topic Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window in AutoCAD Forum

ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 16:15:52 GMT

This is an odd problem. I have tested my printers outside of AutoCAD, and uninstalled and reinstalled them just in case. (they work fine from all other programs)

When I plot to my two physical printers (not pdf) AutoCAD opens a select file dialogue, if I select a file, nothing happens, If I cancel nothing happens...

any ideas?

Thanks,

Miccal

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Alfred.NESWADBA — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 16:33:58 GMT

Hi,

>> When I plot to my two physical printers

Can you please start command _PLOT, select your printer in the list of devices, then click onto "Properties".
In the new dialog change to tab "Ports" and create/show a screenshot from that content please, similar to that one:

- alfred -

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Alfred.NESWADBA — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 16:37:04 GMT

Hi,

besides of the plot-to-file ... I've just seen that the dialog you have shown as "Capture1.jpg" has the "*.dwg" extension as default.

That is not an extension when a device prints to file (then it would be "*.prn".

Maybe you describe the complete workflow how you do your plot? Maybe you do have a 3rd party application and so using different commands and different workflows?

- alfred -

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

imadHabash — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 16:43:46 GMT

Hi,

>> When I plot to my two physical printers (not pdf) AutoCAD opens a select file dialogue, <<

this dialog is not familiar to what we usually see it when plot from AutoCAD !! is there any plug-ins that you use it ? would you describe more your issue ?

Regards,

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 16:59:12 GMT

Attached below are the screen shots showing the blank printer ports in both the system printer and a .pc3 that I created to see what was going on. this is not isolated to one printer. It has unfortunately just started in the last couple of days, I received a file from created in another software and tried to print it to prep for a measure on Monday.

All my print devices through plot command (dwg to pdf, Bluebeam, system printers) open the above select file dialogue. I am not trying to print to file, I am attempting to print direct to a system printer that I've had for 2 yrs and has worked....

in 20 plus years using AutoCAD I've never seen anything like this...

I'm ready to reinstall AutoCAD, but that feels like using a bat to swat a fly on the window.

Thanks,

Miccal

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

imadHabash — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 17:06:15 GMT

Hi,

in your previous post images ... plotters name are not the same. please confirm that your issue is not solve when you use HP Officejet 7610.pc3 ?

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Alfred.NESWADBA — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 17:07:01 GMT

Hi,

thank you for your screenshots, looks ok as not "Plot to File" is activated.

>> All my print devices through plot command

Can you please start command

_.PLOT

(with underline and point in front of the command name) ... does that open the plot-dialog ... and when you press OK in the plot dialog, then it opens the select-file-dialog again?

If yes, can you please login with a different Windows user account and try AutoCAD plotting again?
If that works I guess something happened either to your PC3 files or to your AutoCAD config. Then reset settings to default might be the fastest way to get that solved (>>>click<<<, please be careful, with that your customization's have to be recreated).

HTH, - alfred -

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 17:09:10 GMT

the problem is happening with all printer devices. 😞

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 17:13:55 GMT

Alfred, Unfortunately I only have the one profile, work by myself.

But, yes the select file opens after select the OK button in the plot dialogue no matter how I get to it. I've even tried publish selected layouts. I think this is a reset.

Thanks,

Miccal

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Alfred.NESWADBA — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 17:18:51 GMT

Hi,

>> Unfortunately I only have the one profile, work by myself.

Well, the other user account is just to see if it's the AutoCAD installation or the AutoCAD user profile. And I try the "other-user-account" just to not kill the original AutoCAD profile without knowing if it's the source of the issue.

But you can export your settings as described >>>here<<<, so you have a backup from your profile and menu, before your reset settings to default.

Good luck, - alfred -

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 17:44:31 GMT

Alfred, I set up another account and it printed fine... so I'm resetting AutoCAD. On the bright side I don't have many custom files or locations to map...

Thanks for your help!

Miccal

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 18:05:45 GMT

resetting the settings to default didn't work. something else is at play here. Tried a reinstall through the autodesk installer and that didn't work either. Going to uninstall reboot and install from scratch.

Miccal

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Alfred.NESWADBA — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 18:14:02 GMT

Hi,

>> resetting the settings to default didn't work

Sorry to hear that.

>> Tried a reinstall through the autodesk installer

Not necessary, because AutoCAD worked well with the other user account, so it's nothing application specific.

What is interesting now is that all printers in AutoCAD do that within your user account.

Do you have any plugins running on top of AutoCAD?

Also worth to try: create a new PC3 file using plottermanager ==> add-a-plotter-wizard ... and then try this again with AutoCAD ==> _,PLOT ==> select that new PC3 file

HTH, - alfred -

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 18:29:29 GMT

You are right reinstalling did nothing. The pc3 for the hp printer that i posted above is a new one. I'm reinstalling printers now (only 2). If that doest work I dont know what else to try.

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Alfred.NESWADBA — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 18:36:14 GMT

Hi,

>> If that doest work I dont know what else to try.

You are not really lost, because you do have a Windows account you know that this is working.

I'd like to ask again if you do have any 3rd party apps on top of your AutoCAD, anything like a document management system that makes sure that plot-commands start a save dialog.

Or your Windows user profile has defects, by installing any new applications?

BTW: when you run _PLOT, then you are asked for a file ... how does AutoCAD proceed then, does it create a DWG file? or does it open a dwg-file? or does it create a plot-file? Can you upload the file that is created?

Also interesting: if you are working within a network (maybe a cloud service), can you disconnect your workstation from all networks (so it does not find file-server, network-printer, internet) ... then restart your workstation, start AutoCAD and start _.PLOT ==> same issue?

- alfred -

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 18:59:20 GMT

Thanks for hanging in with me.

I dont have any file mangment or other software running over autocad. I try to keep as simple a sysytem as i can.

The program doent create anything after it asks me to select a file.

I'm on a simple network and use dropbox for file share. My pc and printers are have assigned ip's. I will try shat you suggest, Soon.

I'm runnin a deep scan now to see if anything crept into my system.

I will post as soon as i can try what you suggested.

Thanks again,
miccal

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

pendean — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 19:10:20 GMT

>>>...I set up another account and it printed fine...<<<
Your problems seem related to your old Windows log-in, not your AutoCAD profile: but to confirm, log-in as the other user, export that AutoAD proflle to an ARG, log-out then log in as you, import this AutoCAD profile and test it.

I'm not sure how to fix a Window log-in if the test above fails: at least you now has a working log-in to migrate to.

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Anonymous — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 01:59:09 GMT

Hi Dean, as it turn our it looks like it was a windows system level error. My OS failed and after hours on with dell tech premiere they are sending a new imaged drive. I will let you all know how it turns out on Tuesday!

Thanks for you input...

Miccal

Re: ploting to known working printers opens select file window

Alfred.NESWADBA — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 10:09:56 GMT

Hi,

>> it looks like it was a windows system level error

Don't think so, as the other user you created temporarily worked. So it could be a Windows user profile setting, but not a global OS defect.

But I wish you the best to get it working!

- alfred -