Cant change plotter

[Anonymous]

Ever since I downloaded 2017 so many of things have happened. Now its automatically plotting to .pdf and I cant plot to either of my other printers.

I know there is a workaround, but I rather like plotting from AutoCAD. Especially for scaling.

Here are the screenshots - My default system printer is set to my draft printer which is a canon. My main printer is an 11 x 17 Epson

fyi I'm using 2015 - I haven't broken into 2017 yet. I tried it for a brief moment. I just got used to 2015 from the 2013 version.

[Anonymous]

I'm not using 2017 yet......

I took 2 semesters of AutoCAD back in 2013 at a technical college. I learned drafting the old fashioned way when I went to school originally. I did update to 2015 - But so far I am used to that - JUST BARELY and 2017 kept flashing and doing weird stuff. Its loaded but I am not at all looking forward to using it.

That saying about old dogs and new tricks def applies to me!

[john.vellek]

When I look at your layouts they don't have the Page setup that you created applied to them. Click on a layout, open page setup manager and select the 11x17 and then click the set current button.

Before you do that though, make sure that you have selected the PC3 (DWG-to PDF driver) for the printer and also assign a plot pen table (CTB)

[Anonymous]

I did set current. That's went they went wonky.

Robyn Steward
Allied ASID

RSdesign
Interior architecture & renovations
Northfield Vermont
802-279-5722

[john.vellek]

Hi Robyn.Steward,

Did the file I attached behave better for you? Your first layout was corrupt so I simply created a new one.

[Anonymous]

No same thing.

Now I have another file doing the same behavior where my image is imprinting on paper space. But in the second file when I select page set up manager my 11 x 17 pdf doesn't show up.

I will understand if you completely want to throw in the towel with me. I've never had these issues before so I'm reeling a bit.

If its helpful. My order of wrok is - I put a layout in paperspace as I am working on the drawing. I like to preview the layout along the way to check the presentation.

If I move the layout or rescale etc. That's when the "ghost" hits. And that image will not go away. However yesterday is the first that this has happened, and now with more than one file. I work in a lot of files throughout the week so I'm a bit worried to open anymore!

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

In looking at your drawing, you had more than one viewport (on on top of another). I deleted one of them. Next, I noticed that your titleblock was just a bunch of lines. I converted these to a block and added a field to capture the drawing name automatically (just for fun).

Next I created a page setup called tabloid. This setup remains in the drawing. To use it in other drawings you would need to use Page Setup Manger and import it from this drawing (or from a template file if you put it in there).

The PC3 file (in the attached Zip file) goes in your plotters folder and the PMP file should go in the PMP Files folder located inside the Plotters folder.

Let me know if this helps.

[Anonymous]

I really cannot express how much I sincerely appreciate your help.

I couldn't find any second viewports in my drawing. Clicking around only served to activate a singular viewport. Additionally I never put 2nd viewports in. So I'm entirely unsure how that would even happen. Nor can I locate a second on my drawings. It seems odd that this is happening just recently. I honestly have not been having any of these issues for the past several years.

I think I've pestered you enough. I was able to put those files (the just for fun files - your fun is my torture! haha) into there respectful places - But I cant import them as the page layout manager - There isn't an option for .pmp or .pc3 It will let me import .dwt or .dwg Nor was the tabloid file in the forRobyn copy you so kindly made.

[john.vellek · Accepted solution]

It took my some time to find both viewports. I opened the Layer Properties Manger and turned everything on so they would be visible.

Once I did that I saw both viewports.

Now, if you look at the last files I attached, there is a ZIP file that contains the PMP and PC3 files.

The PC3 file should be placed here in your computer:

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2017\R21.0\enu\Plotters

and the PMP file should go here:

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2017\R21.0\enu\Plotters\PMP Files

Next, if you rt-click on a layout in your drawing and then select page setup you will see that it includes a new one that I created called Tabloid.

Click on it and set it to be current.

In other drawings you can use this process and select the import button to find the Tabloid Page setup contained in this drawing.

I have reattached the drawing in case I forgot to save the setup in it before I uploaded.  

[Anonymous]

got it! I do take direction well!

I did turn the viewport layer off - I didn't want it to print. But its still odd because I didn't duplicate viewports. I'm still unsure why there are more than one in several of my layouts.

You were very helpful. Thank you for your generous effort in assisting me.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous

I'm glad that I could help. If you like the way that field works to get your drawing name automatically, you might do some more surfing through the forum. There are lots of great ideas on how to automate titleblocks.

Have a good weekend.