PRINTING FROM READ ONLY FILE

[brianG5VBA]

My architect has sent me some plans in Autocad. I wish to view and print the plans sent. I have downloaded a trial version of Autocad but when I open the plan image and try to print it no image is sent to the printer - it prints only a blank page. I see that when I open the image it says that it is "read only". Is there any way in which I can print from the file e-mailed to me by the architect?

[paullimapa]

Perhaps you can share this plan image file so the community here can see if the problem can be replicated 

[pendean]

Dumb question time: did you contact your Architect and ask them for help with their files for your printing needs? AutoCAD is not easy to use if you've never done it before today: if you want to learn though, here is a tutorial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA6OBgQLIFI 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-U7aKQMOMo 

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-0D660AEB-0937-4C31-9EC0-ACCA16E7C5E0#:~:text=.... 

Or try an easier to use alternate program like:
https://www.dwgsee.com/
https://en.dwgfastview.com/
https://www.edrawingsviewer.com/view-cad-files-free
https://www.thesourcecad.com/free-dwg-viewers/

FYI "read only" is because you opened their file from inside your email software/page: that's normal for all programs if you've never done that before today. It's not related to not being able to print.

[brianG5VBA]

I did contact the architect but as yet we have not found a solution. I will read the links provided in the previous answer. In the meantime I attach the file received and saved in my documents folder. 

[Valentin-WSP]

@brianG5VBA ,

Try with the Autodesk Viewer:

•  http://www.autodesk.com/products/dwg/viewers

[paullimapa]

prints perfectly but needed to make adjustments in the PLOT window to fit on A3 size paper:

[pendean]

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@brianG5VBA wrote:

I did contact the architect but as yet we have not found a solution. I will read the links provided in the previous answer. In the meantime I attach the file received and saved in my documents folder. 

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If you want to only use AutoCAD, you will need to deliberately and intentionally select the items I circled in GREEN below

In your case, you may have "assumed" this selection was correct when it was not in reality

In fact it is not even used in your Architect's file anywhere which contains a lot more that just the initial view

Just tap this button to "window" what it is you want to print

And check this box to FIT what you chose on your paper unless you are 100% totally experienced in using AutoCAD

And if you don't want color, you need to select something else here since this yellow tag means it is missing

The other programs are way easier to use, but either way, enjoy the ride and remember to ask your ARCHITECT next time to set up pages for you to print from instead of just sending you a client-unfriendly DWG file like this one.

[paullimapa]

Typically when we receive dwg we always request pdf to accompany so we’ll know how it looks like when printed

[brianG5VBA · Accepted solution]

Can I thank all the people who responded to my query. I have now managed to print the required plan drawing. Thank you once again.