Topic: Batch plot collated copies

[Fishing4Lsp]

Hello,

With examples for this site I am able to batch plot drawings.
I can select files then create & run a script file that opens
each drawing & send it to the plotter with the proper setting
(ctb, paper size, etc).

When I need to plot several sets. Let say 5 sets of 10 drawings.
In order to get "collated" copies, my script will go thru the 10
drawings 5 times. So that means the script will open 50 drawings.


Question:
In there a way to send the 10 drawings just once. Then have 5 collated
copies? Any ideas?

[M-dub]

I would venture to say that it would depend on the printer you're sending them to.

Without looking too deeply into it, I would say that it's probably more effort than it's worth.  Is there a reason why you'd rather do it that way instead of just repeating the script 5 times?

[Matt__W]

Is there any particular reason you're not using Sheet Set Manager??

[T.Willey]

I didn't find a way, but I have an idea that I never implemented.  You could print to file, then send the files to the printer the amount you want, in the order you want.  That way they will be collated.

[Fishing4Lsp]

M-dub,

We have an Oce plotter and I've already contacted their Tech Support. They tell me
theres no way the plotter can do it by itself. It has to be the the software thats
sending the print job to tell the plotter what to do. But Autocad has no "collate"
feature.

Fortunately for us right now we have some big projects. At least 200 drawings. So if a
client request for several copies (Full size & half size) its going to take a long time.


Dr. Heinz

We dont use the Sheet Set manager for two reasons.

Reason 1.
The script/batch program we have also makes a back-up of the files and the associated xrefs
so that we have an exact record of what we printed out.

Reason 2.
Nobody knows how to use the "Sheet Set Manager".


Tim,

I'm interested with what you have in mind. I first thought of creating a "Plt" file & just send
it with a dos "copy" command to a redirected Lpt1 port. But I though I'd ask first for a more
"painless solution".

Please dont forget whatever you have in mind I have to be able to massage, cut & paste it to
the bacth program we have

[Matt__W]

Reason 2.
Nobody knows how to use the "Sheet Set Manager".

That's a s****y excuse.  You really ought to look into it.

Reason 1.
The script/batch program we have also makes a back-up of the files and the associated xrefs
so that we have an exact record of what we printed out.

Sheet Set Manager has the ability to create transmittals, ala, eTransmit - just like the one from the FILE pull-down menu with one big exception.  If you create a transmittal while you have Sheet Set Manager open, the transmittal information will be retained within that Sheet Set so ANYONE who opens that Sheet Set will have the same options.

[Fishing4Lsp]

Dr. Heinz,

I agree with you, reason 2 is a bad excuse. When it first came out (Sheet Set Manager),
nobody in the office really embraced it. It was more work. It bug the heck out some of our clients.
We were and still are happy with our script files. Why fix whats not broken.

But I'll take a serous look into it. Thanks for pointing that out to me.

[rhino]

Hello,

With examples for this site I am able to batch plot drawings.
I can select files then create & run a script file that opens
each drawing & send it to the plotter with the proper setting
(ctb, paper size, etc).

When I need to plot several sets. Let say 5 sets of 10 drawings.
In order to get "collated" copies, my script will go thru the 10
drawings 5 times. So that means the script will open 50 drawings.


Question:
In there a way to send the 10 drawings just once. Then have 5 collated
copies? Any ideas?

see this first http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=27682.msg335680#msg335680

and heres an updated version for multiple copies:

Code: [Select]

;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------;
;  Plot Man - Batch Plot Utility © CJC aka 'RHINO' 24/03/2009 ;
;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------;
; This routine creates 'views' of page layouts in Model Space and then plots each view ;
;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------;
; - Limitations : Currently works for ModelSpace only ;
; - PaperSpace : Added PaperSpace support - 31/03/2009 ;
; - Printer driver used : Printer + Copier ;
; - Paper Size : A 4 & A 3 - A 4 is set to default ;
; - Plot Orientation : Landscape ;
; - Plot Style : monochrome.ctb ;
; - # of Copies : Added Copy count option for multiple prints - 31/03/09 ;
; - Set Layers to 0 ln_Wt : Added Visual Lisp to change Layers 'Lineweight' to 0.00 - 06/04/09 ;
;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------;

(defun c:pm (/) (c:plot_man))
(defun c:plot_man (/ acadobject lay_tbl usercmd userosm space pages pg_size cntr
    pg# plot #copies cp_cnt *error* )

(defun *error* (msg)
    (if (not
          (member msg '("console break" "Function cancelled" "quit / exit abort" "" nil))
        )
      (princ (strcat "\nError: " msg))
    )    
    (and usercmd (setvar "cmdecho" usercmd)
userosm (setvar "osmode" userosm)
        )
    (princ)
  ) ; end error function
; routine starts here
  (setq usercmd (getvar "cmdecho")
userosm (getvar  "osmode")
)
  (setq space (getvar "tilemode"))
  
