Hardcopy Log

[jk1173]

I am using ACAD 2017.  My problem is that blank hardcopy logs are being made in various folders on our server.  I have never had these prior to updating to 2017.  I have the plot log turned off in both the plot and publish options and the plot stamp advanced settings but this doesn't affect the hardcopy log.  What am I missing?

Jared

[lionel.bekale]

Hi Jared,

Welcome to the AutoCAD Forum.

Reset first the application to default. See reset defaults

Do you have the software updated? If not please install AutoCAD 2017.1 Update from the Desktop App. See AutoCAD 2017.1 Update

Did you uncheck "Create a Log File". If not please try the following:

1. Open up Options in AutoCAD.
2. Click the Plot and Publish tab.
3. Click the Plot Stamp Settings button.
4. Click the Advanced button.
5. Uncheck "Create a Log File."
6. Click OK on all the windows.

Lionel

[jk1173]

I just reset my settings.  I had already unchecked the two places that create plot logs as I said in my original question.  I will see if the reset works.

[jk1173]

Resetting AutoCAD didn't fix the issue.  It seemed to work for a couple of days but the hardcopy logs are back.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> blank hardcopy logs are being made

I do find one file with that name, and only in the folder defined in AutoCAD for plot-log files. It's content is just to warn me that I opened a drawing (from someone else) where the plotter driver does not exist in my system).

2 ideas I have (if "hardcopy log" is meant as that file).

• make sure the folder defined in the config paths of AutoCAD for plot-log-files does exist and is not limited by any permission restrictions
• verify that the plotters/pc3 defined in modelspace and layouts do exist and these pc3 files do work (use plotter manager to option that folder, double click every pc3 to see if it opens normally or you get a warning or error message).

- alfred -

[Anonymous]

I've searched the forums and the web in general and still cannot find a solution for this. I realize I'm resurrecting and old thread but this is the latest one that I've found that speaks to this problem. I'm still getting "hardcopy.log" files any time I attempt to plot a drawing that was last plotted to a device that I do not have defined; either customer or vendor supplied drawings, or ones that were created by us but at a time when we had different plotting devices.

I've checked all the settings that have been suggested earlier (see attachments) and verified security permissions for all relevant folders. I've run out of ideas. I could live with the log files if I didn't need to exit Autocad completely every time I wanted to clear these files from my work folders.

Please don't comment about how these are just small files and take up an insignificant amount of space, etc. We pay a significant amount of money to license and maintain this software; in return I expect a quality product, even if the issue is "cosmetic".

[lionel.bekale]

Hi Randrusz,

Thanks for flagging this up.
I would like to know more about the version of AutoCAD that is used and the system environment. I remember that the issue was in AutoCAD 2017. Is it still the case?

From the screenshot <HardcopyError.JPG>, I can see that you get a common error message. It is also mentioned that the plotter is HP DesignJey 500.pc3. Is it the plotter that is not available?

I look forward to hearing from you.

[Anonymous]

Hello Lionel,

I'm using Product version is P.61.0.0 AutoCAD 2019.0.1

Windows 10 Pro version 10.0.17134 build 17134

HP Z400 Workstation w/6Gb RAM. Xeon W3550 Processor

Our printers are all on our LAN (6G cable,  1Gb Broadcom Nextreme adapter).

The files are stored on Buffalo Navigator2 Network Attached Storage devices.

I get the error whenever I try to print a drawing that was last printed to a device that we either no longer have or one that we received from a customer (who obviously doesn't have the same print devices that we do). Again, the *.log files wouldn't be such an annoyance if we didn't have to completely exit AutoCAD before being able to delete them.

As for changing the plot configuration for the layout or model sheets to match one of our current devices; in the case of internal files we're talking about thousands of drawing files. In the case of customer supplied files changes are forbidden; they are for our reference only and a change in the file date means it's no longer valid and requires us to ask for a new copy of the original file from the customer (embarrassing if it happens too often).

