OLE Object in a viewport not publishing when paper space is zoomed in

[Anonymous]

So I've recently started work at a new company and they've transferred me over to work on CAD files. 

One very basic issue I keep comping across is that whenever I publish my paper space (about 7-10 pages) occasionally the company logo (which is an OLE object in model space seen on the title block/paper space through a viewport) disappears on a few pages.

I tried to figure out why this was occurring so I could correct it. What I've found is that for some reason if I forget to center the paper space (double middle mouse click) on each of the pages, therefore leaving the paper space zoomed in on whatever viewport I was last working on, the viewport with the OLE object doesn't plot the image.

The simple work around is obviously for me to go through each of the 10 pages and recenter each one every time, but is there a more permanent solution? Is the issue occurring because it is an OLE object or is the issue occurring because of the viewport or is the issue occurring because of the two in conjunction? 

This is both me looking to fix a problem and learn AutoCAD better so please let me know your thoughts. I appreciate your time and input.  Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Question/Suggestion-once you have the display set as you want it in a viewport (area, scale, etc)do you lock it?

See attached graphic

Once locked, the display (shouldn't) change in that viewport, unless you unlock it. One exception to this is if you edit Mtext inside the viewport, then you will "appear" to change the view/scale, etc in the viewport in response to any zoom/pan you do until you exit Mtext editor, then it will snap back to locked on previous display.

Let us know if this helps.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, locking the viewport was one of the first things that I tried. The issue occurs independent of the state of the viewport as I can create the issue in either state, locked or unlocked. 

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure if it will be much help, but I'm attaching an image of the the issue occuring. This is a snip of a publishing preview there is a viewport with an image where the red circle is but obviously it is not showing up.

The second page has the image though, because I re centered that. I would post the second page with the image as evidence, but as I'm still a new employee and unsure of the companies opinion on posting their material I'd like to refrain from that.

[Anonymous]

Instead of inserting Logo Object, copy the image and paste it in the AutoCAD file.

[Anonymous]

What type of object is the OLE? Picture, pdf, etc...

If it an image filetype you can try >this method< from Lynne Allen/Cadalyst Magazine to embed an image into the dwg file, rather than have it as an x-ref, it may help. You could also put the now embedded image/logo into your title block, and eliminate the viewport issue entirely, unless this would violate a company standard...

Otherwise, without a sample file (and the "offending" OLE) where the problem is happening, I am out of ideas....someone else on the Forum may have a "light-bulb" though....

[Anonymous]

I "believe" that has already occurred as I believe it is an embedded image? I'm not 100% certain about the difference between an OLE object and an OLE image or if there is a difference.

[Anonymous]

I'm waiting for my boss to get out of a meeting (he's been in it all morning) to see if I can post a stripped down version of the file. 

I believe that the image is already embedded, but I would like to reconfigure the way the company currently has it's title block designed as it is not a block in and of itself, instead a bunch of viewports into model space.

I'll look into the recommended method right now, but expect a follow up reply at a later date hopefully with a the sample file and offending OLE.

Thank you for your time I do appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

This >link< may help with understanding what OLE's are & how they work. I agree that your title block should actually be a block, whether it resides in your current project file(s) or is a standalone object x-reffed in, makes it much easier to re-use in multiple layouts and multiple files. How you structure it is up to you and your company, if you get stuck on something specific,  let us know.

[vinodkl]

Hi,

Try to reduce the raster image quality from the plot settings to 720 dpi or 1200 dpi and then try publishing to PDF and see if it works.

Also here is (see attachment) a handy lisp created by me which would zoom extents all the layout tabs and also locks the viewport🙂

[Anonymous]

I haven't had a chance to try your lisp, but it certainly sounds useful. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Apologies for the delay, I didn't notice the email in my inbox. 

Unfortunately I don't think it's an actual plotting issue as my current raster image quality is set to 400 and vector quality is set to 600. Ontop of that I've only been plotting to PDF the entire time. We don't have an actual plotter onsite and our customers like trees I assume.

But this line of query has brought up an interesting find, so the issue only occurs when I use the publish command and not the plot command. If I zoom away from the viewport and plot the page it comes out perfectly fine. Image and everything, but if I do that and use the publish command (which is what I usually need to use) I lose the image. 

[TerryDotson]

Why not take a few minutes to trace the logo as native objects (polylines, text, hatches) and stop fighting a losing battle with OLE.  As I've said before "I'd use a crayon before I'd use OLE".