  (if (= space 0)
      (progn
 (setvar "cmdecho"  0)
    (setvar "osmode"   1)
 (prompt "\nYou are plotting from PaperSpace!
  \nUse this utility only if there are multiple pages layed out in the <Layout> tab...
  \nYou may use the AutoCAD Publish command instead if there is one page layed out per <Layout> tab..."
)
 (initget 7)
 (setq pages (getint "\nPlease Input the # of unique pages for plotting: "))
 (setq pg_size  (getstring T "\nEnter Page Size [A 4/A 3] <A 4>: "))
   (if (= pg_size "") (setq pg_size "A 4"))
     
 (setq cntr 1)
   (while (<= cntr pages)
     (setq pg# (strcat "Page-"(itoa cntr)""))
(prompt
  (strcat "\nSelect each page to set plot view (Page-"(itoa cntr)") : ")
)
(command "_-view" "_window" pg# pause pause)
(setq cntr (1+ cntr))
 ) ;end view creation loop
 
 (initget "Yes No")
   (setq plot (getkword
     (strcat "\n"(itoa (1- cntr))" page views have been created...proceed with plot? [Yes/No] <Yes>: ")))
     (or plot (setq plot "Yes"))
 
 (if (= plot "Yes")
   (progn
     (setq #copies (getint "\nHow many copies do you need to print? <1>:"))
       (or #copies (setq #copies 1))
 (setq cp_cnt 1)
   (while (<= cp_cnt #copies)
     (setq cntr 1)
(while (<= cntr pages)
 (setq pg# (strcat "Page-"(itoa cntr)""))
   (command "._-plot"
"_yes"
""
"Printer + Copier"
pg_size
"_millimeters"
"_landscape"
"_no"
"_view"
pg#
"_fit"
"_center"
"_yes"
"monochrome.ctb"
"_yes"
"_yes"
"_yes"
"_no"
"_no"
"_no"
"_Yes"
)
 (setq cntr (1+ cntr))
);end plot loop
       (setq cp_cnt (1+ cp_cnt))
     );end copies loop
(prompt
  (strcat "\n"(itoa (1- cntr))" Pages successfully plotted! "))
    (prompt "\nCreated by CJC aka 'RHINO'")
)
          )
     )
  ); end if paperspace = true

  (if (= space 1)
     (progn
 (vl-load-com)
 (setq  activedoc  (vla-get-activedocument (vlax-get-acad-object))
lay_tbl    (vla-get-layers activedoc)
)
(vlax-for each lay_tbl (vla-put-LineWeight each 0))
 (setvar "cmdecho"  0)
    (setvar "osmode"   1)
 (initget 7)
 (setq pages (getint "\nPlease Input the # of unique pages for plotting: "))
 (setq pg_size  (getstring T "\nEnter Page Size [A 4/A 3] <A 4>: "))
   (if (= pg_size "") (setq pg_size "A 4"))
     
 (setq cntr 1)
   (while (<= cntr pages)
     (setq pg# (strcat "Page-"(itoa cntr)""))
(prompt
  (strcat "\nSelect each page to set plot view (Page-"(itoa cntr)") : ")
)
(command "_-view" "_window" pg# pause pause)
(setq cntr (1+ cntr))
 ) ;end view creation loop
 
 (initget "Yes No")
   (setq plot (getkword
     (strcat "\n"(itoa (1- cntr))" page views have been created...proceed with plot? [Yes/No] <Yes>: ")))
     (or plot (setq plot "Yes"))
 
 (if (= plot "Yes")
   (progn
     (setq #copies (getint "\nHow many copies do you need to print? <1>:"))
       (or #copies (setq #copies 1))
 (setq cp_cnt 1)
   (while (<= cp_cnt #copies)
     (setq cntr 1)
(while (<= cntr pages)
 (setq pg# (strcat "Page-"(itoa cntr)""))
   (command "._-plot"
"_yes"
""
"Printer + Copier"
pg_size
"_millimeters"
"_landscape"
"_no"
"_view"
pg#
"_fit"
"_center"
"_yes"
"monochrome.ctb"
"_yes"
"as"
"_No"
"_Yes"
"_Yes"
)
 (setq cntr (1+ cntr))
);end plot loop
(setq cp_cnt (1+ cp_cnt))
     );end copies loop
(prompt
  (strcat "\n"(itoa (1- cntr))" Pages successfully plotted! "))
    (prompt "\nCreated by CJC aka 'RHINO'")
)
 )
)
   ); end if modelspace = true
  (*error* "")
  (princ)
)
  (prompt "\n plot_man is now available - type <PM> to run! ")
I added
 - an option for copies I think it prints collated sets - cant remember n not in the office to check
 - plot from layouts
 - set all layers to 0 lineweight - it wont affect llines that are set to a lineweight other than 'bylayer'
 - ull have to modify the printer name and the paper size for it to work for you

hope it helps

cheers

[uncoolperson]

if you have adobe, pdf each file, combine, print

[Marco Jacinto]

Check to see if your printer has an option to keep the printed jobs, it is in teh advanced Options Tab, in the printer's property dialog. With this, the printed document are keeped, and printed as many times as you wish.

Saludos

Marco Jacinto

[rhino]

Check to see if your printer has an option to keep the printed jobs, it is in teh advanced Options Tab, in the printer's property dialog. With this, the printed document are keeped, and printed as many times as you wish.

Saludos

Marco Jacinto

sounds cool