Using winxp pro, pent.4. Inkscape 0.46.
I have a simple task of drawing over an image imported as a .pdf. It is a city map and I am adding boundary lines and text.
The file is now about 4 megs and will not print on any device I own. I routinely print to an HP 9800 and HP DesignJet 430 large architectural and engineering drawings. Is there a size limit? Could the .pdf be imported differently to reduce size?
Any ideas?

Do you mean that the Inkscape SVG file is 4 MB? Or do you mean that you saved it as a PDF, and the PDF is 4 MB?

Also, how big is the original PDF file?

I think we need a little more information. How are you importing? How are you exporting? Are you embedding the PDF in the SVG? Can you print the original image?

Okay, I tried to retrace my steps....I opened an adobe illustrator (ai) file. The file was created with a pdf embeded in it ( a city map) the file as an .ai file was 7,522Kb. After working on it in inkscape, I saved as a .svg and the size is now 4,875Kb. I tried to print also to a pdf print utility that I routinely use to print autocad files. pdf995. The pdf printing seemed to work, however the file is 0Kb in size and you guessed it a blank page.

It sounds like it might be a bug but you'll need to share the document online so it can be tested.

As a workaround, try save the Inkscape document as a PDF (Save As) then print the PDF instead.

Muchas gracias!
The work around was a reasonable solution. Now I can move on with life. I wish I was using Inkscape for something more creative than a drafting job.