Plotting

[jsnblnchrd]

Plotting questions and problems

[YosSa]

What ya prob cq question ?

[cadavatar]

We're working on a new project using 2000i. We're used to R14, and are having such a fun time, trying to get our plots to come out the right size.

We learned that Autodesk added margins and some other things into 2000i. I ended up creating a PC3 config file to determine the printable area, but drawings now either get cut off, are REALLY way off (printing just a minor corner of the drawing on a whole 44x34 sheet) or are as little as 1/2 to 1 inch smaller than they should be (it's teasing us).

So, apparently there's another, as-of-yet unpredictable aspect to these drawings we received from the client, because each drawing's plot attempt results differently, despite doing the exact same thing to send each plot.

I implemented a stop-gap measure to allow us to print. save back to R14 and use its predictable/intelligible plotting features.

I either and/or need someone's help, or a better tutorial than the ones I've found so far.

Any takers?

-Ted

[architech]

I'm attaching a zip file containing a PDF file that shows the basics.

I really can't see the problem from your description if the following is followed.

Look at it ...
try it ....


And let me know.

later guy... :)

[cadavatar]

First of all, thank you very much for your assistance. I'm very appreciative that you took time to help me out.

I reviewed the PDF content, and although it should work that way, our situation, believe it or not, is more complicated.

I could (and will in a little while) do as you described step-by-step, and our drawings will not come out the right size.

I'm hoping that last paragraph will end up like a foot in my mouth, but I'm pretty sure we did those steps at least a few times over when we first encountered the problem. The result was drawings that had portions the border cut off, drawings that were undersized by about an inch or even in some cases, just a corner of the drawing plotting in an unusually large size.

I've recently spoken to some others who have worked with both R14 and 2000. I've realized that I may be late, but am certainly not the only one who had problems with making the transition from R14's simple plotting interface to the "enhancements" in 2000.

[YosSa]

is youre drawing paper made up in paper space or model space ?

Is youre plot scale filled in right ?? It shouldnt be fit to scale !!!

Make a couple of screenshots of youre plotbox and post them ....

[cadavatar]

1. I opened the plot dialog, and clicked on the "plot device" tab.

2. Selected 1050C-A.pc3 file (HP DesignJet 1050C+, 36" roll inkjet, 35" max. printable edge-to-edge on spool)

3. selected monochrome.ctb

4. Layout name: "model", checked "save changes to layout"

5. Clicked on "plot settings" tab.

6. Selected "ANSI E - 34 x 44 in."* paper size.

*NOTE that printable area indicated as 42.95 x 33.60 inches.

7. X:0, Y:0 already indicated in "plot offset", no change made

8. Under "plot scale", "Custom" is indicated, although 1" = 1 drawing units is indicated

9. Clicked "Window" and selected lower-left and upper-right corners to define plot area.

10: Clicked "Full Preview". Preview looked great, but I already know, even before I send this plot that it will be undersized to the tune of 42.95" x 33.60" instead of the required 44" x 34".

11. I send the plot. The plot comes out undersized to match the 42.95" x 33.60" dimensions.

12. I go to Tools > Options, click on "Plotting" tab, and click "Add of Configure Plotters". I select the "1050C-A.PC3" file.

13. I click on "Modify Standard Paper Sizes (Printable Area)"** and select "ANSI E - 34 x 44 in." then click "Modify".

**NOTE: these settings should have in no way been buried here in the software, and the interface has no memory of last place held in lists, making configuration of multiple items very tedious, for no good reason. I'd expect this from ma & pa freeware... not a long-established application. Everything having to do with plotting should have been accessible from a single interface, and consolidated as much as possible.

14. Clicked "Specify non-printable edges of paper", which really is in effect the same thing as clicking "Specify width and height of printable area" - no sense made there, just needless extra content... but I digress...

15. Here's the culprit-Du-Jour... margins indicated. I set them all to "0.0" & clicked "Next"

16. I click "Next" to create a "1050C-A.PMP" file (Plotter Model Parameters file, of course). I'm prompted that the printable area of the paper size has been modified to the dimensions I specified. I click "Finish"

17. I click "OK" and exit the Plotter Configuration Editor"

18. I go back and repeat steps 1 thru 11.

NOW THE FUN BEGINS...

