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?
Solved! Go to Solution.
Solved by brianG5VBA. Go to Solution.
Perhaps you can share this plan image file so the community here can see if the problem can be replicated
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.
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.
Try with the Autodesk Viewer:
Please select the "Accept as Solution" button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.
prints perfectly but needed to make adjustments in the PLOT window to fit on A3 size paper:
@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.
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.
Typically when we receive dwg we always request pdf to accompany so we’ll know how it looks like when printed
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.
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