Transfered from EAP Ideas list
Could we have vector format pdf references in addition to raster format ones, please?
https://communities.bentley.com/products/microstation/f/273/t/87712.aspx
Would be great to have this. ACAD, Vectorworks.... already can import pdfs that you can snap to.
Pdfs already have layers etc. A lot of times it a lot quicker to be able to reference stuff and draw over the Ref .... PDF schema ?
Pdf info is far more prevalent / available than CAD info. We often find that we can only get pdf info of details or other manufacturer drawings, and have to work with that during the early design stages or under the usual 'last-minute.com' situations.
The next step would be to reference a 3d pdf with all the 2d drawings 'infused' correctly in 3d space. I suppose you would only get this from another Bentley user using Hypermodeling, at the moment. But, I imagine a lot of manufacturers will use JT and PMI which also 'infuses' 2d information into 3d models. And eventually, IFC will also follow suite... whenever it gets around to it.
The Ref Dialog box would have the 3d pdf model at nest depth 0, all floor plans, elevations, sections at nest depth 1, all detail refs would be at nest depth 2 etc.
The default pdf 'presentation' would be raster for speed. When the user needs to snap or otherwise needs the 'vector nature' or the pdf, he just flips the presentation mode to vector.
Maybe Bentley's point cloud / STM tech could help by generating a point cloud for the vertices accoding to the pdf's stroke tolerances...? Point clouds are snappable, which is pretty amazing.