How to convert AutoCAD to PDF.

A young woman in an office uses a laptop to convert AutoCAD to PDF.

Learn how to convert an AutoCAD file into a PDF to make sharing and viewing easier between different users and devices.

If you’ve been sent an AutoCAD file and you’re unfamiliar with this file format, you may be wondering what it is and how you can convert it to a more workable format. Let’s learn more about AutoCAD files and how you can create a PDF in a few simple steps to make viewing them easier. In order for this to function, you will need to have the AutoCAD 2018 or 2019 software downloaded on your device. This software, along with Adobe Acrobat, should be able to help you convert an AutoCAD to a PDF file for easy sharing.

What is AutoCAD?

Popular in the design field, AutoCAD is a type of computer software that enables architects, engineers, and designers to create and manipulate design projects, such as 2D or 3D drawings and models. It’s renowned for increasing designer productivity and improving design quality but in order to make sharing these files easier, it’s often best to convert them to a PDF before sending. Just be sure you have AutoCAD 2018 or 2019 downloaded on your device in order to convert as you expected.

What is a CAD file?

A CAD file or computer-aided design file has both 2D or 3D designs. CAD files are used mainly by engineers, designers, scientists, manufacturers, and graphic designers. This file type contains a technical drawing or blueprint and is most commonly used to make architecture plans or create models. CAD file formats help to optimize design layouts to help with designer productivity, improve the quality of the creation, and streamline communication.

CAD files can easily store and display geometric representations such as volume, center of mass, and surface area. They can also easily depict product structures, along with a variety of visual attributes.

Steps to convert an AutoCAD file to a PDF.

Converting an AutoCAD file to a PDF is an excellent way to view files. All you need is to have AutoCAD 2018 or 2019 and Acrobat installed. Here are the five steps to follow:

In Acrobat, select Tools, then Create PDF.
From the options menu, select Single File, then Select a File.
Upload your AutoCAD file.
Click or tap on Create. This converts your selected file to a PDF.
Save your PDF to your desired location.

If you’re already working in AutoCAD and need to create a PDF, you can export the file:

Go to Output > Plot.
Choose a PDF preset.
Click OK.
Name and save your file.

To export multiple files at once:

Select your layouts.
Right-click.
Choose Publish Selected Layouts.
Select a PDF preset.
Follow the prompts and save.

Alternatively, you can search for an AutoCAD to PDF converter tool online. The steps and results may vary, so be sure to research a website thoroughly before sharing your files.

Now that you’ve converted your AutoCAD file to PDF, you can easily view it on any computer or certain mobile devices.

How to import a PDF into AutoCAD.

Open a new DWG file within AutoCAD.
Click the Insert tab > Import panel.
Select PDF Import (or the PDF import symbol).
Select the PDF file you want to import.
Click Open.
Choose the page or pages.
Adjust settings for the data you want to import.
Click OK.
Save the file.

AutoCAD files are not the only kind you can convert using Acrobat.

Explore what more you can do with Adobe Acrobat to quickly and easily convert any file, image, or web page into a high-quality PDF. For example, you can convert files like DWF to PDF, and PPT to PDF, or even convert PDF to JPG and other image file types. Even printing PDFs using Adobe Acrobat is a cinch and will help you get the job done right.

Discover even more tools that make working with PDFs fast and easy using Adobe Acrobat.

To convert with Adobe Acrobat, either AutoCAD 2018 or 2019 need to be installed on your device

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