MiTS 2 now can import platforms, tracing, networks, texts from PDF files. The source of PDF files can come from vector PDF (convert from DWG or other meta-data rich file format, therefore the entities can be easily identified and mapped to the CAD equivalent) or just plain raster PDF ( no meta-data, just plain pixels).

PDF files into MiTS #

• PDF files can be imported as tracing files. The same steps are applied by clicking on Load and choosing the PDF files. 

How MiTS handles PDF import #

• Survey points can be imported from PDF files and only TrueType font texts are acceptable. The program will treat lines with 0 length in PDF as a point in CAD. (TrueType font (.TTF) is a standard font which is pre-installed in Windows and Mac operating systems)

• Network lines for the utilities imported from the PDF can only translate the line, thus no invert level generated
• Any polygon shape which is used to import platforms, boundaries or catchments can be generated from PDF files. However, for platforms, only the shape from the PDF is translated and no elevation will be generated. 
• Only vector PDF will be recognized as entities. Raster PDF (scanned image from PDF) will only be imported as an image. 

 

Limitations of PDF Import #

• Elevations for platforms and invert level for utilities’ network cannot be imported
• Only text in TrueType fonts for survey points are preserved. 
• Points objects are converted to 0 length lines, thus no Z value. This is pertaining to survey points in point format. 
• Data and precision loss are expected if the PDF contains only a raster format.

Improving the Accuracy #

PDF files are widely used and shared among the devices that don’t have CAD software installed. However, the data or precision might be reduced when it is converted into DWG in MiTS, especially when you are dealing with raster PDF. Here’s how you can improve the accuracy: 

• Use TrueType fonts (TTF) for text. You may follow these steps on how to assign TTF to your text.
• If you encounter distorted text after importing the PDF file, it might be due to not using TTF (might be using SHX text in DWG before conversion to PDF). So to encounter this issue, you can use the OCR tool if you have Adobe Acrobat to convert the “text geometry” to actual text before importing the PDF file into MiTS. You may refer to this Autodesk forum for more details. 

• Another alternative for the distorted text is that you can use “recognition settings” in  CAD and fix the PDF file in CAD before importing it into MiTS. It is used to convert the SHX font which uses geometric objects into multiline text objects. You may refer to the steps in this Autodesk article.

How to determine whether it is a TTF text? When you import the PDF into CAD, move the cursor to the text and it will tell you “Text”. That means the text is readable when it is converted into PDF. 

Below is an example of SHX text. As per image below, it clearly shows you that the “O” here is made up of “Spline” instead of text. So you may use the “recognition settings” to fix it before importing the PDF into MiTS.

• Use vector PDF instead of the raster scan of PDF. Although there is specialized software that is able to convert vector to raster PDF, it won’t provide the same amount of precision. 

Steps to Import PDF File into MiTS #

1. Click on Import (survey point/platforms etc.).
2. Select PDF file.
3. A prompt message will appear indicating that a PDF file is detected. Click OK.

4. Then, choose the layers that represent the entities you want to import in the layer box.

5. There is also a CAD ToolBar at the top tier which may be helpful during PDF import, especially the scaling feature.

	Zoom In/Out. You can also use the scroll mouse
	Zoom Window
	Zoom Extents/All
	Distance Measurement
	Scale and Rotation to adjust the scale and rotation angle before importing the entities