VCmaster exports the data in the following formats:
- Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf)
- Microsoft Word (*.doc)
- Rich Text File (*.rtf)
- ASCII-Text (*.txt)
Please note that calculating intelligence is lost with exporting the file. Saving in VCmaster format is mandatory.
We recommend using PDF format for forwarding calculations to third parties.
General PDF options
Digital data exchange between companies and their partners places challenging demands on data security and portability of PDF files.
VCmaster offers high-performance PDF export with optimization and security options:
- Embedding of author and comments,
- different quality levels,
- password for opening and
- further security options.
Optionally, PDF/A compatibility can be selected (standardized file formats 1b, 2b or 3b according to ISO standard).
Advanced PDF settings
Six predefined profiles are managed. The following specifications can be defined for each profile:
- PDF resolution
- JPEG quality
- Compression method
- Various formatting options
- Handling of large graphics
The preconfigured profiles have been tested intensively and should be sufficient in most cases. Changes should only be made if necessary and after studying the technical background (see below). Resetting to the delivery state is possible.
Introduction
PDF files are the foundation of today's data exchange. As simple as the use of this format may be, what lies behind this technology is much more complex. PDF data that appears to be the same on the surface can contain completely different data. Fundamental differences are, for example:
- Is the data in vector or pixel format?
- In which resolution was the data embedded?
- Which compression method was used?
- Which fonts are included and how should they be rendered?
- What rendering method was used?
These questions significantly influence the quality, memory requirements and content of a PDF file.
What solution does VCmaster offer?
From the previous mentioned aspects it can be seen that the programmer has numerous functions with hundreds of options at his disposal for the output of a PDF.
The fact that the optimum setting for complex VCmaster documents changes from page to page presents a further challenge.
The following technologies were implemented to solve these difficulties:
- Compression method Flate or JPEG2000 in three levels.
- Export as vector or pixel graphics
- Selectable PDF and graphic quality in dpi
- Stepwise configurable optimization options
- Various parameters for control
VCmaster combines various settings for each page to determine the optimal output depending on the specifications of the selected profile. The preconfigured profiles have been determined in hundreds of tests and offer the user a suitable preselection.
Settings for resolutions and compression
The following specifications can be set:
- PDF resolution: Resolution of the final PDF file in dpi.
- JPEG quality: Quality of pixel graphics (30%-100%). Lower values reduce memory requirements.
- Grafik resolution: Resolution of converted graphics (see also optimization).
- Compression: Normal is recommended. Options are memory or time optimization.
Optimization
The following methods can be selected:
- Never: No optimization of large graphics. This is the fastest method for documents containing graphics that do not require a lot of memory. When outputting in PDF/A format, this option can be set to prevent JPEG2000 compression. The compression method is always
Flate.
- Automatic/Convert to pixel: Each page above the threshold value, will be converted to a bitmap with the specified graphic resolution. If this requires less memory, the
page will be imported as a pixel graphic with
JPEG2000 compression. Otherwise, the page is included as a vector graphic (Flat compression), taking the graphic resolution into account.
- Automatic/memory-optimized (recommended): Each page above the threshold value is compressed in JPEG2000 format. If the
page requires less memory, it will be imported in JPEG2000 format. Otherwise, the page is imported as a vector graphic (Flat compression). The specified graphic resolution applies to both cases.
- Always convert to pixels: Every page above the threshold is converted to a bitmap with the specified graphic resolution and included as a pixel graphic, taking into account the graphic resolution.
- Always with alternative rendering: Every page above the threshold is generated with the specified graphic resolution, rendered as a pixel graphic and then added to the document.
- Control by automatic: Set the threshold value that should trigger the optimization. The lower the threshold, the more pages will be optimized and the PDF export will be slowed down. The levels are: Maximum=1MB, Often=2MB,
Well-Balanced=3MB, Rarely=5MB, Minimum=10MB (values per page).
Options
The following methods can be selected:
- Scale / Thick lines: If set, all coordinates are scaled to the size of the output window. Scaling avoids lines that are too thin and floating point overflows in the PDF viewer for large CAD drawings. Default=Off.
- Use PDF hatch patterns: If set, standard PDF hatch patterns will not be applied. Default=On.
- Disable rasterized EMF: If set, graphics are no longer rasterized into an image which combines both background and foreground colors. This usually has no effect and saves memory. In case another object has been drawn in the background of a graphic, black areas may appear. Then this option should be disabled. Default=On.
- Scale texts: If set, the spacing between letters of texts will be scaled. In some applications irregular arrangements or overlaps occur. In this case, the function should be disabled (default=On).
- Screen fonts: If set, texts are specially scaled. This leads to more readable results with extremely small fonts. However, text scaling cannot always be used and the layout will change (default=Off).
We have taken great care to reduce the PDF options to a minimum, creating practical templates. Due to the complexity, the different content included in VCmaster and the different ways of working among users, these settings became necessary.
With VCmaster it is possible to export all program and user settings to another computer.
The software generates a configuration file, which can be transferred to a different computer. The user has the option of selecting the settings to be transferred.
