topic Re: Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView in Autodesk Viewers Forum

Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView

pvr1498 — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:12:21 GMT

I've a similar problem I'm facing.

I'm experiencing differences in the batch plot output when using TrueView versus ProgeCAD. Additionally, there's noticeable variation between the PDFs created as single files versus those created as multiple files.
I'm not sure what's causing this and would really appreciate any guidance or suggestions you might have.
Can you share me your email id then I'll send all those files to take a look.

Thanks in advance.

@pvr1498 - topic title has been adjusted for better findability. Original '[Re: Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF/Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView]'

Re: Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView

pendean — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 12:47:19 GMT

@pvr1498 For DTV, show us your actual PLOT dialog pop-up (single PDFs) and your PUBLISH dialog pop-up (multiple PDFs) with a screenshot of the pagesetup settings being used please.

For ProgeCAD, you'll need to go ask over there, no one here can assist with that different software vendor product

https://www.progesoft.com/support

Re: Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView

pvr1498 — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:45:20 GMT

@pendean @john.vellek
Here is the files.
Can you try this and let me know i can get those always perfect in center for Letter size paper.

Re: Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView

pendean — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 15:29:42 GMT

@pvr1498 What is the one single PDF file supposed to show exactly?

Do you need to post another that perhaps shows the issue you are facing?

I also asked if you could...

I don't see these.

Re: Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView

pvr1498 — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:39:05 GMT

The Pdf I've shared before is batch plot by this setting.
when i change plot manually as with ctrl +p option it to have 0.25" margin each side and it's perfectly in center.

once ill do that then in batch plot is perfectly in center.

Not sure what is causing issues.
Batch plot in True viewWhen i am saving pdf manually with Ctrl +P

Re: Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView

paullimapa — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:13:59 GMT

My observations on the drawings current page setup:

1) The current Layout1 default Page Setup is: <none>

2) The current setup is NOT centered on the sheet...the dashed lines are the page size print margins:

3) After I apply the Page Setup: dwg_to_pdf to Layout1, then the sheet is centered on the plot

4) But since the current Print Area is Extents & Scale is Fit, then:

Test 1.dwg now saved as Test 1 Page Setup dwg_to_pdf Microsoft Print To Pdf.dwg

Test 3.dwg now saved as Test 3 Page Setup dwg_to_pdf Microsoft Print To Pdf.dwg

This ends up with different output as shown in attached PDFs & Page Setup Window screenshots:

Test 1 Page Setup dwg_to_pdf Microsoft Print To Pdf & Test 3 Page Setup dwg_to_pdf Microsoft Print To Pdf

5) A better option since these drawings are actually designed for 1=1 scale Letter Size print outs I created a new Page Setup called Dwg To Pdf using this named built-in pdf printer and instead of Extents I used the Window option designating the exact lower left & upper right corners of the plot area and with scale as 1=1:

Test 1.dwg now saved as Test 1 Page Setup Dwg To Pdf.dwg

Test 3.dwg now saved as Test 3 Page Setup Dwg To Pdf.dwg

So you end up with matching and accurate scaled plots and now the batch output pdfs from Dwg Trueview look exactly the same see attached:

Test 1 Page Setup Dwg To Pdf.pdf & Test 3 Page Setup Dwg To Pdf.pdf

Re: Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView

pvr1498 — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:14:24 GMT

@paullimapa
thanks for responding.
I tried way you suggested mostly it works but some drawing i have that I've attached here. Where drawings are made in model and Border are added in Layout.
How would i keep that in center and batch select page layout when I'm batch plotting to convert into pdf.

Re: Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView

paullimapa — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 15:21:52 GMT

First of all the dwg has errors that require recovering & saving:

Then you have to go through the same Page Setup process again using Window as the Plot Area and Center the Plot like the way I mentioned previously:

1. Enter command PageSetup on Layout1:

2. Select DWG_2_PDF

3. Click Modify button

Under Plot Area click Window

Lower Left is osnap end point of bottom left corner

Upper Right is osnap end point of upper right corner

Click Preview button & now you see sheet centered on the page

Back on the Page Setup Manager window still with DWG_2_PDF selected click Set Current button

Click Close

Now Graphic screen also shows sheet centered on page

Enter QSAVE and close dwg

Now you should be able to Publish this along with the other dwgs with the border centered on the pdf output.

Re: Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView

pvr1498 — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:39:59 GMT

Thanks for responding @paullimapa
However, I’ve noticed that I need to plot the display every time I switch from one file to another. During batch plotting, the display appears centered only if I've selected “Display” otherwise, it doesn’t.

Is that correct?

Re: Plot area in layout changing when Plotting to PDF in TrueView

paullimapa — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 16:59:59 GMT

No that is incorrect. To get an accurate plot area, always create a page setup with plot area using the "Window" option unless you've accurately placed the objects to be plotted exactly in the location desired in Paper Space then the plot area would then be "Layout"

Plotting using area as "Display" is dependent on your graphics screen and you have very little control as to exactly what area is plotted.