Batch plotting

I tried using batchplot.exe that comes with AutoCAD 2004 but this fails
to do what I want. I have many drawings from our supplier that I need to
plot but I would have to open each drawing one at a time to plot all
these. There has to be a utility that will take a drawing and plot it to
the printer of my choice that would come out correctly?

The prints have no used layout tabs, so all I want to do is print them
Extents, scaled to fit 11X17. I thought this would be a simple task,
wrong!

Of the 6 drawings that I opened and try to print using batchplot only 2
plot the others have errors (x's). I chose one of the prints to use as a
template of how to plot them. Extents scaled to fit but when I go and
check the ones that didn't plot correctly they are set to layout, 1:1
not much help.

Please let me know if something like this exists or a lisp or some type
of script that would take the drudgery out of this simple task.

Thanks, Rich

 

Try Publish, like Dean suggested. But also, I find this easiest to do with
page setups. Setup a page setup in one drawing with the criteria you
specified (extents, scaled to fit, 11x17). Then apply the page setup from
that drawing to all of them when plotting from publish (publish is very
similar to batch plot, but has some additional functionality).
HTH

 

But don't I have to open each drawing to publish it? Then I have to do
something with the output of publish correct? Or am I missing something
with the publish command?

Thanks, Rich

 

That works about as good as batch plot. The same two plot the others are
blank. Then I have to go to the created dwf file and select the ones
that I want to plot? This is better than what again?

Thanks for the help, I have since found a utility that works and does
what AutoCAD can't. Called PlotM8 costs $35.

Rich

 

You don't have to plot to dwf in Publish. Select to plot to plotters in
named page setups instead of the dwf option and make sure that you have a
named page setup to plot to. If some are blank, could it be that extents is
just zoomed way out on those (maybe there're objects way out in space
causing this)?

You also don't have to open each drawing. The only thing I don't like is
that you have to be in a saved drawing to start the command, but beyond
that, you can add or subtract any drawings you want from the list to plot
all at once. True, AutoCAD opens each drawing to plot it, but this is still
much faster than opening each one manually.

 

Thanks for the help, and I don't know why these 4 prints don't plot
right with publish or batch plot but when I zoom extents it is what I
expect. I think the $35 option is the one that works best for me for
what I want to do. I'm sure that just these messages have cost that much
or more in my time alone.

Again thanks for the help, Rich

 

We developed Multi-Batch for this reason.
Firstly you create the plot routines you need using the wizards supplied.
These are then stored in a database for future retrieval.
From then on all you need to do is select the drawings, assign the routine
and press start.
It has five wizards for creating new routines including two for plotting,
plus plenty of standard routines to get you started.
A free demo of Multi-Batch can be downloaded from http://www.multi-batch.com
Patrick