Custom page size bugs

One of the biggest complaints my users have with AutoCAD plotting is
difficulty in specifying custom page sizes. I've read through the
postings in the autodesk.autocad.print-plot newsgroup and they don't
really provide any solutions.

The first issue is that specifying a custom size requires editing the
device properties, the precise steps of which vary from device to
device. This is confusing and intimidating to the average user.

The second and worse issue is that sometimes it gets really screwy and
you can't set the correct size, custom or sometimes even standard sizes
-- see details below.

The user ought to be able to just specify custom size with a simple
height and width setting, either in the main plot dialog or a quick
simple subdialog. And, of course, have it work correctly

The following documents this reproducible problem with Acrobat PDFWriter
when doing a page setup or printing to an AutoCAD-enhanced Acrobat
PDFWriter.PC3 driver in AutoCAD 2002 and 2004, and the workaround my
suffering users have to deal with. I've seen similar issues with other
devices. My pc3 and pmp files are attached, and the Windows system
printer driver was from Acrobat 5.0.5, if anyone cares to test this or
can fix the cause of the bug.

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Problem One: You attempt to define a Custom page size in AutoCAD in the
PDFWriter plot device Custom Properties, however it keeps reverting to
the previous size (usually a previous custom size).

Problem Two: You select a standard page size for the PDFWriter plot
device from the Paper size dropdown of the AutoCAD Layout Settings but
the Printable area reverts to the previous size or a previous custom
size.

These are apparently manifestations of the same bug: After setting or
using a Custom size, the PDFWriter driver gets stuck on that size.

Workaround: If one of these problems occurs, try the following in the
AutoCAD Page Setup dialog before creating a new custom size or selecting
the size you really want:

1. Select and then right-click on the desired layout tab and choose Page
Setup.
2. Choose Properties from the Plot Device tab, then choose Custom
Properties from the Device and Document Settings tab of the Plotter
Configuration Editor to open the Acrobat PDFWriter Properties dialog.

3. Select a different standard page size from the Standard dropdown,
then choose OK.
4. Choose OK again to close the Plotter Configuration Editor, being sure
to “Save changes to the following (PC3) file” if prompted.
5. Choose OK to exit the Page Setup dialog.

Now you can reopen the Page Setup dialog or Plot dialog and select the
standard size you really wanted, or define a new custom size.

NOTE: In the Acrobat PDFWriter Properties dialog of the Plotter
Configuration Editor, Orientation should be Portrait, Scaling 100%, and
Resolution appropriate to the intended purpose, generally 300 to 600
DPI. Specify the final orientation and scale in the page layout or plot
dialog.

If the above workaround fails to fix the size, delete the Acrobat
PDFWriter.pmp file from your C:\gm-acad\A2004\PMPfiles folder, then try
the above steps again.

 

I've solved this problem with dynamic paper sizes.

Now I can plot my drawings to CALS-files in exact the same size/format my
drawings have.

regards

Markus

 

What are "dynamic paper sizes"?
Something specific to the CALS device driver?

Thanks - Rusty

 

With the Heidi SDK from Autodesk I've modified the CALS plotter driver, so I
can define a paper size at plot-time. My paper size is exact I want it. And
I have always the same rotation.

I can't open your .PC3, because my newsreader removes it as "unsafe
attachment". You can ZIP it and send it to my e-mail address.

May be I can send you a solution.

regards

Markus