Muhimbi PDF Converter version 8.3 and above, supports the conversion of CAD files to PDF. The key features of the CAD Conversion are as follows:
- Full 2D and 3D support.
- Highly configurable (Output paper size, margins, Layouts / Views to convert)
- Automatic and intelligent recoloring of drawings, e.g. Switch background to black, white or any other color without losing visibility of elements that were already using that color. Full Black and White support is available as well.
- Conversion of individual Layouts or all Layouts while skipping empty and invalid ones.
- Automatic detection of paper orientation.
As the converter is part of our highly scalable PDF Converter Services, it automatically benefits from all its features including reliability, scalability, watermarking engine, cross platform support, web services based API, PDF security, SharePoint integration, Nintex Workflow integration, Java support, InfoPath attachments, Windows Azure etc.
Listed below are three different images of the same drawing after conversion to PDF, but with different recoloring options.
You can also use third party CAD converters in combination with the Muhimbi PDF Converter.
Using PowerAutomate to Convert CAD Files to PDF
This example takes you through converting CAD files to PDF.
Before we begin, please make sure the following prerequisites are in place
- Power Automate subscription.
- Install and Configure Gateway for Power Automate.
- Muhimbi PDF Converter for Power Automate, full or free trial subscription.
- Appropriate privileges to create Power Automate Flows.
- Working knowledge of Power Automate.
1: Create a flow
Create a flow and find the “When a file is created or modified (properties only)” trigger. Using this trigger will allow you to start the flow when adding or modifying a property of a file into a folder.
In the action, specify the path to the SharePoint Online Library to monitor for new items
2: Get file content
Add the SharePoint “Get file content” action to the Power Automate Canvas and configure it with reference to the details below:
Site Address: Specify the path to the SharePoint Online site collection which holds the file. File Identifies: “Identifier” the output from the “When a file is created or modified (properties only)” action.
Step 3: Convert CAD drawing to PDF
Add the Muhimbi “Convert CAD drawing to PDF” action to the Power Automate and configure it with reference to the details below. If your source documents are already in PDF format then this step is naturally not needed.
Source File name: “File name with extension” the output from the “When a file is created or modified (properties only)” action. Source file content: “File Content” the output of the “Get file content” action.
Leave the other options as default but you may want to change the advanced option with reference to details below.
Name | Key | Description |
|---|---|---|
Source file name |
| Name of the source file including extension |
Source file content |
| Content of the file to convert |
Paper size |
| Paper size for the output |
Paper size (custom) |
| Applicable if 'Paper size' is set to 'Custom' |
Page margins |
| E.g. '1.5cm' (for uniform) or '0.5in, 0.25in, 0.5in, 0.25in' (for non-uniform) margins |
Background color |
| .Net color name or hex color ( |
Foreground color |
| The foreground effect or color |
Foreground color (custom) |
| .Net color name or hex color ( |
Empty layout detection |
| Select which layouts should be skipped |
Layout Sort Order |
| Specify the sort order in which the layouts are converted |
Start page |
| The first page to include |
End page |
| The last page to include |
Override settings |
| Optional settings using Muhimbi's XML syntax |
Fail on error |
| Fail on error |
Step 4: Create a file
Add the ‘Create file’ SharePoint action to store the PDF document in the File Explorer action library.
Note: You will need to configure a gateway to write files to your filesystem, as mentioned in the prerequisites section.
File name: Base file name.pdf (output variable of the Convert CAD drawing to PDF )action. File content: Processed file content the (output variable of the Convert CAD drawing to PDF)action.
That is it. Publish your Flow and upload a file (e.g. an CAD drawing) to the folder that is monitored by the configured SharePoint trigger. After a short wait, you can find the PDF document in the destination document library\folder in your SharePoint.
