How to use MicroStation PDF Composer

MicroStation PDF Composer
MicroStation PDF Composer is a Windows application for publishing PDF documents from plots and plot sets. PDF Composer can publish PDF documents from drawing sets in a single step.

Using PDF Composer's Design Script extensions, you can publish PDF documents that contain audio or video instructions, bookmarks, internal PDF document links, Web URL Links, and attachments that contain project specifications. PDF Composer's configuration command enables you to publish PDF documents that contain Engineering Links, Searchable text, and Levels/Files (Optional Content). Including Levels/Files (Optional Content) in the PDF file enables users to turn on/off levels and references when viewing the file.

Licensing
PDF Composer is a MicroStation Extension and uses a MicroStation license file to obtain a right to run. If multiple copies of MicroStation V8 2004 Edition and above are installed, PDF Composer uses the highest version of MicroStation as its print engine, by default. PDF Composer's Edit > Integrate option enables you to configure which version of MicroStation you want as the print engine, if the highest version is not desired.

When PDF Composer is invoked, it searches the configured MicroStation print engine's ...\Bentley\program\licensing drectory for a valid license file (msv8.lic). If this file is not present, PDF Composer will not run.

PDF Composer requires SELECTserver 8.2 or higher with an Engineering Configuration license or a valid MicroStation V8 2004 Edition license with an Engineering Configuration when using a node locked license.

All of the PDF creation features of MicroStation PDF Composer 2004 Edition are also included in the InterPlot Client 2004 Edition. MicroStation PDF Composer should not be installed on computers running InterPlot 10.2, 8.1.2.x, or earlier.

Using MicroStation PDF Composer
Using PDF Composer, you can publish a set of PDF files without saving or reusing the plot sets. Or, you can create a plot set for a particular set of files and then publish the PDF documents at various milestone dates for a project.

PDF Composer gives you full control over plot sets and the sheets they contain. You can add, delete, reorder, view and modify the properties of individual or multiple sheets, and preview all or some of the sheets prior to publishing the PDF documents. You can also control how information about the sheets in a plot set is displayed in the PDF Composer main window.

To start MicroStation PDF Composer, from the Start > Programs > MicroStation folder, select MicroStation PDF Composer. Initially, you will be prompted with the "MicroStation PDF Composer Tutorial" dialog. It is highly recommended that you take the time to go through this tutorial for a more complete review of PDF Composer. To dismiss this dialog, click on the "X" in the upper right corner.

The next dialog you will see is the "Welcome to MicroStation PDF Composer" dialog.

Select OK and the "Create Plots" dialog will display.

Select "Add" to navigate to the desired location. There are sample files located in C:\Program Files\MicroStation PDF Composer\learn. Select these files and then select Open. Once the files are listed under "Input Files", select OK and the files will be added to PDF Composer.

The main PDF Composer window is divided into two parts:

• A large plot set window in the upper part that displays information about the plots in the current plot set.
• A smaller message window in the lower part that displays messages about PDF Composer activities.

To create a plot set, select File > Save and enter the plot set name. The plot set will have a .ips extension. Once a plot set has been saved, you can open it using the "Welcome to MicroStation PDF Composer" dialog by selecting the "Open an existing plot set" option. In addition, double clicking on the .ips file from Windows Explorer will also invoke PDF Composer.

To change properties of a sheet in the plot set, select the sheet, then select Edit > Properties. The "Properties" dialog will display. There are seven tabs to choose from: General, Area, Layout, Reference Files, Levels, Display, and Variables.

If you select multiple sheets and Edit > Properties, the "Modify Plots" dialog will display allowing you to modify a group of sheets at the same time.

Creating PDF Files
To create the PDF file, select the sheets to be plotted in the PDF Composer main dialog, then select File > Export PDF. The Export PDF dialog will display.

From the "Export PDF" dialog, specify the Plot Range and PDF configuration options, and then click the "Create PDF" button. From the "Save PDF File" dialog, specify the output PDF document, and then click Save.

If you have selected multiple sheets to export to PDF, one multi-page PDF file will be created. If you want a single PDF file for each sheet, you need to select each sheet individually, and then select File > Export PDF.

Settings Files
Settings files provide an easy and flexible way of defining default publishing values for your plots and plot sets. You can use settings files to:

• Store publishing parameters so that they can be easily reused.
• Establish settings that pertain to the entire plot set, such as printer name.
• Enforce drawing standards. By using settings files you can force on/off particular levels or display parameters, or design scripts.
• Eliminate typographical errors. Less typing and file selection is required in specifying the publishing parameters when you use settings files.
• Group together publishing parameters so that you can apply them to a specific plot or plot set.
• Assist novice users. Settings files can reduce the need to navigate through dialog boxes entirely. For most cases settings files get you closer to "one button publishing."

Settings files consist of settings that apply to an entire plot set (Common Settings) and settings that apply to individual plots within the plot set (Plot Level Settings).

In PDF Composer, select Help > Help Topics for more information on settings files.

Configuration Files
Configuration files are ASCII text files. Each line in the configuration file contains a variable definition or a comment. You can also insert blank lines to make the files easier to read. Each variable in the default configuration files includes a comment that describes the behavior it controls.

The Common configuration file (IP.CFG) defines variables that control the general behavior of this product. All configuration variable definitions for settings files are defined in this file.

PDF Composer's MicroStation configuration files define variables that control how MicroStation data is published. This product supports two types of MicroStation configuration files: Client and Server.

You can access the MicroStation configuration files with the PDF Composer Edit > Configuration command.

In PDF Composer, select Help > Help Topics for more information on configuration files.

Design Scripts
By default, design files and reference files are published as they display on the screen. Design Scripts enable you to alter the appearance of a design file when it is published. For example, you might want to highlight the elements on a particular level by assigning them a width, color, or line style that stands out. Some common uses for Design Scripts include the following:

• Highlighting specific elements by changing their color, width, or line style.
• Substituting the current date for a specified text string.
• Controlling the order in which elements are published.
• Obtaining consistent colors with the use of color tables and libraries.
• Defining custom line styles.
• Area-filling closed elements with a specified color or pattern.
• Omitting specific elements in the PDF file.
• Creating content-rich PDF documents.

In PDF Composer, select Help > Help Topics for more information on Design Scripts. There are also sample Design Scripts in the "MicroStation PDF Composer Tutorial".

PDF Size Limits
According to Adobe's Web site, the PDF pages and display are limited to:

• Number of pages: 1 to millions
• Minimum page size: .25" x .25"
• Maximum page size: 200" x 200" (Adobe 6.0 limit only)
• Complex paths in a PDF file: theoretically unlimited
• Zoom range: 8%-1600%