Help PLEASE, plotting problem

[bgleason]

I am trying to disable "use last successful plot setting"
I have already changed the setting under Options, Plotting Tab to "Use as default output device" and selected the printer I want, and saved a new .dwt BUT when I select the print button I get this error "this plotter configuration cannot be used for one of these reasons:
the driver cannot be found, the device cannot be found, or the driver has a problem. the None plot device has been substituted.

I know the device cannot be found, we replaced the printer. thats why I want AutoCAD to use the new one as my default.

Can anyone help?

[BrenBren]

I am trying to disable "use last successful plot setting"
I have already changed the setting under Options, Plotting Tab to "Use as default output device" and selected the printer I want, and saved a new .dwt BUT when I select the print button I get this error "this plotter configuration cannot be used for one of these reasons:
the driver cannot be found, the device cannot be found, or the driver has a problem. the None plot device has been substituted.

I know the device cannot be found, we replaced the printer. thats why I want AutoCAD to use the new one as my default.

Can anyone help?
Are these new drawings or old drawings? If they are old drawings that were created when you had that new device, that error will pop up until you print with the new device. What version of AutoCAD are you using. I think you also have to make sure that you have the new configuration saved to the drawing.

[bgleason]

We are using 2004.
These are new drawings and old but I am trying to create a new template that does not retain who printed it last or the settings they used. We have four or five different areas that may print a drawing so if the drawing remembers the last settings someone will have the "None" printer error.
I am not sure what you mean by make sure that you have the new configuration saved to the drawing.
I opened the existing template (.dwt) changed the setting under Options, Plotting Tab to "Use as default output device" and selected the printer I want, and saved a new .dwt.

I appreciate your assistance,
Ben

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Take a look at system variable PLQUIET -

ID: TS21215 - Suppressing errors that display during batch plotting and when running scripts (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=2876774&linkID=2475323)

Have a good one, Mike

[Rick.B]

I would like to clarify your question. You currently use R2004 and are having problems maintaining plot settings. The printer/plotter name returns to the previous setting each time you want to generate a new plot.

All plot settings are saved in the drawing file so if you do not save the new plot settings it will use what was last saved with the drawing. Did you try using the page setup manager under the file pull down menu? If I remember correctly, you can set the printer or plotter name and it will be saved with the drawing.

[bgleason]

What I am figuring out is:
1) At some point I change a setting for AutoCAD to remember the last plot settings in each drawing.
2) I do not want this setting any longer, it creates more work for each different person that plots because we use different plot devices and possibly different settings.
3) If I use PLQUIET command the drawing still will have the "None" printer error
4) If I can manage to set our Templates up so whenever someone plots it defaults to their plotter half or more of the work is done for that person.

[Mike.Perry]

3) If I use PLQUIET command the drawing still will have the "None" printer errorHi

Sorry I was under the impression that you simply wanted to suppress the error / warning message "This plotter configuration cannot be used....".

PLQUIET will achieve that.

Have a good one, Mike

[bgleason]

Mike I did not mean to offend.
I was only trying to explain my situation.
I appreciate all suggestions, I am lost here and can not seem to figure this out.

[Homerloew]

Why can't you us page setups for each person? When they go to plot the drawing all they will have to do is pick from a list of page setups in the plot dialog box.

[bgleason]

If I understand, I think that is kind of what we currently do, But people are complaining that they never used to have to do this.
Before "I Goofed Things Up" the drawing automatically defaulted to their printer/plotter like Word or Excel does.

In fact that is probably the best way to describe what we want... We want AutoCAD to print to the printer a person has selected as their default like Word, Excel, etc.. does.

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

I think you need to create brand new Template files that have never had a Plotter set within them.

Before doing the above, set the following options within the Options Dialog Box -> Plotting tab -> under "Default Plot Settings for New Drawings" set "Use as Default Output Device" -> under "Default Plot Style Behavior for New Drawings" choose the appropriate Plot Style Table for your requirements.

From the quick testing and experimenting I have just carried out here, the above should then work for your needs.

Have a good one, Mike

[Homerloew]

If I understand, I think that is kind of what we currently do, But people are complaining that they never used to have to do this.
Before "I Goofed Things Up" the drawing automatically defaulted to their printer/plotter like Word or Excel does.

In fact that is probably the best way to describe what we want... We want AutoCAD to print to the printer a person has selected as their default like Word, Excel, etc.. does.

I know what you mean, and yes it would be nice. I never used page setups until I began using 2005. Once I got used to it, it has saved a ton of time. I have so many more options available within a one click reach. It does take a little time to setup at first, but if you are changing things back and forth like you say page setups are worth it.

[bgleason]

Hi

I think you need to create brand new Template files that have never had a Plotter set within them.

Before doing the above, set the following options within the Options Dialog Box -> Plotting tab -> under "Default Plot Settings for New Drawings" set "Use as Default Output Device" -> under "Default Plot Style Behavior for New Drawings" choose the appropriate Plot Style Table for your requirements.

From the quick testing and experimenting I have just carried out here, the above should then work for your needs.

Have a good one, Mike

Mike I do believe this should work, but I must be doing something wrong.
However, when trying thisa second time I did select the "Add or Configure Plotters" button, here I noticed the following .PC3 file (Defualt windows system printer.pc3). Which looks like exactly what I want.
So after dubble clicking it and closing that dialog I was able to select it in the drop down list under "Use as default output device"

I did this in my titleblock.dwg and save it in our library.
Then I opened our template and did it in a-size.dwt and saved that in our library.
Closed all
And opened new, using the a-size.dwt.
BUT when I tried to print it still gave me the "the none plot device has been substitued" Error.

Any ideas?

[Mike.Perry]

However, when trying thisa second time I did select the "Add or Configure Plotters" button, here I noticed the following .PC3 file (Defualt windows system printer.pc3). Which looks like exactly what I want.
So after dubble clicking it and closing that dialog I was able to select it in the drop down list under "Use as default output device"Hi

From the experimenting and testing I quickly undertook, I did not touch the "Add or Configure Plotters" button on the Plotting tab of the Options Dialog Box.

Have you tried without?

If no, try that and see what happens.

Have a good one, Mike

[Mlabell]

Do you have the save changes to layout toggled off? (in upper left corner) if I remember correctly, lucky 2004 user. If not this would be one reason that you are experiencing this error. Other than that I would setup each plotter in your page setup of your template where the page setup name is, so each user can select the needed plotter. I don't understand how it could have been done before this easier, and quicker. This way of setting up each plotter in the page setup name is the most efficient way to plot without error. All of the settings will always be retained, unless they are messed with by an end user. This is currently how we control all of our plots, and has worked like a charm. Hopefully this will address your issue.