Create a PDF in Pythagoras

Pythagoras has a built-in function to export one or more sheets directly to PDF. The PDF contains the visible layers and objects on the selected sheet. In Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can turn the included PDF layers on or off afterwards.

You can print to PDF when a PDF printer is available on your computer. For information about selecting a printer and paper size, see How to choose a printer and paper size?

Before creating a PDF, make sure the drawing is positioned, scaled, and oriented correctly on the plan sheet.
See Positioning a drawing on a sheet for detailed instructions.

Create a PDF

1. Open File > Print to PDF….

2. On the Print tab, select the sheets you want to include. Use Select All Sheets to select them all.

3. Check the Paper and Default View settings.

4. Choose how to save the PDF:

   • Select Separate Files to create a separate PDF file for each sheet.

   • Leave this option unchecked to create one PDF with multiple pages.

5. If necessary, adjust the settings on the other tabs or under Print Options….

6. Click OK and choose where to save the PDF.

When creating separate files, the suggested file name combines the drawing name with the sheet name:

[drawing name] - [sheet name]

For example, the drawing Survey.pyt, with sheets named Overview and Detail, produces:

• Survey - Overview.pdf

• Survey - Detail.pdf

Tip: create a black-and-white version

Use Print Options… > Color → Black.

Pythagoras generates a vector PDF: lines, polygons, contours and text remain vector elements if they are vector elements in the drawing. Only raster elements, such as bitmap images or certain DTM fills, are embedded as images.

This keeps the vector content sharp when zooming or printing.

Pythagoras only creates PDF layers for elements that are visible on the sheet. Hidden elements are not included in the PDF.

What does the PDF contain?

The PDF contains the visible content of the selected sheet. In Adobe Acrobat Reader, this is organised into:

• Layers: the content of the drawing layers

• Page: the sheet’s page elements

• Terrain models: the included terrain models

You can turn these sections on or off individually in the Layers panel of a PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is useful for customers who want to hide certain information layers.

File > Print to PDF… uses the built-in PDF function, even if the sheet is assigned to a physical printer.