Batch Plotting in ACAD 2004 1

[AbelGus]

I lay out all of my production drawings in paper space and line up the layouts in order I want them to print,naming the model tabs by the Mark # of each part. Then I plot,"all model tabs" and the drawings come out in some absurd and useless order - 30 to 40 sheets of scrambled pages. In desperation I have resorted to naming the tabs by number - following an absurd numbering system (1 thru 40 does not work - all numbers that begin in 1 are plotted first). Is there a way to get the drawings to plot in the order they are arranged? I do not like labeling the tabs with numbers - our mark system uses letters and numbers associated with the part so we know what drawing is behind each tab. Col-1 PL-1 gus-1, etc. Would hate to give this up as it is very efficient when going back to look for a part - especally when talking to a fabricator or client who may be half a world away.

Working in AutoCad 2004 in Windows XP Professional
All drivers are correct and up to date. Problem occurs on all sorts of printers and plotters.

TNX
Abelgus

 

[TCARPENTER1]

Hi AbelGus,

Plot optimization is a bit of a black art, and I'm not sure how AutoCAD goes about assigning "who's first" - your best bet may be just to use either a script program to plot with or even cook up your own batch plot program in your favorite programming language. It's been a while but you may see if you can still download a batch plot routine from Autodesk or their script pro porgram - either one may help get you what you need.

HTH
Todd

 

[IFRs]

Try numbering using 01, 02, 03...
Try the publish command?
Try using Sheet Sets?

 

[ACtrafficengr]

I also use ACAD 04, and I've noticed that it plots in alphabetical order. Given layouts PL-1 through PL-32, it will plot PL-1, PL-10 through 19, PL-2, PL 20 through 29, pl-3, etc. Try naming them alphabetically instead of numerically.

I'd rather have it plot by tab order, but I haven't figured out how to do that.

"...students of traffic are beginning to realize the false economy of mechanically controlled traffic, and hand work by trained officers will again prevail." - Wm. Phelps Eno, ca. 1928

"I'm searching for the questions, so my answers will make sense." - Stephen Brust