plotting is my biggest headache

I have a long list of plotting problems, and since some of them are user error I won't bother you guys with all of them... We are on 2004 and Windows 2000

1. Every time a user (who has pdf xchange 2.5 on their desktop) does something slightly different from the default (we're talking changes the papers size from D to E) setting on the pc3 a new pc3 is generated! I go to machines that have 4 and 5 pdf xchange 2.5 pc3 in their plotter manager. This did not happen with 2000i. Also the results are completely unreliable. They get the only corner of the sheet plotted even though extents is checked. Sometimes they get the corner of a sheet on the wrong sized paper (usually A). I am losing my mind and we a losing beaucoup time trying to make a decent set of pdfs. I have tried page setups but even they are not dependable and with so many pc3's floating around its like trying to hit a moving target!

2. When a pageset up that work to plot is applied to publish the results vary.

3. Publish seems to be much pickier and wants to get into a groove. So multiple page set-ups aren't so great either.

4. The orientation of the page refuses to change at times!?!

5. Lastly is just a topic for discussion because I would like to hear both sides of this argument. Extents or Window?

 

perriwinkle (nice color!)

I'm sure that those wanting to help you will be asking what
plotter y ou are using and do you have the latest drivers loaded.

 

Pc3 files are operating system, AutoCAD version, AutoCAD file location, and
operating system file location dependant. And because AutoCAD isn't 100%
Windows based for printing the pc3 file is generated every time you make any
change. Also they have problems with drivers that say that the paper width
is greater than the length (true landscape). With most PDF drivers it would
work for the default page size that you had setup in the driver for
landscape when you started AutoCAD but pick another page size and even
though the driver says it's in landscape AutoCAD decides it's in portrait.

I'm always for extents because 10 years from now Autodesk may not read the
page layout or the window but you should always be able to read the extents
properly. Plus people who put things outside the border can easily get used
to placing them on a separate layout or something. I think newer programs
like Inventor and Solidworks probably don't even give you this option to
draw outside the border in the layouts which is the way it should be in my
eyes.

If you want to create PDF files check out our AcroPlot line at
www.cadzation.com. We utilize the newer PDF-XChange 3.0 and have solved all
of the headaches for you. Our Pro version is also being DWF enabled and we
have customers who are now moving away from all plotting and going with DWF
or PDF and then replotting that to where they need. Just think of how sweet
a world it would be if you never have to worry about a pc3 file or plotter
setup in each new release of AutoCAD.

--
Rodney McManamy
President
CADzation
-------------------------

-------------------------
518 South Route 31 Suite 200
McHenry, IL 60050
www.cadzation.com
Providing Industrial Strength
PDF & DWF Solutions to the
Global CAD Marketplace.

error I won't bother you guys with all of them... We are on 2004 and
Windows 2000

something slightly different from the default (we're talking changes the
papers size from D to E) setting on the pc3 a new pc3 is generated! I go to
machines that have 4 and 5 pdf xchange 2.5 pc3 in their plotter manager.
This did not happen with 2000i. Also the results are completely unreliable.
They get the only corner of the sheet plotted even though extents is
checked. Sometimes they get the corner of a sheet on the wrong sized paper
(usually A). I am losing my mind and we a losing beaucoup time trying to
make a decent set of pdfs. I have tried page setups but even they are not
dependable and with so many pc3's floating around its like trying to hit a
moving target!

So multiple page set-ups aren't so great either.

both sides of this argument. Extents or Window?

 

Perriwinkle is the short form of a long nick-name...

One reason that plotting is so much fun are the plotters. We have several.. Oce 9400II, HP DesignJet 1055CM, HP DesignJet 5500ps and another HP that we use for check plots... We also have an offsite printing house that does most of our large printing jobs. They have a KIP but we send them plt files and they work with those... We also have 4 different pdf writers scattered among the masses.

 

Those of you dealing with plotting (PC3) problem should look at the following thread under regular AutoCAD 2005 discussion group:
"Acad 2005 PC3 file change "

 

...and I thought I was frustrated. That is unbelievable! I'll admit that at times it is faster and easier to dig around for answers than to go to subscription support, but I think I would absolutely flip if that happened to me! I am trying my best not to flip just reading it.

 

Well I posted that here in the hopes that someone at Autodesk in AMERICA would see it and shead some light. It appears that all the support is coming out of India but I doubt that is where the development team is.
Thankfully someone at Autodesk did see it andf I have emailed them the specifics.