How to Print ARCH D PDFs from Revit When Acrobat Fails
Question details
The user needs to print ARCH D-size PDFs from Autodesk Revit but is encountering failures when using Adobe Acrobat 2017.
- Product
- Autodesk Revit and Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to export or print large architectural drawings to an ARCH D-size PDF format.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Acrobat 2017 fails to process or print the ARCH D-size PDFs due to known compatibility issues with recent Revit versions.
Verify that you have the latest updates installed for Autodesk Revit, and check if the ARCH D paper size (24 x 36 inches) is available in your system's printer properties.
Use Microsoft Print to PDF as a Workaround
Since Adobe Acrobat has known compatibility issues with certain Revit versions, using the built-in Windows Microsoft Print to PDF feature provides a reliable alternative for generating your architectural PDFs.
Microsoft Print to PDF is native to modern Windows systems and often bypasses the third-party driver conflicts experienced with Adobe Acrobat.
Open your architectural project in Autodesk Revit and navigate to 'File' > 'Print'.
In the Print dialog box, click on the 'Name' drop-down list under the Printer section and select 'Microsoft Print to PDF'.
Click the 'Setup' button, locate the 'Size' drop-down menu under Paper, and select 'ARCH D'.
Adjust your zoom, print range, and orientation settings as necessary, then click 'OK' to generate and save your PDF file.
Contact Autodesk Technical Support
If your workflow strict requires Adobe Acrobat and the native Windows PDF printer is insufficient, reaching out to Autodesk Support is the best way to get a product-specific fix.
Manage and Annotate Your Architectural PDFs with WPS Office
While Revit and Acrobat may experience driver conflicts, you can easily view, edit, and manage your exported ARCH D PDFs using WPS Office. It serves as a lightweight, free, and highly compatible Office alternative equipped with robust PDF tools.
- 1. Download and install: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your computer.
- 2. Open the PDF editor: Launch WPS Office and navigate to the 'PDF' tab on the home screen.
- 3. Import and manage: Click 'Open PDF' to select your successfully exported ARCH D files, allowing you to view, highlight, and add comments seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat fail to print ARCH D sizes from Revit?
This is a recognized compatibility issue between specific versions of Autodesk Revit and Adobe Acrobat 2017. The Adobe PDF driver struggles to process the precise dimensions of ARCH D (24 x 36 inches) directly through Revit's print engine.
Can I add a custom ARCH D paper size to Microsoft Print to PDF?
Yes. If ARCH D is not available by default in Microsoft Print to PDF, you can add custom paper sizes through the Windows Print Server Properties by defining a new form with 24 x 36 inches dimensions.
Are there other PDF printers that work well with Revit for architectural sizes?
Yes. Many architectural professionals successfully use alternative virtual PDF printers like Bluebeam Revu, CutePDF, or PDF24 when Adobe Acrobat encounters issues with large sheet sizes.
