topic Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file? in AutoCAD Forum

How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

Prvoime — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:33:12 GMT

Hello to everyone.
When exporting from Revit to AutoCAD I also get a pcp file.
I use "Add-A-Plot Style Table Wizard" to convert it to ctb file, but it doesn't convert really accurately.

First, the colors, they don't convert at all. As you can see in my little example, from Revit everything except the logo prints black. From AutoCAD everything prints in color.
OK, I can solve this manually, but is there some better way? It's not an issue with drawing that are mostly black, but could get tedious with drawings that use a lot of colors and shading, to hunt down all those colors of layers.

Second, the thickness. I deliberately set ridiculously thick lines for walls in Revit to illustrate the issue. Thickness don't translate in AutoCAD. At all.
It's clearly visible in this example, but it's worse when you don't use ridiculous values, then everything just ends up being the same thickness.

Any way to solve these issues?

Here are prints, first Revit, second AutoCAD.

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to stb file?

pendean — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 18:15:21 GMT

Start from scratch: its quicker.

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to stb file?

Prvoime — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 18:19:23 GMT

Forgot to mention, when line thickness is turned on in AutoCAD itself, those thickness do seem to translate correctly.

If that can somehow help to solve it.

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to stb file?

RobDraw — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 10:38:11 GMT

In Revit, colors can be ignored with print settings. Making a comparison in that aspect doesn't apply.

Please explain the steps you followed to "convert" the .pcp file to a ,pcp file as you stated. That doesn't make sense.

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to stb file?

Prvoime — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:31:39 GMT

@RobDraw wrote:
Please explain the steps you followed to "convert" the .pcp file to a ,pcp file as you stated. That doesn't make sense.

I said PCP to STB. I actually made a typo there, I need a CTB file, not STB.

Pictures above are with CTB file.

In AutoCAD start the STYLESMANAGER command.
This opens up folder with plot styles and among them there is also "Add-A-Plot Style Table Wizard".
Start it, follow the steps, it allows to select PCP file to be converted into CTB file (or STB).
But, as shown, result is far from usable.

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to stb file?

Prvoime — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:33:31 GMT

Edited the typos.

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

RobDraw — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:59:15 GMT

If "black lines" was used to print from Revit, you may need to edit the .ctb file to reflect that setting. If you are exporting the sheet, I don't think you can account for that setting. Can you confirm?

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

Prvoime — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 13:36:13 GMT

@RobDraw wrote:
If "black lines" was used to print from Revit, you may need to edit the .ctb file to reflect that setting. If you are exporting the sheet, I don't think you can account for that setting. Can you confirm?

Black line were not used for printing from Revit, but i did export the sheet.

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

RobDraw — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 13:52:06 GMT

How are you able to print from Revit without colors or how are you getting colors into your export?

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

Prvoime — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 15:21:26 GMT

@RobDraw

Revit is "What you see if what you get" type of software. How something looks is determined by its category.

So if you want your wall lines black, 0.7mm thick, that's what you get, on screen and printed.

When exporting to dwg it automatically creates a PCP file, and objects in Revit are translated into layers based on standard you choose (AIA, ISO, some other...).

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

pendean — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 16:45:52 GMT

You'd be done by now if you ..."Start from scratch: its quicker."

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

RobDraw — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 17:47:18 GMT

@Prvoime wrote:
@RobDraw
Revit is "What you see if what you get" type of software. How something looks is determined by its category.
So if you want your wall lines black, 0.7mm thick, that's what you get, on screen and printed.

When exporting to dwg it automatically creates a PCP file, and objects in Revit are translated into layers based on standard you choose (AIA, ISO, some other...).

No need for CADsplaining, I know how Revit works. I haven't had to export for production use in a long time so I might be a bit rusty in this aspect but not a stranger.

Let's try this again. My question is based on your first post saying that Revit prints black and you are using colors. How are you accomplishing that?

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

Prvoime — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 19:09:58 GMT

@RobDraw wrote:
Let's try this again. My question is based on your first post saying that Revit prints black and you are using colors. How are you accomplishing that?

Oh, I see what you mean, I didn't explain well so we misunderstood each other (not an English speaker so my sentence syntaxes might be a bit off).

When I said "the colors, they don't convert at all", I meant the fact that everything except the logo should be black doesn't convert (layer colors in converted CTB file don't get assigned black color).

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

Prvoime — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 19:10:43 GMT

@pendean wrote:
You'd be done by now if you ..."Start from scratch: its quicker."

That's no fun 😁

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

RobDraw — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 20:07:18 GMT

What are your export settings?

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

Prvoime — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 20:29:11 GMT

@RobDraw wrote:
What are your export settings?

Stock settings, what ever they are 😄 Didn't change anything there.

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

RobDraw — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 20:53:28 GMT

You might want to look at them.

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

Prvoime — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 22:30:09 GMT

@RobDraw wrote:
You might want to look at them.

You mean setting colors in exported DWG to "Specified in view"? Yeah, that's not a solution, I can't send out DWGs to people where all layers are in the same color.

I did some more googling, apparently it just can't be done.

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

RobDraw — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 23:06:01 GMT

I'm still not clear about what you want 8r even what you have. Can't you try explaining it again? Sorry for the confusion.

Re: How to (successfully) convert pcp file to ctb file?

pendean — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 23:14:19 GMT

@Prvoime The part I find funny is that at no time did you think to share your PCP and CTB files with a portion of that DWG file for others to test and examine.

But then again I like my idea better anyway. Glad you came to a conclusion you are happy with.