HOW to get AutoCAD to plot automatically? 3

[11echo]

OK, I admit it; I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer with AutoCAD from Rev.14 on! PROBLEM ...I've been given 5 files with about 200 to 500 AutoCAD dwg. per file. These are client "standard dwg.s" and I'm to open them up and plot them out so we can review and generate a book of standards for our designers. I've gone thru the 2 files now (smaller ones) and it's been pretty painful! SO my question is, ...IS there away to tell AutoCAD to plot these dwg. files out, using the same plotter, sheet sizes, and plotting style? WITHOUT having to do this one by one!??

 

[PMR06]

Google "batch plot dwg", and you will find a number of utilities for doing what you describe. They might cost you $50 or so, but will save you more than that in billable time.

Or, if you are programming savvy, you could write a script file (.scr) containing the commands to open, plot and close the individual files.

Good luck!

 

[ohiocad]

Just a couple questions to clarify:

Are they zip files that have 200 .dwg files in them, or are there 200 details in one .dwg file? If they're in one dwg file, are they on paperspace tabs, or strictly in modelspace?

Which version of acad are you running now?

If they're in individual dwg files, you can build a page setup and use the publish command to send them to the printer all at once.

If they're a bunch of details in one dwg file, but each on a separate tab, then you can still publish. If they're all in model space, I can't see any easy way but plotting by window, one at a time. Others here might have a better idea if that's the case.

 

[ctopher]

Maybe this can work?

http://www.print-conductor.com/download_pc.htm

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)

 

[11echo]

They are basic dwg.s (not Zip files) with everything in model space(no tabs set up). I'm running Acad 2005 now.

 

[PMR06]

All in model space?! That sucks then!

Here's the macro text from a plot button I created and use to plot from model space. You could create a custom button and try using the code:

*-plot;y;Model;[PLOTTER];[SIZE];;[ORIENTATION];n;w;\\f;c;;[CTB];y;n;n;y;n;preview;

If you replace [PLOTTER] with the name of your plotter, [SIZE] with the paper size, [ORIENTATION] with portrait or landscape, and [CTB] with the name of your ctb, it may work? (Remove the brackets) The double backslash is user input, and the asteric at the start loops the macro over and over. If it works, you would just click a bunch of boxes around each detail in model space and it would kick out to your plotter. (BTW, I am using LT 06)

 

[11echo]

PMR06 ..."OK, I admit it; I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer with AutoCAD from Rev.14 on!" ...PMR06 I appreciate the effort, BUT your suggestion is WAY over my head!

ctopher ...SIR you have saved my bacon here! That print-conductor download worked like a charm!! Many THX!!!

 

[ctopher]

Anytime.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)

 

[COEngineeer]

I would test drive it to print on PDF first. It is better to have the PDF anyway for future prints.

As long as all the drawings are not messy (no foreign object far from the drawing)you should be able to do it without plot window. You need to zoom to extent, then set it to print at the scale you want. I dont think the script will be too complicated. Good luck!

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

 

[chicopee]

Isn't the sharpest tool in the shed?

 

[11echo]

...Actually I thought it was "sharpest pencil in the cup"! ...But that sounded too whimpy! *G*

 

[cfee]

PMRO6
Your approach is exactly the one I use.

11ECHO-
Its really much simpler than it appears:

Start here-
1. run the plot command without a dialog box:
-plot
WRITE DOWN EVERY command prompt, and your CORRECT response. This'll take a bit of experimenting, but the result is worth it. Along the way, you'll get ONE plot that's useable and correct. (I usually try to plot-extents to fit, but that's a different topic...)

1 plot down, a couple more to go...

2. Open up NOTEPAD and type in what you think is a CORRECT script line, based on what you wrote down as you de-bugged the command-line approach to running the plot, earlier. You would then paste this script line back to the ACAD command prompt. BE careful- as careful as you can: learn about scripting in the process. Paste the line into ACAD, at the command prompt. Debug it until it runs right. Use PMR06's post as the rosetta-atone clue you'll need to succeeed.

Eventually you'll get a good run.

2 down- you're approaching success, and have 2 good plots to use, in the process. YOUR LEARNING TIME IS THUS BILLABLE !

3. Open the 3rd drawing. Run the script as-is. If you get a good run right away, SUCCESS ! Repeat this step with another dwg. Repeat as often as you'd like, until you decide to

learn how to take the script you wrote in notepad, and embed it into a button. I created an "auto-plot" button right next to my plot button, and whenever I want a plot-extents-to-fit model-space auto-plot, I have it. I then created an auto-plot in paperspaace (tab) button, and now I'm covered. I now pay some attention to various standard plot settings as I vary them and set them to keep, in the regular plot dialog, so that those variations work too, at subsequent auto-plots. I Like color-based ctb color/line-weight control. Personal preference.

The point- PMR06's approach is a good one, and mastering it will have some peripheral benefits that you might not have originally expected. Another Side Benefit- as you become familiar with buttons, internal and external scripting, and move into LISP and VBA, you'll see that the real requirement for becomeing a sharper knife in that drawer is some patience, a little commitment to mastering your craft, and some creativity. Yes we make drawings for a living, but its a heck of a way to earn a living !

Good luck-

C. Fee