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SteveVinyard1-Visitor
1-Visitor
May 11, 2010
Question

Drawings as PDF - Quick way to download them?

  • May 11, 2010
  • 95 replies
  • 33906 views
I have my drawings being published as a PDF by my Pro/e CAD worker. This is fine but in the end my users really need to be able to quickly download or email the PDF. Currently the only way to get the PDF out is to do the following:
1- Go to Drawing Details Page
2- Select "Display Representations List"
3- Click Actions>Save Representation
4- Save Representation out as .zip file to desktop
5- Extract PDF from .zip file and email etc

WAY to much work...does anyone know of a more efficient way to do this?

    95 replies

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    ssenthil1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    May 11, 2010
    Hi Steve

    In collaboration with NaJaNaja we came up with a product by name "Content
    Collaborative Framework" for meeting requirements as yours. The product has
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    Thank you and have a great time.

    Best Regards

    Swamy Senthil

    Principal Solutions Architect

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    swamy.senthil@swasen.com

    Swasen Inc (
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    cadjett1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    May 17, 2010
    Somehow the message became hyperlinked & the attachment wasnt attached (unless my browwer went IE crazy), so I attached again. L Jett
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    SteveVinyard1-VisitorAuthor
    1-Visitor
    May 17, 2010
    Awesome thanks Lawrence. Its one of the things where we need basic users to be able to search or browse for an object, pull up its details page and then download the PDF viewable that was published for it (drawings are published as pdf).

    Ideas?
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    cadjett1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    May 17, 2010
    I imaginesome onecould createa jsp that would take the object & download its associated drw pdf, plt, etc.

    It would need to prompt the user for download location & thendownload.

    You then have to add the jsp to the details page action menu.

    Most the code in the java that I provided could be used, with more code for download location selection, etc.

    But it would be lengthy time to generate this code, then update details page to insert (which I have done, but surely have forgotten & would have to search for my notes on it).

    Lengthy for me, where some of the gurus on here can probably do it in a few hours/minutes.

    If there is no urgency, I can break out my vmware & work on it.

    But as I said, I am starting a new project/job & will probably be heavily intrigued with it for now.

    But I always enjoy the wc dev side more than anything, so I might work on it at night & see what I can come up with.

    Let me know your urgency. If its not real urgent, then I can play with it. If it's urgent, maybe one of the gurus can grab the code (or some of their own for representations) & adjustthe details page actions menu.

    Let me know (Steve or gurus who want to help).

    L Jett
    cadjett@aol.com,datajett@aol.com
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    cadjett1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    May 19, 2010

    I did some research on actions menu xml & gather info from good resource, so I will try to pull time for this.

    Mainly because I think it would be a very functional tool, because I have had multiple requests to have pdf downloable tool.

    The java class was the easy way out, but the epmdoc details page actions menu option is a far better option.

    It will just take more work than the original java did. I will probably update the jave, then have the jsp point to it.

    Then figure what & where to insert proper actions xml into custom actions xml file.

    Only problem I have is that my vmwares dont match wc9 & proe, so I might have issues getting a pdf associated to a drw.

    I'll see how that goes, but I might need help with a drw/pdf to import.

    More later.

    L Jett

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    cadjett1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    July 1, 2010

    Started New Project, so I have had little time to work with this, since I have been spending evenings with new work.

    Then after I finally had time to play with PDF download from details page, my vmwares gave me issues.

    So now I am good with time & vmware, I can work on this tool.

    Tasks:

    Java to download PDF or other representation.
    JSP to run java class/method with args.
    actions xmladd for epmdoc detail page or elsewhere.

    Hopefully, I can make good progress & post the download tool, soon.

    Sorry I lapsed on this effort.

    L Jett
    datajett@aol.com,cadjett@aol.com

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    cc-21-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    July 5, 2010


    Hi Steve,

    We do not have the need in our organisation but if we had we would use the system we have in place. It is a third part software called PSW from etrage. Amoung other things it creates pdf outside Windchill of drawings. The creation happens either on demand or at triggered events. In our use we create pdf everytime a production drawing is released. They are saved automatically on a shared folder on a window based server. I imagine your need are slightly different and you do not want to transfer the issue when your users will have to browse hundreds or thousands of pdf. PSW can also be used on the client and each user could have it. Therefore a user could ask his PSW to create pdf on his harddrive of a drawings. PSW can read text file. So you could create the list of drawing you need and ask PSW to read it.

    We are using this piece of software and are very please with it. If you want more information please do not hesitate to ask. It took us some time before finding the right application for us.

    Thanks

    Best regards

    In Reply to Steve Vinyard:

    I have my drawings being published as a PDF by my Pro/e CAD worker. This is fine but in the end my users really need to be able to quickly download or email the PDF. Currently the only way to get the PDF out is to do the following: 1- Go to Drawing Details Page 2- Select "Display Representations List" 3- Click Actions>Save Representation 4- Save Representation out as .zip file to desktop 5- Extract PDF from .zip file and email etc WAY to much work...does anyone know of a more efficient way to do this?
    C
    cadjett1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    August 3, 2010

    Hey Steve (ALL),

    I think I finally have it. At least I have it working for me on my vmware.

    Now the wc dev gurus on ptcuser.org will find issues with how I did it, but they know the system well, so I am open to all comments, suggestions, etc.

    This customization will now allow download of pdf or plt form empdoc details page, along with product/library folder/page.

    So you dont even have to go to the details page. Just 2 clicks for Actions menu of any DRW & you can download PDF or PLT.

    I made it open to PDF or PLT, because some firms might not have PDF putput set up.

    But the jsp is set for PDF & you only need to change the conType string in jsp, from "pdf" to "plt".

    I will attach a zip to this message & include links to zip & readme form my web site.

    I will show full readme in message, so others can search & find this type content for future use.

    Basically, here are the steps:

    1) create repsave folder & copy jsp there
    2) insert/append WVSactionsResource.rbInfo file & run ResourceBuild
    3) edit/insert custom-actions.xml & custom-actionsModels.xml files
    4) copy java/classes to ext folder.

    The downloads are:

    readme: http://www.datajett.com/windchill/wc_dev/saverep/saverep_readme.txt
    zip download: http://www.datajett.com/windchill/wc_dev/saverep/saverep.zip

    Of course stop/start method server, etc.

    There might be a better rbInfo file to inset into.
    There might be a better choice than <actionmodels> & <model name="epmdocuments" details=" page=" actions&quot;=" menufor="wt.epm.EPMDocument">, but all effort was on free time, so the reasearch time was limited.

    But I am very oopen to suggestions, opinions on what is proper or would work better, because thats how I learn & improve.

    If you dont want to post here, just email me @ datajett@aol.com or cadjett@aol.com

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    cadjett1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    August 3, 2010

    The download location is set in jsp to "C:\\TEMP", but that can easily be changed. Up to you on how tomcat recompiles the jsp.

    I might work further & have drop downs for content type options (PDF/PLT) or actually have code read what representation is associated to DRW(PDF/PLT) & download what it finds.

    I might also have text entry field for download location, or have it read a properties file. But its hard to find time, since its after hours & for free...ha..ha

    Larry Jett
    datajett@aol.com, cadajett@aol.com

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