C# & VB.NET Code Samples for Exporting AutoCAD DXF Drawing to PDF

This Technical tip explains how .NET developers can export DXF Drawings to PDF using Aspose.Imaging for .NET. Aspose.Imaging includes a feature for reading AutoCAD DXF drawing entities and rendering them as an entire drawing into PDF format. It is possible to customize the conversion process to achieve specific results. We have introduced a new Cad class in the Aspose.Imaging.FileFormats namespace. The Cad class is a family of AutoCAD drawings and since they all share similar schemes, it was decided to adopt a similar object model for the AutoCAD drawings family. To accomplish DXF to PDF export, a new class, PdfOptions, has been introduced to the Aspose.Imaging.ImageOptions namespace.
This approach works as follows:

• Open DXF drawing file using the Aspose.Imaging.Image.Load factory method.
• Export it to PDF using the Image.Save(<stream/file>, <PdfOptions instance>) method.

The programming sample below shows how to DXF Drawings to PDF file using default settings.
 [C# Code Sample]

using Aspose.Imaging.FileFormats.Cad;
using Aspose.Imaging.ImageOptions;

namespace DxfExamples
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Represents test examples for DXF -> PDF export
    /// </summary>
    public class DxfExamples
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Default export.
        /// </summary>
        public void DefaultExport()
        {
            // Name of the file
            string filename = "Drawing1.dxf";

            // Load an image
            using (Aspose.Imaging.Image image = Aspose.Imaging.Image.Load(filename))
            {
                // Create options
                PdfOptions pdfOptions = new PdfOptions();

                // Set output file size
                pdfOptions.PageWidth = 800;
                pdfOptions.PageHeight = 600;

                // Export
                image.Save(filename + ".pdf", pdfOptions);
            }
        }
    }
}

[VB.NET Code Sample]

Imports Aspose.Imaging.FileFormats.Cad
Imports Aspose.Imaging.ImageOptions

Namespace DxfExamples
        ''' <summary>
        ''' Represents test examples for DXF -> PDF export
        ''' </summary>
        Public Class DxfExamples
            ''' <summary>
            ''' Default export.
            ''' </summary>
            Public Sub DefaultExport()
                ' Name of the file
                Dim filename As String = "Drawing1.dxf"

                ' Load an image
                Using image As Aspose.Imaging.Image = Aspose.Imaging.Image.Load(filename)
                    ' Create options
                    Dim pdfOptions As New PdfOptions()

                    ' Set output file size
                    pdfOptions.PageWidth = 800
                    pdfOptions.PageHeight = 600

                    ' Export
                    image.Save(filename & Convert.ToString(".pdf"), pdfOptions)
                End Using
            End Sub
        End Class
    End Namespace

Setting the Image Size
Export from DXF to PDF is not a trivial task and since the PDF image requires the canvas size to be defined, we need to specify the output dimensions for the PDF image to render properly. Set the PdfOptions.PageWidth and PdfOptions.PageHeight properties explicitly, or you may get an ImageSaveException.
[C# Code Sample]

//The code sample below shows the auto-scaling option in use.
using Aspose.Imaging.FileFormats.Cad;
using Aspose.Imaging.ImageOptions;

namespace DxfExamples
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Represents test examples for DXF -> PDF export
    /// </summary>
    public class DxfExamples
    {
/// <summary>
        /// Export with automatical up-scaling.
        /// </summary>
        public void ExportAutoUpScale()
        {
            // Name of the file
            string filename = "Drawing2.dxf";

            // Load an image
            using (Aspose.Imaging.Image image = Aspose.Imaging.Image.Load(filename))
            {
                // Create options
                PdfOptions pdfOptions = new PdfOptions();

                // Set output file size
                pdfOptions.PageWidth = 850;
                pdfOptions.PageHeight = 600;

                // Allow upscaling
                pdfOptions.ScaleMethod = ScaleType.GrowToFit;

                // Export
                image.Save(filename + "_UpScale.pdf", pdfOptions);
            }
        }
    }
}

[VB.NET Code Sample]

Imports Aspose.Imaging.FileFormats.Cad
Imports Aspose.Imaging.ImageOptions

Namespace DxfExamples
        ''' <summary>
        ''' Represents test examples for DXF -> PDF export
        ''' </summary>
        Public Class DxfExamples
               ''' <summary>
               ''' Export with automatical up-scaling.
               ''' </summary>
               Public Sub ExportAutoUpScale()
                       ' Name of the file
                       Dim filename As String = "Drawing2.dxf"

                       ' Load an image
                       Using image As Aspose.Imaging.Image = Aspose.Imaging.Image.Load(filename)
                               ' Create options
                               Dim pdfOptions As New PdfOptions()

                               ' Set output file size
                               pdfOptions.PageWidth = 850
                               pdfOptions.PageHeight = 600

                               ' Allow upscaling
                               pdfOptions.ScaleMethod = ScaleType.GrowToFit

                               ' Export
                               image.Save(filename & Convert.ToString("_UpScale.pdf"), pdfOptions)
                       End Using
               End Sub
        End Class
End Namespace

Overview: Aspose.Imaging for .NET

Aspose.Imaging for .NET is an image processing & manipulation component that allows developers to create, edit, draw or convert images in their .NET application. It allows developers to convert image files to PSD, BMP, JPEG, PNG, TIFF and GIF formats. Moreover a set of pens, brushes and fonts can be used to draw images or add new elements & text to existing images. Aspose.Imaging for .NET works well with both web & windows applications. Moreover, it adds the support for Silverlight platform.

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