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Thanks much for responding to my request for information! It's much
appreciated!
Now, for some answers to some of the questions: The reason I asked
about editing PDFs is mostly to wonder why I'm getting the message about
not being able to edit the PDF if the (apparent) font used on it is
Arial Narrow or even Arial, since both are installed on my system. I'm
THINKING that there may be another font used somewhere in the typical
CAD drawing rectangle containing the typical drafting identification
information (i.e., draftsman, drawing number, drawing name, company
name, etc.). However, I've not been able to confirm this as of yet. The
sort of change I'm talking about making is VERY minor changes to the
text: in this case, adding information about one of the parts listed on
the drawing to say that on newer units, these three O-rings identified
here are replaced with a one-piece gasket and include the new part
number. I realize that this information would eventually have to be
included on the drawings anyway (for numerous reasons), but I wanted to
be able to change them when I needed the drawings versus causing the
draftsperson to drop what they were doing just to make a small change
like that, since I really need to get these drawings into the manual as
soon as I can for deadline. I made this very change to one of the
drawings without issue, but the others are not allowing me to do so.
As far as using Photoshop or Illustrator to make these changes, that
would be great except I don't know anything, really, about using either
one of these applications! Not long ago, I asked for help and
information in finding a good resource for training in these
applications, but got VERY little response. So, even taking into
consideration the comments about using Illustrator versus Photoshop
(which I'm aware of from previous discussions on the list that Photoshop
does MUCH better with things like color shifts and the like for photos
(hence the name) than with line art) and would use Illustrator if I knew
how! So, does anyone have recommendations on looking for training on
Illustrator and Photoshop? I googled and came up with SOME information
on Photoshop training, but it doesn't provide any sort of first-hand
information from folks that might've taken said training. I plan on
purchasing a good book on Photoshop, at least, and trying to learn from
it. But, I'd still like a good class, if possible. I'm going to look at
one of the local universities, as well. I checked NAPP's Web site, but
there's not much there unless you're a member. I found some listed in
California, but those aren't an option. My company will pay for my
training for a relatively local class, but not to go out-of-state like
that!
So, thanks again to those that responded! I file a lot of information
gleaned from this list in folders on my computer for future referencing!
Techwr-l is a great resource with great people on it!
Samuel I. Beard, Jr.
Technical Writer
OI Analytical
979 690-1711 Ext. 222
sbeard -at- oico -dot- com
________________________________
From: Seb [mailto:techwritersblock -at- gmail -dot- com]
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 1:34 PM
To: Sam Beard; brianlindgren -at- aol -dot- com
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Editing PDFs
A more elegant solution would to be to bring the PDF into Adobe
Illustrator. Illustrator can edit and save PDFs natively, so there is no
need to convert the file to a jpg or other lossy image using Photoshop.
Do you know what program the drafter is using to create the file? Is he
embedding the fonts into the PDF? Has the drafter tried making the text
change himself using the original file?
Seb
On 10/12/07, brianlindgren -at- aol -dot- com <brianlindgren -at- aol -dot- com > wrote:
I don't know if this will be a viable solution, but if you have
PhotoSSshop you can open the page from the PDF in PhotoShop,?make any
necessary edits there,?save it as a PDF and re-import the page.
If the graphic is a full page, you also have the option to save it as a
JPG from Acrobat, edit it in PhotoShop (or any other graphics package),
then bring back the edited JPG into your PDF.
-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Beard <sbeard -at- oico -dot- com>
To: TECHWR-L <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Sent: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:25 pm
Subject: Editing PDFs
All,
I'm on WinXP with Acrobat 8.
I'm trying to slightly edit some text on PDF drawings and I keep
running into problems. From what I've gathered (and, indeed, it worked
on one drawing), if you have the fonts used in a document on your
system, you should be able to lightly edit a PDF. I need to change a bit
of text. The font used was Arial Narrow, which is on my system. I
couldn't change it. The drafter changed it to Arial, which is also on my
system, but I still can't edit it. When I try, I get the message that
one or more fonts used in it are not on my system. I need to check with
the drafter to see if there are other fonts used besides that, which
aren't on my system, which might be the case. However, there are a LOT
of fonts on my system, so I'm not sure about that. By the by, he did say
it was TT Arial, which is what I have. Is there something I'm missing?
Why did it work on one of the drawings but not on the others? Would it
work if I delete all of the standard drafting stuff, such as the box
with that includes the drafter's name, drawing name, and all that stuff
on the bottom right corner? (I'm about to try that right now, just to
see.)
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