Topic: Plot Tabs Routine

[CAB]

This is my version 1 of "Plot Tabs Lisp", so there are sure to be some bugs.
Testing on my own drawings doesn't expose the program to enough variation.
So if you feel like it try it out.

It comes with a dcl file and will not operate without it.

Operation is straight forward. It will plot all tabs within the current drawing
with the exception of those flagged with a character in the tab name and the
Skip Tab flag is set.
User picks the page set up to use.
Plots multiple sets, collated or not (check box)
Plot in Tab order or sort by Alpha or numeric.
  Numeric sort finds the first hole number to use as the sort value.
  "S12" = 12  "S1" = 2 etc.
You may also reverse this order. (check box)

There is one problem I have worked around but am working on finding a solution.
That is the fact the the -plot command will prompt you for a plot file name if
you answer yes to the "Plot to file [Y/N]" prompt. But will not ask if you answer
no to the prompt. The answer needs to come from the pc3 file, I think, and I haven't
been able to access that yet.

The work around is a check box with plot to file info entered by the user. So making the
incorrect choice will cause an error or unexpected results.


(revised code)
(revised code 12/29/16)


Features:
;;;  Requires PlotTabs.dcl file to run (The lisp builds this file)
;;;  Routine to plot paperspace tabs
;;;  Pick Page Set Up to use
;;;  Sort Tabs by Alpha, Numeric, or Tab order
;;;  Reverse sort order of Tabs
;;;  Ignore Tabs with flag character, you choose character
;;;  Enter quantity of copies
;;;  Option to collate
;;;  Enter PLotTabs to run from the command line

[daron]

That's nice.

[CAB]

Thanks Daron, you'll probably see some of your code in there.

I have a working version using vla-PlotToDevice which overcomes the
Plot to file issue but the layout must be set or saved before this is
called. Therefore you have no choice but to alter the layout settings.
So the "Save to Layout" is always true.

Can't have you cake and eat it too. i guess.

CAB

[ELOQUINTET]

hey cab looks great but when i use it nothing happens, no prints. i have four layouts, 3 of which i put the ~ in front of and 1 without. nothing happens   also is there a way to retain the last settings? i never print to file so how would i make the default unchecked? thanks man for your work...

dan

[ELOQUINTET]

oh yeah and how would i make the tabs function default. thanks

dan

[Mark]

hey cab looks great but when i use it nothing happens, no prints.

Do you get any error messages on the command line?

[CAB]

Good morning Mark.


Dan, can you e-mail the drawing to me?
When you say nothing happens, did it create a plt file?

CAB

[ELOQUINTET]

nope no message. it appears as though it was successful but nothing comes out (scratches head)

Plotting viewport 1.
Effective plotting area:  8.00 wide by 10.67 high
Plotting viewport 1.
Plot Sets Complete

dunno

dan

[Mark]

>Good morning Mark.
Top of the morning to you sir. And a lovely morning it is.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/forecasts/FLZ051.php?warncounty=FLC057&city=Tampa

[ELOQUINTET]

it snowed here in new york this weekend ya bastard  

dan

[CAB]

dan,
send me the dwg so i can check it out....

******

CAB

[ELOQUINTET]

cab it's in the pond.

[CAB]

Thanks dan...

Changed one line so recopy the lisp file.

dan said

is there a way to retain the last settings? i never print to file so how would i make the default unchecked? thanks man for your work...

dan the first check box "Save Page Set Ups to Layout"  if checked will indeed save the settings you are using at this moment
to plot the files. If you want to keep the setup that was there when this routine started, uncheck the box.

Make sure you uncheck the last check box  "Plot to file" or you will not get anything except a PLT file.

CAB

[daron]

Wow Cab. I haven't even tried the command, just looked at the text. I did notice my work in there, but wasn't 100%. Glad my functions moved you along in this. From reading the other posts it seems you put a great deal into it. Kudos.

it snowed here in new york this weekend ya bastard  

dan

Dan, that's the difference between the North and the South. Don't blame Mark for where you live. Here in AZ the 7 day forcast threatened 70+ degrees all week. It's the middle of Decemeber for crying out loud. It should be high 50's at best.

[ELOQUINTET]

thanks cab i'll give that a try. daron i believe mark knows i'm just playin around.  

dan

[CAB]

dan,

Found another problem with plotting to device and corrected it,

So copy the lisp routine again before trying it.

CAB

[ELOQUINTET]

hey cab i recopied the code and tried what you said but still get the same results. nothing prints and no plt file created either. i check save page setup to layout and set it to tabs and uncheck plot to file and it reverts back to alpha and plt?

dan

[CAB]

Sorry dan, I didn't post the last message before you got here.

I just fixed that, try again please.

CAB

[daron]

thanks cab i'll give that a try. daron i believe mark knows i'm just playin around.  

dan

I know you are. I just felt like giving you a hard time too.

