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create layers within Acrobat

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2008-05-02 16:34:40
lucaso
Registered: Feb 5 2008
Posts: 49
Answered

can i create layers (OCG's) and place content in them?
due to different limitations in the PDFMaker for AutoCAD exporting to PDF is a crippled option. I'd rather create several PDF's from the same layout with different layer-settings. These pdf's I would like to merge, not one after an other, but all in the same page: Layers would be the answer. Once made I could then juggle around with the visibility. I could use createWatermarkfromFile("layers1.pdf"), but that would be just one.

DL-ed "Layers.js", but is it strictly 3D?

although pushing towards senior age, still want to keep up the pace

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 7.0.5, Windows
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2008-05-03 09:00:33
#1
thomp
Expert
Registered: Feb 15 2006
Posts: 4411
If you use "createWatermarkfromFile", you need to rename the layer immediately after it's created so that it can be handled separately, and so that the function can be used again. It would be easy enough to write an automation script for building your document from several layers using this technique. Here's an article that lays it all out:

http://www.acrobatusers.com/tech_corners/javascript_corner/tips/2006/create_use_layers/

There are also a couple of 3rd party tools for creating OCGs from existing page content. "Stratify" from www.artspdf.com and "PDFLayerMaker" from www.callassoftware.com. Both products are a bit elusive to find on the web and might have been discontinued or merged into other tools. PDFLayerMaker is still listed on the Tools4Media website, but not on the Callas site.

Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
www.pdfscripting.com
Very Important - How to Debug Your Script

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2008-05-03 10:12:08
#2
lucaso
Registered: Feb 5 2008
Posts: 49
Thank you, Thomp, for your quick reply and most useful link. I did have the right hunch, seems like it. I'll have a go at it... The combination PDF-Javascript gets more and more interesting, so far I got everything working.

although pushing towards senior age, still want to keep up the pace

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