I'm new to inkscape, but I'm trying to convert a PDF to DXF so I can import it into SketchUp. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't. Below is what I'm dealing with:
I've done some experimenting. I have two PDF's - one is 661 KB and the other is 598 KB
When I go into Inkscape with the 661 KB file it converts to a dxf that jumps to a
file size of 15,511 KB
But when I do the exact same procedure with the other PDF (the one I need) it becomes a dxf of only 5 KB
???????
Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Hard to say, without some example files... maybe you could link some or attach them to a post here.

Ok, so I go to attach the file and it tells me it's too big (661 KB). So I zip it. Now it's 596 KB. Still says it's too big.

What am I missing? Thanks for your help!

I think I may have deleted my earlier reply. Anyway, I went to attach the file and it said it was too big (661 KB). So I zipped it to 596 KB. Still too big.

I'm not sure what to do next. I'm newer to Inkscape than I thought!
Thanks for any and all help!

I suggest using a service like dropbox or google-drive... both are good about NOT hiding pop-under windows and adverts.

e.g.: https://dl.dropbox.com/s/b5kd73uplj9qlw ... -06-53.gif

This is a link to one of the PDF's I'm trying to convert to a DXF in Inkscape. It always comes out as being only 5 KB.
I can really use some help here - thanks!!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5gmw ... GU5VmhwYm8

Looks like you just have some big bitmap images in that document. Conversion to DXF is more for vectors.

You could autotrace the whole thing, but I don't think you want all the info in the page, just some parts. (Or do you?)

I use SketchUp Pro 2016. I looked at designspark mechanical and it doesn't import PDF files or DXF - only exports them. I do need to trace everything as exchange the files with architects and engineers. I don't know how to auto-trace everything. I may end up buying a Mac as their OS allows importing PDF's into SketchUp, but I would rather not. Will auto-tracing everything do the trick? Thanks for your help.

Raster images don't contain any scaleable data that can be modelled as per se, thus the need of the auto-tracing.

Blender can import svg files where those traced paths/vector contents are pulled in as curve objects. Also it can export to .3ds and .obj formats.
And can generate 3D from raster images used as bump maps by a modifier, although that's for a different use.

Problem solved - I bought a Mac.
Thanks for your help out there!

Ben, the next Inkscape version will most probably not be available for OS X. You'll need to use both computers then.
You can still give it back... I'm sure there are other options. Unless, of course, you're intent to have a fast, but expensive solution. Autotracing is actually easy to do...

This won't solve anything because the input pdf is just a container for an image. He won't be able to import it into sketchup.