PC3 file not retaining "hole punch" setting for colored prints.

PC3 file not retaining "hole punch" setting for colored prints.

Joshua_BrewerL3ESR
Explorer Explorer
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PC3 file not retaining "hole punch" setting for colored prints.

Joshua_BrewerL3ESR
Explorer
Explorer

We use some custom pc3 files to handle our various printing needs. There is one config that uses the hole punch function of our printer. This file has been working for at least 7 years with multiple versions of Autocad Electrical (2019, 2021, 2023) but is not working with version 2025 or 2026. The strange thing is we have a pc3 file for black and white with hole punch that will work with versions 2025, 2026.

 

I tried changing the name of the file thinking maybe there was a limit on characters, same results.

I compared the files in Notepad I noticed that the two pc3 files (black and white with hole punch, color with hole punch) are in different versions. The black and white with hole punch seems to be an older version. Is it possible to save this color with hole punch file to an older version? I was unable to identify the hole punch settings within the newer file (thinking maybe I could just change it within the file).

 

To sum all this up, our current Color 11x17 Hole Punch.pc3 will not work completely or update with versions 2025, 2026. However, our BW 11x17 Hole Punch.pc3 will work with versions 2025, 2026.

 

When trying to recreate a new PC3 file within 2025 or 2026, the hole punch setting is available, but after saving, it is not retained.

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Message 2 of 5

paullimapa
Mentor
Mentor

Hole punch feature sounds like a special plot device driver you’re using that works with AutoCAD. Could you share the name & model of your plotter and the driver you’re using?


Paul Li
IT Specialist
@The Office
Apps & Publications | Video Demos
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Message 3 of 5

kboarts
Explorer
Explorer

The printer is a Kyocera Taskalfa 3252ci KX running on W11.

The driver information is as follows

 

Driver Name: printqueue.inf
Driver Package ID: printqueue.inf_amd64_044b5f13f940e7c8
Class GUID: {1ed2bbf9-11f0-4084-b21f-ad83a8e6dcdc}
Driver Date: 06/21/2006
Driver Version: 10.0.26100.1
Driver Provider: Microsoft

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Message 4 of 5

paullimapa
Mentor
Mentor

Since this is Windows print driver (one for monochrome and another for color) designed to work with your printer, there’s really not much control offered within AutoCAD. Have you tried reaching out to Kyocera’s website to see if they may have another color print driver that may work ?


Paul Li
IT Specialist
@The Office
Apps & Publications | Video Demos
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Message 5 of 5

kboarts
Explorer
Explorer

Under the "Custom Properties" in the Plotter Configuration Editor, I have the same dialog boxes as and options for the printer as I do within windows. I did update my driver to something newer from Kyocera, with no improvements to the issue. I did run across another Autodesk Support article dated 6/22/25 that describes to some degree my issues with the pc3 file not retaining options when setting up or modifying the pc3 file for a lot of versions of AutoCAD. The article is named "Plot setting preferences of system printers are not saved in PC3 file for AutoCAD or Civil 3D" and provides multiple possible solutions. What I finally found that worked was to open ACADE 2025 set SYSPLOTCFG to 1 and then correct the problem pc3 file, then the settings were retained. I did have to do this again for the 2026 version as well. I then just saved the file locally. My organization currently uses network-based libraries and support files for our projects, so it has caused issues with others using newer versions than what the pc3 file was edited in.

 

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