17. Despite the printable area being tweaked to cover the 44"x34" area, as well as other careful consideration to settings - the plot comes out clipped to the extent
that the right-side of the border is missing, and the top has no cut line. (the drawing has been verified as a proportionally 44"x34" document.)

I've been over all the aforementioned stuff again and again and again. I have dug deeper into this 2000i product, in my Quest for the Plotting Grail.

18. I click on the "Layout1" tab, and instantly the "page setup - Layout 1" dialog opens.

19. I click the "Plot Device" tab and select the "1050C-A.PC3" file on which I spent so much time pharting around. I choose the "monochrome.ctb" plot style.

20. I click on "Layout Settings" tab. My "ANSI E - 34 x 44 in." paper size is taunting me with its "printable area" of 44.00 x 34.00 inches. I feel like Caesar about to turn his back on Brutus... "Plot scale" is 1:1, "Plot offset" is 0.00 x 0.00 inches and holding.

21. I click "Window <", then realize that I'm looking at a blank sheet with just a dashed rectangle showing what looks like a margin, and I think "okaay... dude, Where's my drawing?". I hit ESC sensing the futility in doing anything else.

22. It's Monday. I start to realize that I have to do another command to set up that whole layout thing. I vaguely remember having done so before at some time
during my quest, although I remember that it involved inserting a border & titleblock, and I could not follow through because the drawing ALREADY had a border and titleblock, and I was not about to tell my users that they would have to replace 500 borders and titleblocks in order to print.

So, with all this I have just written: (1) I hope someone can hone in on what I should do next, and (2) I REALLY HOPE someone out there sees the INSANITY that this product puts you through with a concept as elementary as putting design on paper. :roll:

[cadavatar]

I hit escape and saw my drawing in the "layout1" thing.

Sensing the theoretically possibility of a positive outcome, I right-click and click "repeat PAGESETUP". I choose my plotter configuration, make sure the paper size and scale numbers look good (they do) and run with it...

the result...

a few Deer-Pellets' worth of page coverage in the lower left-hand corner.

Sorry, but I have to make a comparison here. I can't help it...

R14 would have taken me 30 seconds to do what I cannot do so far in this, supposedly more advanced, application.

And I'll bit my lip about other apps as well. :?

[architech]

Dude,
thanks for that detailed explanation .... :lol:
I think your problem is in your "PC3" ...

Re-create your PC3 with a paper size of 36inches by 60 inches.
A little extreme by just do it.
Select that as your paper size and do everything EXACTLY as before with the settings...

If that works ....
You can then make a another PC3 file that has a less area for paper size.

Hope that works. :)

[cadavatar]

Okay, well. You managed to find a resolution to the problem. I must commend you on a job very well done, and thank you for sifting through the tedium with me.

You know, though... the solution tells me that all this should never have happened at all. I was defining a 44"x34" area in the PC3 file, and trying to output to that with a 44x34" drawing. All this should have been a non-issue.

I've read a whole lot about improvements done to plotting in R14 vs. 2000, but I think of it all as propaganda for an apparently-flawed portion of the software.

Who know how many faced the same problem I did, and what they went through.

I know. I'm a vocal idealist. Only death can stop my complaining. But I have a point.

And when someone else knows what it is, please tell me.

Anyway, thanks again. You're an ace, and if you ever need any help with MicroStation, just let me know.
:shock:

[architech]

Great to here it was that .... :o
Problems w/ plotting in AutoCAD 2000 or better always seem to be either 2 things. One ... it's got to be the settings were missed since there's so many. Or two ... the PC3 isn't set correct with oversized paper.

You get beyond that and it's all down hill. 8)


later guy.


By the way, I can hold my own in MicroStation too! I'm a dual user. :D
But "macro"s & "mdl"s are always a puzzle. Oh well .... tht's for another "message board".