How to open a PDF in AutoCAD 2014?

To handle a PDF in AutoCAD 2014, you primarily attach it as a PDF underlay. This means the PDF acts as a visual reference within your drawing, but its contents are not directly editable AutoCAD objects. Direct import of PDF geometry was introduced in later versions of AutoCAD.

Attaching a PDF as an Underlay in AutoCAD 2014

In AutoCAD 2014, you can insert a PDF file into your drawing as an underlay. This is useful for overlaying existing plans or schematics that you don't need to modify, but wish to reference.

Steps to Attach a PDF Underlay:

1. Access the Attach Command:

   • Ribbon: Go to the Insert tab, then in the Reference panel, click on Attach.
   • Command Line: Type ATTACH or PDFATTACH and press Enter.

2. Select PDF File:

   • The "Select Reference File" dialog box will appear.
   • Browse to the location of your PDF file, select it, and click Open.

3. Specify Attachment Options:

   • The "Attach PDF Underlay" dialog box will appear. Here, you can define various parameters for how the PDF is inserted:
     • Reference Type: Choose "Attach" (the default for PDFs).
     • Path Type: Decide how AutoCAD should remember the PDF's location (Full path, Relative path, or No path). Relative path is often recommended for project portability.
     • Page: If your PDF has multiple pages, you can select which page to insert.
     • Insertion Point:
       • Specify On-screen: Check this box to manually click the insertion point in your drawing space.
       • Coordinates: Uncheck to enter specific X, Y, Z coordinates.
     • Scale:
       • Specify On-screen: Check this box to manually scale the PDF after insertion.
       • Scale Factor: Uncheck to enter a specific numeric scale factor. A value of 1 inserts the PDF at its true size.
     • Rotation:
       • Specify On-screen: Check this box to manually rotate the PDF after insertion.
       • Angle: Uncheck to enter a specific rotation angle.

4. Insert the PDF:

   • Click OK to close the "Attach PDF Underlay" dialog box.
   • If you selected "Specify On-screen" for insertion point, scale, or rotation, follow the prompts on the command line or in the drawing area to place and size your PDF.

Once attached, the PDF will appear in your drawing area as a non-editable visual layer.

Managing PDF Underlays

After attaching a PDF, you can manage its properties and appearance using dedicated commands:

• PDFADJUST (PDF Underlay Adjust): Controls contrast, fade, monochrome display, and background transparency.
• PDFCLIP (PDF Underlay Clip): Defines a clipping boundary for the PDF underlay, allowing you to display only a portion of the PDF.
• PDFFRAME: Toggles the visibility of the PDF underlay's frame.
• PDFLAYERS: Controls the visibility of layers within the PDF underlay (if the PDF contains layer information).
• XREF: The External References palette can also be used to manage attached PDFs, similar to how you manage other external references like DWG files and images. Here you can unload, reload, detach, or change the path of the PDF.

Important Distinction: PDF Import vs. PDF Underlay (Not Applicable to AutoCAD 2014)

While AutoCAD 2014 allows you to attach PDFs as underlays for visual reference, it's crucial to understand that it does not support the direct import of PDF geometry into editable AutoCAD objects.

Later versions of AutoCAD, starting with AutoCAD 2017, introduced a significant enhancement: the PDF Import functionality (accessible via the PDFIMPORT command). This feature allows users to convert vector information from a PDF file directly into editable AutoCAD objects such as lines, polylines, arcs, circles, and text.

For example, in these newer versions, to bring in and utilize the geometry from a PDF, you would typically use an "Import PDF" command. This command, sometimes conceptualized as going to an "import lex PDF" option, would prompt you to select your desired PDF file from a file selection dialog. This process is designed to let you choose your PDF and then convert its vector content into native AutoCAD geometry, making it fully editable. This capability, however, is a feature of AutoCAD 2017 and newer releases, not AutoCAD 2014.

Key Differences at a Glance:

Feature	AutoCAD 2014 (and earlier)	AutoCAD 2017 (and later)
Primary Method	PDF Underlay (PDFATTACH)	PDF Underlay (PDFATTACH)
Geometry Use	Visual reference only	Visual reference + Direct Import (PDFIMPORT) for editing
Editability	Not editable	Editable (after import)
Object Type	Single underlay object	Converts to native AutoCAD objects

In summary, for AutoCAD 2014, focus on using the ATTACH or PDFATTACH command to bring your PDF files into your drawings as underlays for referencing purposes.