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Thread: Printing/Plotting Windows System Printer vs .pc3 Files

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    Default Printing/Plotting Windows System Printer vs .pc3 Files

    I've always used .pc3 files instead of the Windows System Printer in the Plotter Manager. Why? I don't know! It's just the way it was set up before me. This brings up my questions.

    What do you use (Windows System Printer or .pc3 files) and why?
    What are the advantages/disadvantages to each?

    Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!

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    Certified AUGI Addict cadtag's Avatar
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    Default Re: Printing/Plotting Windows System Printer vs .pc3 Files

    PC3 files. Mainly for consistency and repeatability - I can prepare whatever settings I need or want, and save as a PC3. Combine that with named pagesetups. amd printing is remarkableasier than the alternatives.

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    Default Re: Printing/Plotting Windows System Printer vs .pc3 Files

    The big advantage of PC3 to me is you can also define paper type and special sizes.

    System printer alone limits that functionality, so I use PC3.

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    Default Re: Printing/Plotting Windows System Printer vs .pc3 Files

    In addition to the above replies, its especially helpful if the system printer is your default. Let's say its set up for 8.5x11 portrait for Word. Now you go into acad and set it to 11x17 landscape. Next time you use Word you hit the quick print button that uses the default window printer and... you get a nice B size letter! With pc3 files, you can use the same printer for cad settings without affecting other uses/programs.
    C:> ED WORKING....

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    Default Re: Printing/Plotting Windows System Printer vs .pc3 Files

    I have two favorite variants of that. The first is people who *insist* on using legal size paper. Naturally, the printer trays are only letter and 11x17 so the print job holds up the entire queue until somebody comes along and loads the manual tray. The second is the lazy-printer-selection user who just grabs something on the list without bothering to notice that its the full size color printer. Using PC3 files, I can force the selection of printers from a dozen cryptically named devices to a couple of logically named printers. Although the question of "Where is printer 'HP5SiMX (room xxx)' located?" comes up waaay to often...

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    All AUGI, all the time gfreddog's Avatar
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    Default Re: Printing/Plotting Windows System Printer vs .pc3 Files

    Plus by networking the PC3 files I'm assured that all my drafters local and remote are using the same plotter set-ups. (in theory anyway LOL)

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