How to use SolidWorks Task Scheduler to create PDFs - Part II

In my last post, I discussed how to create PDFs automatically through SolidWorks Task Scheduler using the print function.  This post discusses how to use the export functionality to create PDFs.  A potentially significant advantage of this method over the first method is that you are using Adobe Acrobat's version of the PDF generator without having to purchase Adobe Acrobat.  Also, the generated PDF provides the following options:

• Export PDF in color
• Embed fonts
• High quality
• Print header / footer
• Use specified printer line weights

In order to export the documents, please do the following:

• Open up SolidWorks Task Scheduler.
• Select Export Files.  The Export Files dialog box comes up.
• Select Adobe Portable Document Format (*.pdf) under Export file type
• Select the files or folders. 

Please note that SolidWorks Task Scheduler only exports SolidWorks drawings to PDFs.  You cannot create PDFs of SolidWorks models automatically through this method.

Also, make sure that you go into the Advanced Options and indicate a task working folder and ensure that you're running this task from a SolidWorks seat.

Comments

[Adam the Grouch]

There's a significant limitation to this method. Task Scheduler does not follow shortcuts. IOW, if you have a project, but some of the component files and their associated drawings were first created in another project and are represented with the shortcut icon in the current project, Task Scheduler will NOT follow that link and it will NOT print those files to pdf, and you will NOT get a complete copy of all project drawings in pdf form.