Multisheet pdf with multiple selection of windows in modelspace

[wbdehaan]

Hi,

i'm trying to create a routine, where i can select multiple windows in modelspace, and the plot a multisheet pdf.

but I'm having trouble to create multiple pages, it only generates 1 page

I have modified sourcecode from Kean Walmsley:

http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2007/09/driving-a-multi.html

- this routine creates a single-page pdf with only the last selected window.

- the pc3-file I use is able to create multisheets because the original routine with paperspace works fine

- I think it has maybe something to do with the pi.Layout = lo.Id ?

any ideas?

kind regards, Wouter de Haan

the netherlands

    <CommandMethod("mplot2")> Public Sub MultiSheetPlot2()

         Dim doc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
        Dim ed As Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput.Editor = doc.Editor
        Dim db As Database = doc.Database

        Dim tr As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()
        Using tr
            Dim bt As BlockTable = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(db.BlockTableId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTable)

            Dim pi As New PlotInfo()
            Dim piv As New PlotInfoValidator()
            piv.MediaMatchingPolicy = MatchingPolicy.MatchEnabled

            ' A PlotEngine does the actual plotting
            ' (can also create one for Preview)

            If PlotFactory.ProcessPlotState = Autodesk.AutoCAD.PlottingServices.ProcessPlotState.NotPlotting Then


                Dim pe As PlotEngine = PlotFactory.CreatePublishEngine()
                Using pe
                    ' Create a Progress Dialog to provide info
                    ' and allow the user to cancel

                    Dim ppd As New PlotProgressDialog(False, 1, True)
                    Using ppd
                        'Dim layoutsToPlot As New ObjectIdCollection()

                        'For Each btrId As ObjectId In bt
                        '    Dim btr As BlockTableRecord = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(btrId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTableRecord)
                        '    If btr.IsLayout AndAlso btr.Name.ToUpper() <> BlockTableRecord.ModelSpace.ToUpper() Then
                        '        layoutsToPlot.Add(btrId)
                        '    End If
                        'Next



                        'For Each btrId As ObjectId In layoutsToPlot
                        Dim AcLayoutMgr As LayoutManager
                        AcLayoutMgr = LayoutManager.Current
                        For I As Integer = 1 To 3


                            'Dim btr As BlockTableRecord = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(btrId, OpenMode.ForRead), BlockTableRecord)


                            'Dim lo As Layout = DirectCast(tr.GetObject(btr.LayoutId, OpenMode.ForRead), Layout)
                            Dim lo As Layout
                            lo = tr.GetObject(AcLayoutMgr.GetLayoutId(AcLayoutMgr.CurrentLayout), OpenMode.ForRead)



                            ' We need a PlotSettings object
                            ' based on the layout settings
                            ' which we then customize

                            Dim ps As New PlotSettings(lo.ModelType)
                            ps.CopyFrom(lo)

                            ' The PlotSettingsValidator helps
                            ' create a valid PlotSettings object

                            Dim psv As PlotSettingsValidator = PlotSettingsValidator.Current

                            ' We'll plot the extents, centered and
                            ' scaled to fit


                            If 1 = 1 Then
                                Dim WindowLO As XYData
                                Dim WindowRB As XYData
                                SelecteerPunt("Geef 1e punt", WindowLO.X, WindowLO.Y)
                                SelecteerWindow("Geef 2e punt", WindowLO.X, WindowLO.Y, WindowRB.X, WindowRB.Y)
                                Dim PlotBound As New Extents2d(WindowLO.X, WindowLO.Y, WindowRB.X, WindowRB.Y)
                                psv.SetPlotWindowArea(ps, PlotBound)
                                psv.SetPlotType(ps, Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.PlotType.Window)
                            Else
                                psv.SetPlotType(ps, Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.PlotType.Extents)
                            End If
                            psv.SetUseStandardScale(ps, True)
                            psv.SetStdScaleType(ps, StdScaleType.ScaleToFit)
                            psv.SetPlotCentered(ps, True)

