Creating Searchable PDF's

 
Creating PDF files from AutoCAD that allow text searching throughout the entire document and at the highest level of compression, requires the use of True Type Fonts (TTF). A PDF file with searchable text allows the user to quickly search the entire drawing(s) by any keyword or value.
 
There are some conditions that must be met to ensure proper conversion to PDF.
 
  • Any True Type Font can be used.  AutoCAD TXT or SHX fonts are graphical fonts and do not get converted as text in AutoCAD's plot output.
  • The properties of the TTF or text style used in AutoCAD must be set to the following:
  • The width factor must be 1.0. Modifying the width value in AutoCAD will prevent the TTF from converting as text to PDF.
  • The oblique angle within the style must be set to 0.0. Modifying the oblique angle in AutoCAD will prevent the TTF from converting as text to PDF.
  • Custom fonts may be used as long as they are a TTF that installs as a Windows font. See using True Type Fonts in AutoCAD.