#$%^! - plotter driver scale factors

Hope the header got your attention. Now maybe I can get an answer. Sorry
about the repost.
Post 1:
Want to plot bunch of layouts created for full scale plots on HP5100tn check
plotter. Selected layouts, made changes to configuration of HP5100 driver
(scale to fit 11x17, tabloid, landscape), saved to pc3 file, selected that
pc3 file. Plots on correct paper, landscape, but ignores driver scale
settings. How do I fix without creating dedicated layouts or plotting each
layout singly?
Post 2:
OK, it appears plotter driver scale factors don't work: you can only scale
in ACAD, and only if you plot by extents. So how do I save the changes to
the pc3 file to include those ACAD settings, and not just Windows driver
settings? And WHY don't HP driver settings work if ACAD is using a system
printer driver?

 

Ok, I know ACAD is a vector program, but it's rasterizing its data to print
if it's using a Windows driver, so why CAN'T it utilize driver settings?

I'm trying to avoid unnecessary layouts and the strain on resources that
those extra Pspace windows would cause. Unless you're saying you can
dynamically recall saved layouts without affecting the current layout, or
having to reset it, or import it. I'll check that out.

I know, but frankly, I feel ADesk often comes back to that to avoid doing
the work themselves. I fail to see why, for a program as expensive as ADT, I
can't simply print all the tabs without creating excess layouts or doing
programming.

As for 2004, we haven't upgraded, because of the perception that it will
soon be orphaned. We don't have money to throw away right now.

 

What does 'orphaned' mean?

 

David,

Page setup names are the answer to plotting the same layout tab to different
plotters or different sheet sizes.
Simply set up the plot configuration to suit your sheet size, (full size for
instance) and then select the add beside the page setup name and name your
setup. Do you plot. Then when you need to plot at 1\2 size, simply set it up
again and then add an new page setup name for the 1\2 size plot.

Now you only need select the page setup name to plot.

Dave Alexander

 

I know I can do that for individual layouts, but how do you do it for
multiple layouts? On my PC at least, that option is grayed out when I select
multiple layouts.

 

I said "perception". More specifically, I mentioned ADT. Some time back,
Adesk itself announced it would eventually orphaned ADT. They may have
rescinded that remark since, but ADesk's history is littered with good
products that it abandoned (at great expense to its customers).

 

All I know is what they tell me. What does all this have to do with being
able to being able to plot a checkset in ADT3?

 

I think Dean is just trying to dispel myths while the subject is at hand.
And it suggests that 2004 proponents are 'throwing their money away"--but we
have Publish and a world of other enhancements that 'non-2004' users do not
have. I dare that you reevaluate who is actually throwing their money away.

 

To apply the same page setup name to multiple layouts, you need to use the
batch plot or with 2004, you can use publish which is almost the same except
you have to use it while in AutoCAD but are not limited to the open drawing.
I don't use multiple layouts in one drawing and have never used page setup
but it looks like you can use it to set the page setup name to different
layout tabs from one dialogue box.

I have used publish and found it easier to use than the batch plot program.

Dave Alexander

 

You know, I completely forgot about batch plot. I'll give it a try, although
I remember it being somewhat cantankerous. Unfortunately 2004 is not even on
the radar for us. Thanks.

 

away.
Again, if Adesk says they will eventually (ADT 5 as I recall) get rid of
ADT, management takes notice. If you look at my post, I put quotes around
"perception". As for who is throwing money away, just about every second
release of ACAD or ADT (more frequently with ADT) has not been worth the
bother of upgrading to, IMHO. Anyway, I was just pointing out that 2004 is
not an option, and that if Adesk is going to utilize system printer drivers,
it would be nice if they utilized them fully, or gave an option that allowed
more flexibility.

 

Well batch plot is as cantankerous as I remembered. Using plot device and
settings from successful plot doesn't work-the plots go into the ether,
never to return. But it looks like its the only way to do it, so I'll
persist. Any ideas on why this is happening?

 

We're using ADT-IMHO ADT 3.3 was the first I would choose to upgrade to, but
we were on subscription at the time. Let it lapse last spring (02) because
of bugs in previous versions of ADT. Things are now too muddled to make any
decision until the dust has settled. Either choice would require upgrading
our PC's-frankly, I'm amazed they even run ADT at all. Unfortunately,
hardware upgrades only happen in flush years, when it makes tax sense. The
*other* reason is huge problems we had a couple of years ago with ADT and an
engineer using ACAD. No version of OE would work, and ADT caused corruption
that meant even sending as ACAD wouldn't fix. (And we tried EVERYTHING).
Caused huge headaches and delays. Bosses may not know about CAD, but they
remember those things.

 

Well, for some reason, even though Plot to File is NOT checked or in the
default setup, using Batch Plot to plot ALL layouts or even selecting all PS
layouts manually sends those plots to file. I haven't yet checked, but is
this a known bug?