                            ' We'll use the standard DWFx PC3, as
                            ' this supports multiple sheets

                            psv.SetPlotConfigurationName(ps, "PDFCreator.pc3", "A4")

                            ' We need a PlotInfo object
                            ' linked to the layout


                            '---??? is this correct?
                            pi.Layout = lo.Id
                          

                            ' Make the layout we're plotting current

                            LayoutManager.Current.CurrentLayout = lo.LayoutName

                            ' We need to link the PlotInfo to the
                            ' PlotSettings and then validate it

                            pi.OverrideSettings = ps
                            piv.Validate(pi)

                            If I = 1 Then
                                ppd.PlotMsgString(PlotMessageIndex.DialogTitle) = "Custom Plot Progress"
                                ppd.PlotMsgString(PlotMessageIndex.CancelJobButtonMessage) = "Cancel Job"
                                ppd.PlotMsgString(PlotMessageIndex.CancelSheetButtonMessage) = "Cancel Sheet"
                                ppd.PlotMsgString(PlotMessageIndex.SheetSetProgressCaption) = "Sheet Set Progress"
                                ppd.PlotMsgString(PlotMessageIndex.SheetProgressCaption) = "Sheet Progress"
                                ppd.LowerPlotProgressRange = 0
                                ppd.UpperPlotProgressRange = 100
                                ppd.PlotProgressPos = 0

                                ' Let's start the plot, at last

                                ppd.OnBeginPlot()
                                ppd.IsVisible = True
                                pe.BeginPlot(ppd, Nothing)

                                ' We'll be plotting a single document

                                ' Let's plot to file
                                pe.BeginDocument(pi, doc.Name, Nothing, 1, False, "c:\test-multi-sheet")
                            End If

                            ' Which may contain multiple sheets
                            ppd.StatusMsgString = "Plotting " & doc.Name.Substring(doc.Name.LastIndexOf("\") + 1) & " - sheet " & I.ToString() & " of " & "3"

                            ppd.OnBeginSheet()

                            ppd.LowerSheetProgressRange = 0
                            ppd.UpperSheetProgressRange = 100
                            ppd.SheetProgressPos = 0

                            Dim ppi As New PlotPageInfo()
                            pe.BeginPage(ppi, pi, I = 3, Nothing)
                            pe.BeginGenerateGraphics(Nothing)
                            ppd.SheetProgressPos = 50
                            pe.EndGenerateGraphics(Nothing)

                            ' Finish the sheet
                            pe.EndPage(Nothing)
                            ppd.SheetProgressPos = 100
                            ppd.OnEndSheet()

                        Next

                        ' Finish the document

                        pe.EndDocument(Nothing)

                        ' And finish the plot

                        ppd.PlotProgressPos = 100
                        ppd.OnEndPlot()
                        pe.EndPlot(Nothing)
                    End Using
                End Using
            Else
                ed.WriteMessage(vbLf & "Another plot is in progress.")
            End If
        End Using
    End Sub

[Balaji_Ram]

Hi Wouter,

I am not sure if your code can work to create a single multi-sheet PDF since the parameter to the "SetPlotType" is only used to define the extents of the layout to be plotted. When the same layout is used for plotting again,the last one get overwritten. Typically such plotting is used to create multi-sheet plots of the layouts in the drawing.

A way to create a multi-sheet DWF / PDF based for different portions of your model space is to use the "PublishExecute" method. I created a blog post to explain this :

http://www.typepad.com/site/blogs/6a0167607c2431970b0162ffdc445e970d/post/6a0167607c2431970b019affc4...

If you create named views for different portions of your drawing, a named page setup can be created for it and used with the DSD file to create a single sheet DWF/PDF.

Regards,

[wbdehaan]

Dear Balaji,

thank you for your reply, it explains why I only got the last page printed, 

but in order to read the link you sent, do I have to sign up with this typepad? I cannot read the blog-section you have sent, is it possible to post it here?

kind regards, 

Wouter de Haan

[Balaji_Ram]

Hi Wouter,

Not at all. I think I posted the incorrect link. Sorry for that.

