI A, B, C etc paper sizes), but many times the drawing has been reduced to fit on the page (example A3 reduced to fit on A4). I was able to over "solve" this using "Govert's Rotate & Scale PDF" (see http://www.noliturbare.com) and re-scaling the entire file.
4.) the ability to "group" the drawing objects so that they can be cut & pasted or moved as a single item like the "group" feature for MS Word.
5.) lastly (and the most ambitious) would it be possible to have a simple drawing application (like Paint.NET) attached to the camera so that we could clean up, change color, rotate, flip, etc. the snapshot before pasting back into the drawing (see http://www.getpaint.net/index.html).

Many Thanks, you have a great product.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi hjgravis,

thanks for the input - it really is appreciated.

You will be happy to know that much of what you have asked for here is either in the works or planned for a plugin. You may be aware that we have a long awaited new version that is coming out in September. I am adding this post and it's contents to our Wish List so that it stays on the radar as we move past V3.

V3 will allow you to rotate any comment an arbitrary amount - not just 90, 180, 270 degrees. So if I understand you correctly this will address rotating your snapshots taken with the camera tool. Flipping the comments - interesting idea and I'm not sure if this is already part of the new version or not. It will also include multiple comment selection and a calibration tool measurement tool will take care of the scaling issue I believe.

Even you last request is in the pipeline by calling the associated Windows application so you will be able to clean up your images directly in the PDF.


hth

[justposted]

... a calibration tool measurement tool will take care of the scaling issue I believe ...

Brilliant. That is probably my most-wanted feature, as marking up drawings is mainly what I use PDFX for. Really glad to hear that it will be included. Hopefully there will be a little more control over the dimension figures themselves as well (e.g. change number of decimal places, overwrite/change text etc). Roll on v3!

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi justposted

Hopefully there will be a little more control over the dimension figures themselves as well

The value of the dimension cannot be manually changed due to restrictions in it's definition in the PDF specifications. It MUST be a calculated number based on the dimension arrows and the scale of the document. I'm not sure about decimal places/significant figures however. Just for interest I'll see what I can find out.

regards

[justposted]

Ah, okay. Decimal places and the units (e.g. "mm") should be removable, I would hope. We rarely use them in engineering mark-ups as we are always working in mm, so decimals and units aren't necessary.

I nice workaround on the dimensions thing would be to have a different tool that does not measure, but allows you to enter text on a dimension line that has all the other properties of the measured dimensions (e.g. ticks/arrows, text offset, line extensions etc). That way when you want to give something a specific, non-measured, dimension then you can do it without messing with the standards. Currently I have to do it by putting a text box over a measured dimension, which is a bit tedious.

Thanks, as always, for the lightning response on the forum. Makes us feel loved!

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Yes I'm afraid that at present the only way to do this is with a text box or typewriter object.

After the release of V3 there are plans for a CAD Plugin that would have a far more extensive set of dimension options. I think this would be the place to put your suggested feature.

Thanks, as always, for the lightning response on the forum. Makes us feel loved!

he eh - makes us feel appreciated...

[Vasyl - PDF-XChange]

Hi, justposted

1.) the ability to "rotate" the camera image (90 degs, 180 degs, 270 degs, or variable rotation).
2.) the ability to "flip" the camera image (vertical axis, horizontal axis, mirror image).

Please details about it. What do you mean by "camera image"?

I nice workaround on the dimensions thing would be to have a different tool that does not measure, but allows you to enter text on a dimension line that has all the other properties of the measured dimensions (e.g. ticks/arrows, text offset, line extensions etc). That way when you want to give something a specific, non-measured, dimension then you can do it without messing with the standards. Currently I have to do it by putting a text box over a measured dimension, which is a bit tedious.

Good idea, thanks. We will add it to our Features List..

Best
Regards.

[hjgravis]

Greetings Vasyl,
I mean the image captured by the "Camera Tool" in the tool bar. After I take the picture, I wanted to rotate the image before I pasted it back on to the page.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]