[ELOQUINTET]

welp copied it again and still nothing hmmm?

[CAB]

OK dan, one more time  


Some dcl code was giving me a fit.


Hope that clears it up.

CAB

[ELOQUINTET]

now when i run it it says can't find plottabs.dcl  

[daron]

Where's the dcl located? Is it in a pathed folder?

[CAB]

dan, my fault, I am working an another version & i renamed the dcl file.

SO eather copy the lisp again, which i revised the name back to PLotTabs.dcl.
Or rename the dcl PLotTabs2.dcl.
But do not do both.

[ELOQUINTET]

cab what's the status of your plottabs routine. i'm not sure which code to copy to have it work. i'm still using the original before you added the dcl. can you post what you have so i can try it out. thank

[ELOQUINTET]

ok copied the code and got it working but it still sets alpha and plot to file as default rather than not but hey beggars can't be choosers i guess. thanks man

[Anonymous]

CAB
I copied your lisp and dcl, but when I load the lisp, I get this:

error: bad character read (octal): 0

Any Ideas

Thanks
Scott

[Scott]

Sorry,

I cleaned out my cookies, and forgot to log in.  The above post is from me.

Thanks Again
Scott

[CAB]

The dcl file must be in the acad search path, is that it?

CAB

[Scott]

Yes, both lisp and dcl are in a file called LSP in the autocad search path.

[CAB]

They need to be in separate files

PlotTabs.dcl will hold the dcl code
PlotTabs.lsp will hold the lisp code

[Scott]

Okay,

I recopied the lisp and dcl, and I get farther than before.  However, now I get an error that says
 "Error in dialog file "PlotTabs.dcl", Line 1, Minus sign not followed by a digit"

Any ideas?

Thanks
Scott

[CAB]

Scott,
Sounds like you may not have copied the dcl file completely.
Try downloading this zip file "PlotTabs042104.zip" and replace the ones you have.
The PLotTabs3.lsp is a newer verision, you will want to delete the old PLotTabs.lsp on your disk.

http://www.theswamp.org/lilly.pond/CAB/Plot%20Tabs%20042104.zip

[Scott]

CAB,

Works like a charm, and saves alot of time as well.

Thanks
Scott

[CAB]

Thanks Scott,
Check back in a few weeks as I'm planning an update.
Nothing major, just trying to add the directory choice when you save to file
and to better integrate the "Zoom Extents" & "Plot" loops into one to speed up the routine.

CAB

[daron]

WhooBoy! I gave that man a fish and he's learned to feed the community. CAB, you rock.

[CAB]

Thanks Daron, and Mark, Keith, Stig, Se7en, Hendie, and many others
for teaching me HOW to fish.
After umteen thousand lisp questions you folks were patient enough to answer.
I'm enjoying giving back. Seems like yesterday I started asking questions.
I think this was the first.

I don't think i'll ever catch up with you all, but i keep trying.
Too much to know and too little time.


CAB

[hendie]

WhooBoy! I gave that man a fish and he's learned to feed the community. CAB, you rock.

I think I may have offered a sardine at one point.... and looking at CAB's coding skills now, I think CAB may have to hand that sardine back again !

Great work CAB

[SMadsen]

LISP is not one of my abilities ...

Pretty impressive, CAB

[CAB]

Well Thanks, it's comming along.
But the credit goes to all the folks here for the quality help you all give
when asked. I appreciate the overlooking of my "Foot in Mouth" outbreaks
from time to time. This site is very conducive to learning and that's
what makes it so great.

Thanks Mark for making it possible, and call before you dig, will ya.

CAB

[daron]

And it's only taken you 1 year to get as far as you have. CAB, you must have some good time on your hands. That or you really catch on quick.

[CAB]

Well, I'd like to say both.

I have a  background in programing, CBASIC, dBase, FoxBase, 6502, & Z80 as a hobby
starting in the late 70's. In 1989 I wrote a routine in FoxBase template language,
a program that writes programs, and made a few bucks selling it before FoxPro came out
and provided radio buttons and check boxes & made my routine obsolete. Got into fishing &
diving and forgot my old hobby until ACAD came along & I started making a living doing that.
I think Lisp is a natural progression using acad. The little routines I have written with the
help here have saved me a lot of time drawing but I reinvest the time into programing.
So yes I have invested a lot of time.

Sorry for the long reply.

[esortm]

Sorry for bumping an old topic, but I had to pass my regards to CAB for the plottabs program.  We have been looking for this for sometime.  We were finally directed here from Autodesk's discussion groups.  Once again, thanks CAB for a great program.

[CAB]

Thanks for joining us.

The newer thread and latest version are here
http://theswamp.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=45126#45126

If you have any questions please ask.
There are a lot of people here willing to help.
And do join in if you have the answers.