You can read it here :

http://adndevblog.typepad.com/autocad/

Regards,

[wbdehaan]

Hi Balaji,

the code I converted to vb.net, but I get an error at line:

psv.SetPlotConfigurationName(plotSettings, "DWF6 ePlot.pc3", "ANSI_A_(8.50_x_11.00_Inches)")

also, the sample.dwg, i cannot open, because I'm working with AutoCad2010, due to the VBA/vb.net conversion.. Is it possible to save it as an AutoCad 2010 file? And when it works I can also save it as a multisheet PDF file?

Hope You can help, thanks in advance,

kind regards Wouter

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.EditorInput
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.PlottingServices
Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Publishing
Imports System.Collections.Specialized
Imports System.Text

Public Module PDF

    <CommandMethod("Pub2")> Public Sub PublishViews2MultiSheet()
        Dim doc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument
        Dim db As Database = doc.Database
        Dim ed As Editor = doc.Editor


        Dim viewsToPlot As StringCollection = New StringCollection
        viewsToPlot.Add("Test1")
        viewsToPlot.Add("Test2")

        ' Create page setup based on the views
        Dim Tx As Transaction = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction
        Dim layoutId As ObjectId = LayoutManager.Current.GetLayoutId(LayoutManager.Current.CurrentLayout)
        Dim layout As Layout = CType(Tx.GetObject(layoutId, OpenMode.ForWrite), Layout)
        For Each viewName As String In viewsToPlot
            Dim plotSettings As PlotSettings = New PlotSettings(layout.ModelType)
            plotSettings.CopyFrom(layout)
            Dim psv As PlotSettingsValidator = PlotSettingsValidator.Current
            psv.SetPlotConfigurationName(plotSettings, "DWF6 ePlot.pc3", "ANSI_A_(8.50_x_11.00_Inches)")
            psv.RefreshLists(plotSettings)
            psv.SetPlotViewName(plotSettings, viewName)
            psv.SetPlotType(plotSettings, DatabaseServices.PlotType.View)
            psv.SetUseStandardScale(plotSettings, True)
            psv.SetStdScaleType(plotSettings, StdScaleType.ScaleToFit)
            psv.SetPlotCentered(plotSettings, True)
            psv.SetPlotRotation(plotSettings, PlotRotation.Degrees000)
            psv.SetPlotPaperUnits(plotSettings, PlotPaperUnit.Inches)
            plotSettings.PlotSettingsName = String.Format("{0}{1}", viewName, "PS")
            plotSettings.PrintLineweights = True
            plotSettings.AddToPlotSettingsDictionary(db)
            Tx.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(plotSettings, True)
            psv.RefreshLists(plotSettings)
            layout.CopyFrom(plotSettings)
        Next
        Tx.Commit()

        'put the plot in foreground
        Dim bgPlot As Short = CType(Application.GetSystemVariable("BACKGROUNDPLOT"), Short)
        Application.SetSystemVariable("BACKGROUNDPLOT", 0)
        Dim dwgFileName As String = CType(Application.GetSystemVariable("DWGNAME"), String)
        Dim dwgPath As String = CType(Application.GetSystemVariable("DWGPREFIX"), String)
        Tx = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction
        Dim collection As DsdEntryCollection = New DsdEntryCollection
        Dim activeLayoutId As ObjectId = LayoutManager.Current.GetLayoutId(LayoutManager.Current.CurrentLayout)
        For Each viewName As String In viewsToPlot
            Dim layout1 As Layout = CType(Tx.GetObject(activeLayoutId, OpenMode.ForRead), Layout)
            Dim entry As DsdEntry = New DsdEntry
            entry.DwgName = (dwgPath + dwgFileName)
            entry.Layout = layout1.LayoutName
            entry.Title = viewName
            entry.NpsSourceDwg = entry.DwgName
            entry.Nps = String.Format("{0}{1}", viewName, "PS")
            collection.Add(entry)
        Next

