topic Re: Get file type from plotter before plot? in .NET Forum

Get file type from plotter before plot?

ottosson_mathias — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:02:16 GMT

I have two plotters, PublishToWeb JPG.pc3 and PDFXchange 7.pc3. Is it possible to get the file type of the plot before plotting, preferably from the PlotConfigInfo or something similar if possible?

I need to be able to set scale unit to pixels if the plotter is outputting jpg and mm/inches if it's a pdf. I don't know beforehand what plotters are available.

Thanks!

Re: Get file type from plotter before plot?

SENL1362 — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 15:25:18 GMT

You can get a list of PlotDevices with:

PlotConfigManager.RefreshList(RefreshCode.RefreshDevicesList); string plotDevNames=null; using (PlotConfigInfoCollection plotDevices= PlotConfigManager.Devices) { if (plotDevices != null && plotDevices.Count > 0) { plotDevNames = plotDevices.Cast<PlotConfigInfo>() .Select(n => n.DeviceName).ToList(); } }

And based on the (pc3)Name of the device you can decide to set the Units, Scale etc.

var lm = LayoutManager.Current; var psv = PlotSettingsValidator.Current; using (var tr = db.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()) { var layoutName = lm.CurrentLayout; var layoutId = lm.GetLayoutId(layoutName); var layout = (Layout)tr.GetObject(layoutId, OpenMode.ForRead); using (var ps = new PlotSettings(layout.ModelType)) { ps.CopyFrom(layout); //Set or Change the PlotDevice //psv.SetPlotConfigurationName(ps, pc3Name, null); //psv.RefreshLists(ps); //or Get the PlotDevice and set Units accordingly var pc3Name=ps.PlotConfigurationName; var psUnits=(pc3Name.Contains("PDF",StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) ? PlotPaperUnit.Millimeters : PlotPaperUnit.Pixels; psv.SetPlotPaperUnits(ps, psUnits); layout.CopyFrom(ps); } tr.Commit(); }

PS: you might need this String Extension for the Case Insensitive Compare

public static class StringExtension { public static bool Contains(this string source, string toCheck, StringComparison compType) { return source != null && toCheck != null && source.IndexOf(toCheck, compType) >= 0; } }

Re: Get file type from plotter before plot?

ottosson_mathias — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 05:34:40 GMT

Thanks but this is not a robust solution. The plotter name does not always contain the type of plotter. Bluebeam does not have pdf in its plotter name for example.

Re: Get file type from plotter before plot?

SENL1362 — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 06:08:21 GMT

You are absolutely Right!

But you asked for a solution for the plotters mentioned above.

Re: Get file type from plotter before plot?

SENL1362 — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 06:07:46 GMT

When you start the AutoCAD Plot command you'll see PDF options for PDF type drivers.

I don't think we have access to these details from the Net API's.

Have a look at my entry to the post: Add plot custom paper size (07-30-2014).

It shows some C# code to read the contents of PC3 and PMP files. For a PDF type of pc3 you find what you are looking for, as show below.