Linking PDF documents with automatic changes

[MrJFK530]

Hi all,

I work for an engineering company and I am tasked with finding a way to solve a filing issue we are having.  From our design program, we export PDF drawings for both parts and assemblies (a collection of parts).  Parts can be used in multiple assemblies.  My manager would like to have the assembly drawing with the respective part drawings behind it in the same PDF file.  It is difficult for us to keep track of all of the assemblies that a particular part can be used in, and I need the part drawing to update automatically in all of the assembly drawings when I update the primary document. We would also like to use this same process to update groups of part PDF drawing "binders."

From reading around on Adobe's website, it seems like OLE is what I am looking for.  However, it doesn't seem like I can use reader program as it's own container application.  I'm pretty lost right now, to be honest.  If someone knows how I should go about this, your advice would be much appreciated.

-Jeremy K.

[Test Screen Name · Accepted solution]

No, there is no solution to this within PDF, and OLE is completely unrelated to this. There is no late binding or automatic update of PDFs. What you need is a document repository and database, used to keep a record of every document and where it is combined with others. Then you can use this to drive the automated assembly of documents (probably using a non-Adobe product, Acrobat not at all suitable). This could happen overnight every night or on demand.