Plot Style Tables (CTB or STB) gone south
Open the Plot or Page Setup dialog box, but only STB files are shown (or vice versa) or no Plot Style Tables listed within the "Plot Style Table (pen assignments)" drop down box.
The most likely reason for such behaviour is the DWG file is currently set to the opposite Plot Style Table mode that you require. A DWG file can be either a "Color Dependent" (CTB) or "Named Plot Style" (STB) type, it can not be both at the same time.
Below is taken directly from the AutoCAD Online Help File [F1] -
PSTYLEMODE System Variable
(Read-only)
Type: Integer
Saved in: Drawing
Initial value: 1
Indicates whether the current drawing is in a Color-Dependent or Named Plot Style mode.
0 Uses named plot style tables in the current drawing
1 Uses color-dependent plot style tables in the current drawing
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CONVERTCTB Command
Converts a color-dependent plot style table (CTB) to a named plot style table (STB)
Command line: convertctb
Displays the Select File dialog box (a standard file selection dialog box), where you can select the color-dependent plot style table file you want to convert. The Save As dialog box is then displayed. If necessary, specify a new location or name for the converted plot style table file.
CONVERTCTB saves a copy of a color-dependent plot style table as a named plot style table, which you can then attach to drawings that use named plot styles. The original color-dependent plot style table is not affected by CONVERTCTB. The default location for the new named plot style table file is in the AutoCAD Plot Styles folder. The default name for the new named plot style table file is the same as the color-dependent plot style table name.
CONVERTCTB creates one named plot style for each color that has unique plot properties, one named plot style for each group of colors that are assigned the same plot properties, and a default named plot style called NORMAL.
For example, if all the colors in a color-dependent plot style table have the same plot properties, CONVERTCTB creates only two named plot styles in the named plot style table: NORMAL, the default plot style, and STYLE 1, which assumes the plot properties that were assigned to all the colors in the color-dependent plot style table. However, suppose that all the colors in a color-dependent plot style table have the same plot properties except for two colors, BLUE and GREEN. If these colors each have unique plot properties, CONVERTCTB creates four named plot styles in the named plot style table: NORMAL, the default plot style; STYLE 1, which assumes the plot properties of GREEN; STYLE 2, which assumes the plot properties of BLUE; and STYLE 3, which assumes the plot properties that were assigned to all the other colors.
CONVERTCTB gives the plot styles in the new named plot style table generic names such as STYLE 1, STYLE 2. You can modify these generic plot style names in the Plot Style Table Editor. Click the Edit button on the Plot Device tab in the Page Setup dialog box. If you want to rename the plot styles, you must do so before applying them to drawing layouts.
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CONVERTPSTYLES Command
Converts the current drawing to either named or color-dependent plot styles -
A drawing can use either named or color-dependent plot styles, but not both.
CONVERTPSTYLES converts a currently open drawing from color-dependent plot styles to named plot styles, or from named plot styles to color-dependent plot styles, depending on which plot style method the drawing is currently using.
For example, a drawing using color-dependent plot styles assigns plot properties to objects and layers by color. In other words, all objects with the same color have the same plot properties. CONVERTPSTYLES converts the drawing to use named plot styles that can be applied to objects or layers independent of color assignment. In other words, all objects with the same color can have different plot properties.
When you convert a drawing, CONVERTPSTYLES sets the PSTYLEMODE system variable to the appropriate setting (1 = named, 0 = color-dependent).
Command line: convertpstyles
* Converting drawings from color-dependent plot styles to named plot styles
* Converting drawings from named plot styles to color-dependent plot styles
Converting Drawings from Color-Dependent to Named Plot Styles
A dialog box advises you to convert the drawing's plot style tables before converting the drawing. You can convert the color-dependent plot style tables assigned to the drawing to named plot style tables using CONVERTCTB.
AutoCAD displays the Select File dialog box (a standard file selection dialog box), where you select the named plot style table file to attach to the converted drawing.
CONVERTPSTYLES requires you to select a named plot style table that was converted using CONVERTCTB or created from a PC2 or PCP file. Normally you should select the named plot style table that was converted from the color-dependent plot style table that was assigned to the same drawing.
CONVERTPSTYLES attaches the selected named plot style table to model space and to all layouts. Drawing layers are each assigned a named plot style (from the converted plot style table) that has the same plot properties that their color-dependent plot style had. Drawing objects that had the same color-dependent plot style as their layer are assigned the named plot style BYLAYER. Drawing objects that had a color-dependent plot style that was different from their layer are assigned a named plot style that has the same properties that their color-dependent plot style had.
After a drawing is converted to named plot styles, you can change the named plot style table assignment or assign other named plot styles tables to model space or layouts. You can also assign individual plot styles to drawing objects.
Converting Drawings from Named to Color-Dependent Plot Styles
A dialog box advises you that the named plot styles attached to objects and named plot style tables attached to model space and layouts will be detached.
After a drawing is converted to color-dependent plot styles, you can assign a color-dependent plot style table. Plot styles will be applied by color.
Links:
Autodesk Knowledge Base:
ID: TS31455 - Only CTB files are listed in the Plot Style Table dialog box
ID: TS31454 - Only STB files are listed in drop-down list
ID: TS35473 - Convert drawings using color-dependent plot styles to use named plot styles
ID: TS35475 - Convert drawings to use color-dependent plot styles
ID: TS29275 - Converting a named plot-style table (STB file) to a color dependant plot-style (CTB file)
ID: TS37944 - Unable to switch plot style type in Page Setup or Plot dialog box
ID: TS35477 - Recovering named plot styles after converting a drawing to color dependent mode
ID: TS48997 - Error when using CONVERTCTB or CONVERTPSTYLES: Unknown command
ID: TS61417 - CONVERTCTB command requires conversion of CTB to existing STB files only
ID: TS47423 - Error when using CONVERTCTB or CONVERTPSTYLES: Unknown command
ID: TS21857 - Use plot style tables
ID: TS21338 - Xref drawings and plot style behavior
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