Exporting and printing

When you are ready to share the results, you’ve created in Tetra4D Reviewer, you can export and print. An important feature of Tetra4D Reviewer is the ability to export 3D models to PDF. Users who open the PDF in Acrobat or Reader can collaborate in reviewing the design. For example, you can apply one of the prepared form templates to create a PDF form that other users fill in and return. Or, you can use the Review features in Acrobat to distribute the PDF and collect feedback from team members and clients.

Exporting session

Exporting an assembly

1. Click in application button, and select a filename and location for the exported file.

2. Choose a format in Save As Type.

3. Click Options to open the Read/Write CAD for the selected format, and make changes, as needed.

Exporting only some parts of an assembly

1. Click in Workspace tab, if necessary.

2. Expand the File Tree format for the parts you want to export, and select those parts.

3. Right-click the selection and choose Create New Product.

4. Load, unload, import, delete, and copy-and-paste to include just the parts you want to export, as needed.

5. Click in application button, select a filename, location, format, and format options, as needed.

Exporting to 3D PDF

Acrobat and Reader users can view and manipulate the 3D models that you export to PDF fromTetra4D Reviewer. For example, users can activate a 3D model in those applications. Users can then manipulate the model, such as rotating it, adjusting the lighting, viewing markups, and adding 3D comments. Acrobat and Reader users can also open and expand a view of the hierarchical structure of the model.

Several templates for exporting to PDF are included with Tetra4D Reviewer. Some templates are PDF forms. These forms include various fields that are typically needed for product design review and other manufacturing processes.

In Acrobat, you can also create and save custom templates. These templates are typically based on documents that you prepare in various business applications. For information about creating and using PDF templates and PDF forms, see Tetra4DConverter Help.

Exporting to 3D PDF using a PDF template

1. Click in application button.

2. Choose PDF Files (*.pdf) on the Save As Type menu.

3. Click Options.

4. Under Write Options, click Options.

5. Under Template PDF, select Use Template, and then click the Browse button.

6. Select the provided or custom template that you want to apply.

7. Select any other export options that you want to apply, and then designate a file name and location for the exported PDF. Once you select a template, the choice is used for all subsequent PDF exports. To stop applying the template, you can deselect Use Template. You can reopen the PDF Export Options either during another export or by opening the Read/Write CAD preferences for PDFs and clicking Options.

PDF templates provided in Tetra4D Reviewer

The available PDF templates for Tetra4D Reviewer are:

• 3DTemplate_Tetra4D_ACR Opens the model as a form with all the elements in a3drtemplate_02 plus boxes for Comments, Configurations, Functions, Results, and Details. Created and editable with Acrobat X Pro forms features.

• 3DTemplate_Tetra4D_LC Identical to a3drtemplate_03, but created and editable with LiveCycle® Designer ES2. The LiveCycle Designer application is installed with 3D PDF Converter Premium and Acrobat X Pro. The PDF templates for Tetra4D Reviewer can be found in the 3DPDFConvertertemplates folder that is installed in the plug-ins folder with Acrobat

Exporting an animation to AVI

1. In the Model Tree, apply and expand the configuration with the animation.

2. Click in DOCUMENTATION tab.

3. Adjust the playing options for the animation.

Note: Exporting with Auto Pause selected creates a separate AVI file for each action. The AVI filenames include a number corresponding to the action. Exporting ignores the Repeat Simulation setting.

4. Click Save AVI , select a location and filename, and click Save.

5. In the Video Compression dialog box, select Compressor and Compression Quality Settings. If appropriate, click Configure and select settings for your compressor utility.

Printing

You can print the current view in the document pane on a color printer or black ink printer. The printed image includes all visible entities, including balloons, dimensions, markups, and axes for the coordinates systems. The Printer Setup Preferences determine the text, alignment, and font options for the header and footer for the pages. The same Preferences tab contains an Options link to additional settings for scale, grids, and other advanced features. You can print two images in two ways: raster (pixelated) and vector. Raster images show parts as they appear in the document pane. For example, if Solid is selected, then the printed image includes shadings and surfaces. Vector images ignore shadings and print only edges, wireframes, markups, and dimensions. Printing involves the standard dialog boxes and options that are common to most Windows applications. For simple print jobs, the only difference is the presence of Scale options in the lower left corner of those dialog boxes.

Set the scale for a print job

You can include or exclude the background color and the View CS indicator in the printed image.

1. Click in application button and then button or button and then.

2. Select Scale and the amount of scaling that you want to apply:

   • Scale value Choose a scale coefficient, or type to enter a decimal number.

   • Automatic Scale Calculates the scaling for you so that the image fits on one sheet of the selected paper size.

Note: You can set the scale value and advanced Scale features in Preferences. Use the Options button on the Printer Setup tab to see these settings. Scale values that you change in the Preferences, Print, or Print Setup dialog boxes update all three places.

Define headers and footers for print jobs

Printed documents can include a header, a footer, or both. A header or footer can contain multiple items of typed and automatic entries.

1. Button in WORKSPACE tab, and select Printer Setup.

2. Select Header, and type to add text.

3. Select an Align option for the header to set the horizontal position.

4. In Add Option, choose an automatic entry for the header, if appropriate:

   • File Name Adds the name of the read file.

   • User Name Adds the name you registered when you installed Tetra4D Reviewer.

   • Printing Date Adds the current date when you print the document.

   • Scale Adds a note about the scale setting.

5. Select Footer, and specify the text, alignment, and any of the automatic entries, as needed.

6. Select options in the Font area or click Select to set these options in the Font dialog box. The header and footer Preferences apply to future print jobs until you change them.

Print multiple views on pages

You can print several views of the components on the same page.

1. Click in WORKSPACE tab, select the Printer Setup tab.

2. Select Options, choose frame and sheets options under Multiple Views, and close the Preferences.

3. Click in DESIGN REVIEW tab.

4. Change the orientation, zoom, and visibility settings for each segment of the document pane, as needed.

5. Start printing:

• Click in application button and click and then .

• Click in application button and then click to print without preview

The Preferences apply to future print jobs until you change them. If you drag the borders to collapse view panes, collapsed panes aren’t printed. Dragging the borders to resize the view panes has no effect on the printed views.

Showing the grid on printed pages

Set up the printer for raster or vector printing

1. Click in application button and then click .

2. Set the Scale option:

   • To print raster images, deselect Scale.

   • To print vector images, select Scale.

Set options for printing grids

After you set up the printer for raster or vector printing, you can include the grid in the printed images. Some advanced options are available for vector images.

1. Button in VISUALIZATION tab.

Note: For raster printing, no further steps are necessary. For vector printing, you can continue to set advanced options.

2. Button in WORKSPACE tab, and select the Printer Setup tab.

3. Click Options.

4. If necessary, select Scale, and then select grid options:

   • Select one or more Step On [axis] options, to specify which axes you want to print.

   • Set values for the grids along each selected axis.

   • Select Extend To View to print the grid over the entire page. Or, leave it deselected to print the grid only over the area that contains parts.

5. Click OK to apply and close the Preferences.

6. Choose File > Print Preview to make sure that the grid appears the way you want it to.

   • If you are satisfied with the appearance of the grid, click Print.

   • If you want to change the grid settings, click Cancel, and go back to the Grid preferences and select different settings. Note: Preferences apply to future print jobs until you change them. If the grid is hidden at the time of printing, it doesn’t print.