Batch Plotting PLT files with Sheet Set Manager

[kwright.74399]

Is it possible to create batch plots of PLTs while using the Sheet Set Manager? I have tried it, but when I do multiple drawings, only the first drawing is printed when I print the PLT file.

[mjfarrell]

I would suggest you try multi-sheet DWF not plt.

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Have a browse of the following threads -

Create Plt then Plot Plt Files (http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=4502)

plot to file setting toggles off by itself (http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=4127)

Publish Bug in 2005 when plotting to file (http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=7312)

Have a good one, Mike

[kwright.74399]

Well, when I do the batch plot using the sheet set manager, it seems to make the PLT file fine; it makes one file for all the drawings, which is fine but when I use the PLT to plot on my 1050C, only one of the drawings is plotted though.

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

How are you sending the .PLT files to the output device?

Have a good one, Mike

[kwright.74399]

I'm using a .PC3 configuration with "Plot to file" option checked with the 1050C. Using the sheet set manager, I'm using the "publish using sheet setup override option" so that all of the drawings will be plotted using the above configuration. Do you need any more info?

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Sorry I'm a little confused here, you use the .PC3 to create the .PLT files?

As far as I'm aware you can't send a .PLT to an output device via a .PC3 file.

Hopefully the following may help a little -

ID: TS73346 - Drag-and-drop plotting of plot files (http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS73346)

ID: TS50277 - Print a PLT file (http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS50277)

OR

There are third party utilities that help with sending .PLT files to output devices ie

GoPlot or Drop and Print (http://www.output.tmfweb.nl/) from Govert's Tools

OR

Have I totally got the wrong end of the stick?

Have a good one, Mike

[kwright.74399]

Maybe that's the problem, I'm trying to do something you just can't? I configured a .pc3 to print to file, so when I use the publish sheet override, i can use the .pc3 so it can plot to file. I do this because there are no options to plot to file when using the publish sheet override. Is there a better way to go about doing this? I'm trying to avoid .pdf files because we sometimes have problems with topo lines plotting out correctly. In the end, i'm sending the files to a reproduction company to plot the files, I'm just testing them out to make sure they will plot out correctly when we do. The reproduction company we use would take a .dwf and convert to .pdf to plot so it's the same situation. Any more help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Can't you still use the .PC3 file to create .PLT files, then use one of the methods (or a different one) I gave in my previous post to send the .PLT files to your output device?

GoPlot is a very good utility for sending .PLT files to output devices (in my humble opinion).

Have good one, Mike

[kwright.74399]

I'm using the Sheet Set Manager to print multiple files at once, and supposedly it is creating one PLT file for all the drawings, the more drawings I add, the bigger the files become. When I use the PLT file to plot, only one of the drawings is being plotted, not all of the drawings I highlighted to be plotted. I did try GoPlot but it still only printed one drawing. Is it because each PLT file is meant to carry one drawing?

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Sorry I'm still a little confused -

One .DWG file should equal One .PLT file

OR

One Layout per .DWG file should equal One .PLT file

ie For each drawing you plot to file you should have a .PLT file

As far as I'm aware a .PLT can not contain more than One .DWG or Layout (hopefully that makes sense).

Therefore each .DWG or Layout should have it's own .PLT file.

Have a good one, Mike

[kwright.74399]

ok then, that is my problem. Is there any way to use the Sheet Set Manager to do a batch plot of .dwg to form a corresponding group of .plt then?

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Pass, I don't actually use AutoCAD 2005 (at the moment), hopefully someone will come along and offer an answer on that particular point.

In the meantime have you tried using the PUBLISH command to achieve Batch Plotting of .PLT files?

If no, give that ago then use GoPlot to send the .PLT files to your output device.

Have a good one, Mike

[kwright.74399]

The problem with the PUBLISH command is you have to have the layout already set up into each drawing, which it isn't that is why i have been using the sheet set manager. Thanks for all of your help by the way, it's greatly appreciated.

[troberts]

As someone who is relatively new to Sheet Sets, I am still confused. I love sheet sets, but I cannot get it to plot to a file. Have you been able to get this to work now?

[Mike.Perry]

As someone who is relatively new to Sheet Sets, I am still confused. I love sheet sets, but I cannot get it to plot to a file. Have you been able to get this to work now?Hi

For starters browse all the links found within this thread.

+

Take a look at the following threads (again, browse all links contained within) -

Publish .plt files (http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=13556)

Plot to file in sheet sets? (http://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?t=20669)

Have a good one, Mike

[robert.gray.92720]

"Page Setup" and "Sheet Set" together, I believe is where your solution lies.
I use 2006, and sheet sets to publish to any of any of 6 different system printers, PLT and PDF. Here's what I've done.

1. Create a specific PC3 file, for your plotter device, and have the "Ports" tab set to "Plot to File". I think you've already done this.
2. Create one only layout tab per dwg file.
3. In each dwg file, create/load/set a "Page Setup" that uses your "Plot to File" PC3 file.
4. Create a "Sheet Set".
5. In "Sheet Set Manager" select and highlight all the sheets you wish to publish.
6. RIGHT CLICK/PUBLISH/PUBLISH DIALOG BOX . . .
7. In the "Publish" dialog box, in the "Sheet Name" column, select and highlight all the sheets.
8. In the adjacent "Page Setup" column, top of the list, click in and select your "Plot to File" page setup name. You should see all sheets switch to this plot to file setup.
9. Pick on the "Sheet Set Publish Options" button.
10. In the "Sheet Set Publish options" dialog box, pick into and set the "Location" to where you want your PLT files sent.
11. Pick OK to exit the "Sheet Set Publish Options" dialog.
12. Back in the "Publish" dialog box, make any other setting you desire and pick on the "Publish" button.

If all goes well, you should end up with a number of PLT files, one for each dwg file, all located where you specified.

Good luck