PLT to PDF

[MARPOW]

Can anyone recommend a free or inexpensive tool to convert PLT files to PDF?

[Avatart]

Can anyone recommend a free or inexpensive tool to convert PLT files to PDF?

You could use Columbus (by Oasys, see here), which is a free download. There is an in-built viewer that you can print from. On the assumption that you have a PDF writer of some description (CutePDF or similar), you could use the viewer to see the Plot file and print it to PDF from there.

[robert.1.hall72202]

Even with a PLT viewer, the file still needs to be in the proper format.
I had some errors that stated files are in an incorrect format.
I think it was hpgl2, my memory is foggy.

[Avatart]

Even with a PLT viewer, the file still needs to be in the proper format.
I had some errors that stated files are in an incorrect format.
I think it was hpgl2, my memory is foggy.

Absolutely right, the PLT must be in HPGL or HPGL/2 format for it to even appear in most viewers.

[MARPOW]

Thanks for the tip!

[robert.1.hall72202]

Absolutely right, the PLT must be in HPGL or HPGL/2 format for it to even appear in most viewers.

I think I had hpgl2 files and they still wouldn't open.

[Avatart]

I think I had hpgl2 files and they still wouldn't open.

Did you just get a whole string of ASCII? I have seen that happen sometimes when a driver is on it's way out.

[Arben.Allaraj]

Can anyone recommend a free or inexpensive tool to convert PLT files to PDF?

However You can never perform a 100% reconstruction of a plot file (.PLT,.PRN) back to a CAD drawing .

[rkmcswain]

However You can never perform a 100% reconstruction of a plot file (.PLT,.PRN) back to a CAD drawing .

Sure you can. It won't be the same *data* as the original CAD drawing, but you can certainly do the conversion.

[Avatart]

Sure you can. It won't be the same *data* as the original CAD drawing, but you can certainly do the conversion.

I would agree with that, we have software here that can convert PLT, PDF or DWF back to DWG, you do get some data loss, but it's better than redrawing.