Printing all layouts at once to a single PDF using a Button (AutoCAD 2015)

Printing all layouts at once to a single PDF using a Button (AutoCAD 2015)

PafecDOGS
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Printing all layouts at once to a single PDF using a Button (AutoCAD 2015)

PafecDOGS
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Hi, in AutoCAD we currently do our multiple sheet drawings as seperate files, which we PDF for our engineering department afterwards. This requires us to perform a secondary operation where we merge the PDF files into one. We also always used to do our drawing in model space (none of this paperspace mularky). Also, when we printed, we customised a button so it was a one hit print, using model space and extents etc in the macro command line.

 

We are now in the process of starting to use layouts, and having multiple sheets drawings as one file, with a layout per sheet. What we want to do now is replicate our button, so it will print all the layouts at once, and as a secondary function, print them into one PDF file (as Inventor can do). However, its not obvious 1) whether its possible or 2) if it is, what the command line parameters would be. If we could only do the layouts all at once into seperate PDF's we merge later as mentioned above, that would be a start, but we are hoping to do it as Inventor does. Any thoughts please?

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Message 3 of 8

jggerth
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Look into the PUBLISH command, and PageSetups.  

 

If you anticioate needing to do multiple files, as well as multiple layouts, the you should explore SheetSet Manager as well.

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Message 4 of 8

Anonymous
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Publish all layouts to PDF will give 1 file with all layouts combined for easy plotting all at once
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Message 5 of 8

PafecDOGS
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OK, thanks for the info, am currently looking at the EXPORTPDF command. This seems to print all the layouts to one file, but i have further questions. When using out old button, the macro uses the  -PLOT command and uses the CTB file we have created to print certain colours on screen always black. Also our macro uses a pc3 file which uses the ADOBE PDF driver installed with ADOBE, which we have installed on our CAD machines.

 

The test i've done using the EXPORTPDF keeps plotting the colours, i cant seem to find a setting to stop it (it doesnt seem to have any link to the CTB file mentioned above). I'm also not sure if its using a PDF driver such as the default DWG to PDF driver that i could configure; i assume as i cant find any settings to configure and/or change the PDF driver that the EXPORTPDF command doesnt use one ...

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Message 6 of 8

jggerth
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Which is why I suggested the PUBLISH command, and PageSetups.

 

Spend a few minutes up front creating a named PageSetup that's perfect for your needs/devices, then use that in the Publish command.   You can import the working Named PageSetup into existing drawings, and include it in your standard templates so it's always available.

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Message 7 of 8

PafecDOGS
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OK, I'll also have alook at the Publish command as well, the import option could be useful as we dont have control over our templates anymore (now controlled by head office who want a generic template for all sites globally, which we think is a bit over-reaching!) - consequentially, getting something added is not an easy process, and even harder if its specific to a site (most likely be rejected)

 

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Message 8 of 8

regisrohde
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to configure the pages, I think only as JGerth posted.

Please mark this as the solution if it resolves your issue.Kudos gladly accepted.
Regis Rohde
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