topic Re: pc3 changes paper size in AutoCAD Forum

pc3 changes paper size

dkelner67U2P — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 18:28:59 GMT

Years ago I was excited about pc3 files and made one because we change printers periodically. So, now here we are, changing printers. I made the new pcs file. I made sure the windows driver is set just like the old one: 11x17 landscape. What I expected: I open an old drawing, it uses the pc3 file, and I can just hit print. What I get: I plot, pc3 file is default, but paper size changes. I googled, I tried changing the toggle in options, plot and publish, general plot option. "Keep size" option defaults to 8-1/2 x 11, while "use plot device" option just greys the choice. The whole point was to be able to change printers without having to click anything. If I have to reselect paper size back to 11x17, I might as well select base printer. Is this normal? Does anyone know how I can keep the paper size to default to the original drawing or pc3 file or printer driver (11 x 17).

edit:

I finally talked my I.T. to just upgrade me to 2025. Problem seems to go away. I made a new pc3 file using 2025, and printing in 2025 now respects paper size. So looks like the issue was in how version 2019 was handling things.

Re: pc3 changes paper size

cadffm — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 22:03:43 GMT

Hi,

I am not sure to understood what you did in details, but let me say how it should work.

1. You created a .pc3 with a good name like CoolPlotter1.pc3

2. Best way now: Add ALL of your papersizes

3a You can copy/move the .pc3 and .pmp to all PC and use them without any changes

3b For usual you can use in other versions too,

but from time to time (some versions), they are not compatible and you have to create the .pc3 from scratch.

(So far I know, the old .pmp still works, so you can add the old file to your .pc3)

Q: Why did you setup a new .pc3?

Did you add the old .pmp or did your recreate a new one with the same sizes?

Did you add all needed papersizes in the old/new one?

It sounds the old "11x17" has another definition or another name than the new one.

If you like, share your old .pc3/.pmp one sample .dwg (drawing content is not needed, just the original pagesetup)

and the .pc3/.pmp you using now.

Re: pc3 changes paper size

pendean — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 22:08:00 GMT

If you have to change paper sizes, your PC3 file was not created correctly as a one size always PC3 file.
Is this how you ended up creating the PC3 file after the changes you did in the driver defaults https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Creating-plotter-configuration-files-PC3.html

What is the new printer make/model/driver version installed in Windows? What is your Windows version?
Can you hare your PC3 file here?

What did you name the new PC3 file? If it is the same name of the old PC3 file, or totally different?

Re: pc3 changes paper size

dkelner67U2P — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:16:41 GMT

windows 10.

Konica Minolta printer. The company used a Pharos print manager on the server, and decided to remove the service. So I created a new pc3 and named it the same filename so I can redirect to the new driver.

Included you will find the old pc3 and new. they were both named the same. The old worked beautifully. The new, would not respect the page size. Notice on the new i tried to filter out all sizes but the 11x17. this did not even work. i can open the same drawing 10 times. 5 times it defaults to 11x17 fine. the other five times the field is gray with no page size shown at all.

Re: pc3 changes paper size

dkelner67U2P — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:19:01 GMT

The company used a Pharos print manager on the server, and decided to remove the service. So I created a new pc3 and named it the same filename so I can redirect to the new driver.

Included you will find the old pc3 and new. they were both named the same. The old worked beautifully. The new, would not respect the page size. Notice on the new, I tried to filter out all sizes but the 11x17. This did not even work. I can open the same drawing 10 times. 5 times it defaults to 11x17 fine. the other five times the field is gray with no page size shown at all.

Re: pc3 changes paper size

cadffm — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:28:15 GMT

I am missing the old (and new?) .pmp file!

But as explained above: Check the identical spelling of the "old 11x17" and the "new 11x17"

Is the papersize name 100% the same?

Re: pc3 changes paper size

dkelner67U2P — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:41:19 GMT

The filename and page size looks to be named exactly the same.

Using the new pc3 file:

It is weird how it is switching back and forth randomly. I just tried again to make sure. I opened a file, it defaulted to 11x17, and printed perfectly. So, I closed the file without saving and reopened it. This time the paper size is gray with no paper size and will not print. Close without saving, open file again, this time it works.

Re: pc3 changes paper size

cadffm — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:56:29 GMT

You added the new .pc3 hours/days before, so you restart Acad one or more times since?

In that case it should act every time the same way.

Re: pc3 changes paper size

cadffm — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:11:53 GMT

deleted - trouble with my browser / wrong thread

Re: pc3 changes paper size

cadffm — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:13:41 GMT

deleted - trouble with my browser / wrong thread

Re: pc3 changes paper size

dkelner67U2P — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:13:47 GMT

New pc3 file yesterday. restarted many times. By the way I have acad 2019. My coworker has 2022. He is out today. Monday, I will try to get him to make the new pc3 using 2022, and see if that does anything different.

(FYI, I am seeing some of your posts in this thread. I think they were meant as replies to somebody else? something about mpr and new threads)

Re: pc3 changes paper size

cadffm — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:38:25 GMT

Hi,

>>"FYI"

Yes, the was a chaos with multiple postings, sorry - I don't know why that happend.

Your win printer drivers:

Now: "KONICA MINOLTA CommonDriver PCL

Old: KONICA MINOLTA Universal PCL

.PC3

a Papersize is not stored in your .pc3, it is defined in your local Windows printer driver and/or your .pmp file

Your old .pc3 wasn't linked to a .pmp, so you used the windows printer papersizes.

(That's why I wrote: "Did you add all needed papersizes in the old/new one?", because a user defined papersize would be part of .pmp file and you have to access, no matter of your windows printer driver)

I am not sure if the Name, or the Size of a paper is important for AutoCAD to find the right papersize, I guess it is the size - paper name independing, but in this case it would work 0% or 100%, unusual.

I'm afraid I can't help here without installing both drivers, but I don't have the time.

Re: pc3 changes paper size

dkelner67U2P — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 18:27:36 GMT

Thank you so much for working with me. I finally talked my I.T. to just upgrade me to 2025. Problem seems to go away. I made to pc3 file using 2025, and printing in 2025 now respects paper size. So looks like the issue was in how version 2019 was handling things. Thanks Again.

Re: pc3 changes paper size

owen66 — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:28:32 GMT

I'm battling what seems to be a change somewhere in the plot chain, and came across this thread. I know it's old, but you're not losing your mind - between AutoCAD 2018 and 2023 (which was our gap) Autodesk changed some internal reference number for our HP T2530 so I couldn't use the PC3 I created in 2018 (historically I was able to roll the PC3s forward to new versions). I had to re-create the PC3 for 2023 and then everything worked as expected.

Now those 2023 PC3s aren't plotting E1+ sizes properly and I'm trying to figure out what's changed in the past 6 months.