Open .PC3 properties through lisp

[Nett0]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying create a LISP to customize PDF creation.  The lisp looks into the .PC3 file which paper size better fits the plot area. But its exaustive to every time i want to create a new paper size i have to open the .pc3 file and configure a new paper.

There is a way to open the .pc3 properties through lisp?

Thanks in advance

Netto

[hgasty1001]

Hi,

It seems there is no way to read a .pc3 file with lisp and obtain useful information, I found some information and a .NET program here: CTB Viewer.

Gaston Nunez

[Nett0]

Unfortunately I couldn't  open CTB Viewer. I'm not registered in http://www.theswamp.org and it looks like they are not accepting new members at the moment.

But I don't want to obtain useful information from a Pc3 file. I just want to open its properties, like the properties option in the plot command. 

Thanks anyway for your time  Gasty

[bhull1985]

I believe it's

mark@theswamp.org

that you'd send an email to and he will give you an account.

as far as i remember he got back to me within an hr or two of me sending him that email

theswamp is a great place, it's probably worth sending the email to get an account there 🙂

And hey check out this portion of code, it may be of use for you. This is a defun that changes the ctb file of a dwg.

(defun c:mcp ()
 (vl-load-com)
  (vla-put-StyleSheet
    (vla-get-ActiveLayout
   (vla-get-ActiveDocument (vlax-get-acad-object))
    )
    "monochromeP.ctb"  ;;<--we still use CTB, yours would be hmc-std.stb
  )
)

[Nett0]

Thank you Bhull.

I've already sent an email to mark@theswamp.org. I hope he reply soon.

Thank you as well for your routine. It helps but I've already use a cod to set plot style.

Cheers

[dgorsman]

Paper sizes don't change, so there's no real need to programmatically read a PC3 or anything special.  Just note the common sizes in use, write them down in an Excel file or whatever for future reference.

[Nett0]

I do not think I explained myself properly.

I Don't want to progammatically read a .PC3 file.  I just want to open its properties via lisp.

The thing is, every time that i want to create a new paper size in DWG To PDF.Pc3 file, I've to:

   Go to the path C:\Users\*user*\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013 - English\R19.0\enu\Plotters

   Open the DWG To PDF.pc3 file.

   Select Device and Documents Settings tab.

All I want is to do this directly from LISP. There is no real need on this. It's only to facilitate my work.

Thank you for your answer dgorsman

[bhull1985 · Accepted solution]

Try looking into the "startapp" lisp function.

[dmfrazier · Accepted solution]

As in:

(STARTAPP "pc3exe.exe" "MyPath/MyPrinter.PC3")

[dmfrazier]

"The thing is, every time that i want to create a new paper size in DWG To PDF.Pc3 file, I've to:

Go to the path C:\Users\*user*\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2013 - English\R19.0\enu\Plotters

Open the DWG To PDF.pc3 file."

Why not just click "Plotter Manager"?  Set the above path as your Printer Config Search Path, and it takes you right there.

[Nett0]

I've tried to use the starapp funtion but with no success.

(STARTAPP "pc3exe.exe" "MyPath/MyPrinter.PC3") is what i was looking for.

Thank you Bhull for all your help.

Thak you dmfrazier for your soluction.