        ' remove the ".dwg" extension
        dwgFileName = dwgFileName.Substring(0, (dwgFileName.Length - 4))
        Dim dsdData As DsdData = New DsdData
        dsdData.SheetType = SheetType.MultiDwf
        dsdData.ProjectPath = dwgPath
        dsdData.DestinationName = (dsdData.ProjectPath _
                    + (dwgFileName + ".dwf"))
        If System.IO.File.Exists(dsdData.DestinationName) Then
            System.IO.File.Delete(dsdData.DestinationName)
        End If
        dsdData.SetDsdEntryCollection(collection)
        Dim dsdFile As String = (dsdData.ProjectPath _
                    + (dwgFileName + ".dsd"))

        'Workaround to avoid promp for pdf file name
        'set PromptForDwfName=FALSE in dsdData using StreamReader/StreamWriter
        dsdData.WriteDsd(dsdFile)
        Dim sr As System.IO.StreamReader = New System.IO.StreamReader(dsdFile)
        Dim str As String = sr.ReadToEnd
        sr.Close()
        ' Replace PromptForDwfName
        str = str.Replace("PromptForDwfName=TRUE", "PromptForDwfName=FALSE")

        ' Workaround to have the page setup names included in the DSD file
        ' Replace Setup names based on the created page setups
        ' May not be required if Nps is output to the DSD
        Dim occ As Integer = 0
        Dim index As Integer = str.IndexOf("Setup=")
        Dim startIndex As Integer = 0
        Dim dsdText As StringBuilder = New StringBuilder

        While (index <> -1)
            ' 6 for length of "Setup="
            Dim str1 As String = str.Substring(startIndex, (index + (6 - startIndex)))
            dsdText.Append(str1)
            dsdText.Append(String.Format("{0}{1}", viewsToPlot(occ), "PS"))
            startIndex = (index + 6)
            index = str.IndexOf("Setup=", (index + 6))
            If (index = -1) Then
                dsdText.Append(str.Substring(startIndex, (str.Length - startIndex)))
            End If
            occ = (occ + 1)
        End While


        ' Write the DSD
        Dim sw As System.IO.StreamWriter = New System.IO.StreamWriter(dsdFile)
        sw.Write(dsdText.ToString)
        sw.Close()

        ' Read the updated DSD file
        dsdData.ReadDsd(dsdFile)

        ' Erase DSD as it is no longer needed
        System.IO.File.Delete(dsdFile)
        Dim plotConfig As PlotConfig = PlotConfigManager.SetCurrentConfig("DWF6 ePlot.pc3")
        Dim publisher As Publisher = Application.Publisher

        ' Publish it
        publisher.PublishExecute(dsdData, plotConfig)
        Tx.Commit()

        'reset the background plot value
        Application.SetSystemVariable("BACKGROUNDPLOT", bgPlot)
    End Sub

End Module

[Balaji_Ram]

Hi Wouter,

I am having problem with my Visual Studio installation in my system. So I am having trouble testing it right away.

I will test the VB.Net code and let you know after I get my system in order.

Here is the drawing saved as a 2010 format dwg.

Regards,

[Balaji_Ram]

Hi Wouter,

Sorry for the delay.

Yes, the same code with a few changes should generate a multi-sheet PDF.

I have tested the VB.Net code with AutoCAD 2010 and it worked ok.

I have attached the sample project, the test drawing and the pdf generated.

Regards,

[Sjonge]

Hey,

I'm trying the example project as i am trying to accomplish the same thing, i got single sheet pdf working but not a multisheet pdf, its just giving me errors, the problem is with your example project here that its giving me the error that it doesnt have a page set up, i have try'd sevelar things only still its giving me the error that there is no page setup. I have added the publish plot details as picture

I'm working with AutoCAD 2011

Beste regards,

Sean Berger

[Sjonge]

Got it working now, changed entry.nps string to a existing page setup and now its working.

Thank you for your time anyways.

Best regards,

Sean Berger