Thanks for any help that you may give!

Rick Andrusz

[lionel.bekale]

Hi randrusz,

As you are not the first to post this question to the forum, I logged a support case in your name.

We can continue discussing this issue and we can have a short remote session. Please case 14338999.

Thank you for co-operation.

[Anonymous]

The issue looks to have resolved itself. I had AutoCAD crash due to a video driver issue (which I took care of), and recovered the two drawings that I was in at the time. Now, the hardcopy.log files are no longer being generated.

Thanks to Lionel Bekale for his discussion regarding this issue as well as creating the support ticket.

[WLAjem57]

I am having the same issues coming up with hardcopy logs popping up in random places. I am also getting plot log files being generated even though I have turned off the plot logs in options and for publishing.

this is happening after we recently upgraded to AutoCAD Architecture 2019. is there a system variable setting that I'm missing that needs to be set? 

[jk1173]

Did you also go to "Plot Stamp Settings", click "Advanced" and uncheck the "Ccreate a log file" box here as well?

I am still getting the hardcopy logs after all this time.  I cannot track down the cause since the logs are always empty - hard to fix an issue when you don't know what the issue is. 

[WLAjem57]

After I sent the out the post, I found the setting. I will see if that works. will keep you posted.

[Anonymous]

I just upgraded to AutoCAD 2019 and these hardcopy.log files are super annoying.

I have plot logs turned off in advanced settings.

Has anyone figured out how to make it stop?

[WLAjem57]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I just upgraded to AutoCAD 2019 and these hardcopy.log files are super annoying.

I have plot logs turned off in advanced settings.

Has anyone figured out how to make it stop?

---

See suggestion from jk1173 above, uncheck plot logs in options and in the advanced setting in the plotstamp settings. that seems to have worked so far.

[jk1173]

As I initially said in the first post of my question, the issue is with hardcopy logs, not plot logs.  Unchecking the "create plot logs" doesn't make a difference with the creation of all the hardcopy logs.

[WLAjem57]

---

@jk1173 wrote:

As I initially said in the first post of my question, the issue is with hardcopy logs, not plot logs.  Unchecking the "create plot logs" doesn't make a difference with the creation of all the hardcopy logs.

---

even going into the plotstamp settings? I haven't seen any hardcopy logs since I turned off the settings in the plot stamps. Coincidence? possibly.

[jk1173]

---

@WLAjem57 wrote:

---

@jk1173 wrote:

As I initially said in the first post of my question, the issue is with hardcopy logs, not plot logs.  Unchecking the "create plot logs" doesn't make a difference with the creation of all the hardcopy logs.

---

even going into the plotstamp settings? I haven't seen any hardcopy logs since I turned off the settings in the plot stamps. Coincidence? possibly.

---

At least in my situation, it didn't help.  I have had this issue since ACAD 2017 and running 2018 right now.  If the hardcopy logs would actually have information about an issue or error, I could try to work towards a fix.  The logs are always blank, and as h.sullivan said, there are logs all over our server folders.  Monthly I go thru and search and delete them.  You would think that we aren't the only ones with this issue.

[WLAjem57]

yes, I did see a lot of blank logs. but a few were generated when errors occurred. We are only seeing this since upgrading from 2017 to 2019, (we skipped over 2018). we never had these when we were running 2017. It's not isolated to only me. the issue is occurring for all our users in the office. there must be a setting somewhere deep inside the program to at least direct the logs to a specific folder, rather than generating them in random places. perhaps if an Autodesk support person sees these posts, they might have some insight into the issue.

Another thing to note. there use to be an online link to Autodesk to report errors when AutoCAD crashes. That link doesn't seem to work anymore. I wonder what is up with that?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I think I got it to stop....

OP --> Plot and Publish --> General plot options --> System printer spool alert: Never alert (do not log errors)

Full re-start on my machine.

*edited to correct my amazing spelling