[Anonymous]

While appealing, it's not my call to make there. The company was using the OLE before I was a part of it and they will probably be using it after I'm not a part of it, if that ever happens.

[Anonymous]

This brings up another possibility, do you use a >named page setup<  for plotting and/or publishing?

See link for how to set it up.

As a test, do plot and publish using the same page setup, and let us know the result.

P.S.- if you are using anything other than one of AutoCAD's built-in pdf drivers, try using one of those- they produce consistent good quality, at least for me. (not Adobe Acrobat if that's what you are using up to this point-Adobe and AutoCAD don't seem to play well together anymore, at least not consistently/reliably)

PS- @TerryDotson - I hate OLE's too, but sometimes there really isn't an alternative that will fit into time constraints, or instances where someone (who is paying the bills) wants a photograph shown somewhere (labels, fancy logos, etc....) In those cases, if at all possible, I will use Lynne Allen's "trick" of embedding and converting to a block. At least "mostly" a native ACAD object at that point.

[pendean]

Forgive me, but why does "zooming" have an effect with publishing vs plotting? Are you saying yo change plot parameters? or your viewport size? If the latter, the simple answer is your printer/plotter/whatever driver cannot handle the exceptionally large output file size triggered by you have an OLE/image. Nothing more.

It's easy to test without all that zooming thingie you are doing: PUBLISH with no OLE, with the OLE, with the OLE at 1/4 (or 1/8 or 1/16) of the size it needs to be and confirm.

What are you plotting/publishing to? Which driver?
What if you PUBLISH/PLOT to something else?
What is everyone else in your office doing that it works? Or are you the only "cad" guy, and therefore your argument for changing things are not valid really 🙂
Are you the only one in the office using 2021 by chance in that office? Everyone else in 2020 or older?

[Anonymous]

I do believe that we use a named page set up, each page out of the 9 has their own individual "page set up", but the issue is also recreateable on each pages. I was just able to publish an entire file without a single OLE image appearing....EXCEPT for the cover sheet.

Which is why I'm now looking into how the cover page was immune to this easily repeatable issue. (Or so I thought) With plotting though every page works perfect, which makes me wonder why the issue can only occur with publishing. 

[Anonymous]

I don't know what zooming has to do with plotting or publishing, I'm just explaining how I'm able to consistently create an issue. No I'm not changing plot parameters. I'm not changing the viewport's size. 

I'm currently using AutoCAD 2020 as I believe everyone else is in the office.

I'm publishing to PDF with a PDF Preset of "AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation)" The only other options I have are DWF and DWFx, I'll try it after I send this message.

We already have a "solution" so to speak. You double middle mouse click (or zoom_extents had to look up the command since) to center each of the 9 pages individually. My co-workers say it "refreshes the viewport", personally I disagree that is the case and want to try and find a more permanent solution to try and save us time on having to ensure all those pages are centered, or (like in my case) you forget to center them and have to do corrections on it later. 

And no I'm not the only CAD guy, we've got a team of ~30(ish) that works on CAD directly, but at the phase of the design (90%/100%) that I'm at there are only about 5-10 people that work on it .

[pendean]

>>>...We already have a "solution" so to speak...<<<
PUBLISH and PLOT both should regen/regenall your drawings as they proceed, as does your double-click-center-button (aka Zoom Extents).

If that is the cure to your issue, you might just want to go into OPTIONS command's PLOT tab to ensure background plotting/publishing boxes are unchecked, then go to the SYSTEM tab and ensure REGEN WHEN SWITCHING LAYOUTS is chosen instead of any of the "cache" options.

What do the other 5-10-30 users do to resolve this issue? Or do they not have it? Sorry, I'm unclear about that part from your posts.

OR
Can ETRANSMIT your drawing/image/OLE/pagesetup/plot style tables here for others to try?
I suspect your issue would be resolved instantly if others outside of your 5-10-30 group touched them.

TIA

[Anonymous]

Plotting/publishing does indeed force a deeper regen than the command, whether from toolbar or command line- why I don't know...

When I say named page setup, I mean set one up from scratch, and use that, so that every sheet whether plotted or published, uses all the exact same parameters.

Another thought- are the problem viewports copied/imported and if so , how?

If you create one from scratch, does it work differently? I ask because I have had viewports "break" and act oddly when using copyclip....

Fishin' in the dark, but sometimes you catch one or 2.....