R7 Plot issues

[Skisouth]

Tell me what I'm doing wrong.

Running a test for sharing R7 files with client with offices in 5 states....

Saved simple plan to disk, transfered to another machine via network. Downloaded the view only version of R7 on machine. Loads Project fine, shows all sheet layouts correctly.
Using Pinebush 4.2 PDF creator for print driver
1. Furniture layout is desk with chairs dwgs. Tried linked and inserted. In either case,
although sheet layout correct, dwg files will not plot unless fully exploded. (Partial explode gets desk, but not chairs)
2. Once one plot is generated with Pinebush, change to another sheet layout and get
"Product and License" error only one plot screen cannot plot after change is made. Folks all I did was go to another view, now I can't plot?

I can't ask my clients to use this if you have to close the file and reopen, go to the next sheet, plot, close file, open, go to the next sheet,plot, close the file and reopen, go to the next sheet, plot, close file, open, go to the next sheet, plot, close the file and reopen, go to the next sheet, plot, close file, open, go to the next sheet....

Anyone with similar experiences...

[LRaiz]

Something must be going on with your demo/viewer installations. These kind of installations could be used for printing (including PDF output) only if user does not modify printed.

I can't quite understand you description of the test procedure but it sounds like something in this procedure causes retrieved file to be changed. It could be either (a) something you do with your design or (b) changes to print settings (could even be related to paper sizes).

Printing using demo/viewer license should work for as long as user does not change the model.

[Steve_Stafford]

...It could be either (a) something you do with your design or (b) changes to print settings (could even be related to paper sizes)...This is the issue I bet...changing print settings is a change to Revit and you have to exit and reopen. Not everyone has the same plotter and setup...so they are bound to need to alter a setting in the print dialog in some fashion.

[Skisouth]

The file is saved with a plan view showing. I'm going to try with a sheet view showing as last and see if that makes a difference. (I've removed the software, reinstalled and starting test again).

Looks like it is the plotter selection process that is causing the problem. Resaved file
in sheet view and no difference. Can plot by selection sets if first used at start of plot process. However, if you go "oops" I need that sheet too. No luck, "demo" error and close
file and restart.

I know that this is a service to be able to view and plot for free, but this is a Little bit awkward - don't ya think?

What about the dwg issue - anyone else with similar problem with the PDF driver (used both Pinebush's and Adobe 6.0)

[LRaiz]

It does not matter what view was shown at the time of saving because opening a view or a sheet does not constitute a change (but creating a new view does). It is more important to know if you are making any changes while attempting to print. One way to check is to watch the undo button in the top toolbar. It is grayed out for as long as no changes are made.


Looks like it is the plotter selection process that is causing the problem. Resaved file
in sheet view and no difference. Can plot by selection sets if first used at start of plot process. However, if you go "oops" I need that sheet too. No luck, "demo" error and close
file and restart.

In order to print various combinations of sheets without making changes to retrieved model one needs to use <in-session> view/sheet set. Turning checkmarks on and off for any other user defined view/sheet set is considered to be a model change.

[Steve_Stafford]

...Looks like it is the plotter selection process that is causing the problem...in sheet view and no difference. Can plot by selection sets if first used at start of plot process. However, if you go "oops" I need that sheet too. No luck, "demo" error and close
file and restart.In my opinion demo mode should "look the other way" when you pick different sheets to print, change plotters and plot settings.

Perhaps a low cost option that would enable full plotting features so a client could create their own saved plot settings and sheet selections would be good too? But then I suppose that's what DWF is intended for?

[LRaiz]

In my opinion demo mode should "look the other way" when you pick different sheets to print, change plotters and plot settings.

Perhaps a low cost option that would enable full plotting features so a client could create their own saved plot settings and sheet selections would be good too? But then I suppose that's what DWF is intended for?
Using <in-session> print settings and sheet set avoids making a model change.

[Skisouth]

The in session works for the plotting. How about a hint towards the dwg issue. Do I have to explode all dwg linked files to have a PDF plotted correctly?

[LRaiz]

How about a hint towards the dwg issue. Do I have to explode all dwg linked files to have a PDF plotted correctly?
I don't understand problem description. Do imported dwg print correctly to a regular plotter as opposed to Pinebush PDF Writer? Do they print incorrectly just when using demo/viewer license but are printed well with a trial license?

[Skisouth]

I don't understand problem description. Do imported dwg print correctly to a regular plotter as opposed to Pinebush PDF Writer? Do they print incorrectly just when using demo/viewer license but are printed well with a trial license?

Good question.

Sheets plotted fine on trial version, EXCEPT all dwg files in the project were not visible.
(did not plot). If dwg were partially exploded, then the dwg images would "partially" show up. If fully exploded, the entire dwg image appears in the plot. Again, in all sheet views,
the dwg files are present.


I've only tried the trial version for the client. I'll try the trial license. Also, I have not checked the regular plotter setup that I use for this file.

[Steve_Stafford]

Using <in-session> print settings and sheet set avoids making a model change.Thanks...I've added this to Tips-n-Tricks.

[LRaiz]

Sheets plotted fine on trial version, EXCEPT all dwg files in the project were not visible.
(did not plot). If dwg were partially exploded, then the dwg images would "partially" show up. If fully exploded, the entire dwg image appears in the plot. Again, in all sheet views,
the dwg files are present.
.
There must be something special about these particular dwg(s).

[Skisouth]

Okay - tried the regular plotter no luck. Examined closer - found a "background/foreground" switch - surprise. Turn foreground on and the drawing file plots correctly. That being said, there were no Revit objects touching the dwg furniture files, yet they were not visible (and there is no floor created on this level to hide the dwg file).


Now, found the culprit. What if I'm using the dwg to trace, want to leave the furniture on the dwg xref, but convert the walls. Can't do it well, as the drawing lines will be on top of the Revit walls. - Or at least this appears to be what is happening. Control the drawing walls with the "layer on /off " command? Interesting...