Publish vs Plot (and inconsistencies)

[Anonymous]

AutoCAD 2019.1.2 (product version: P1.62.0.0)

I've been struggling with creating multi-sheet file PDFs and having them look correct consistently. In general, I use one or two Page Setups with the AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation) pc3 file and a custom CTB file. Nothing crazy.

The issue:

• If I PLOT a single sheet to PDF, the output looks fine.
• If I PUBLISH a single sheet to PDF, the output (usually) looks fine.
• If I PUBLISH multiple sheets to a multi-sheet PDF file, the output does not look fine *.
  • * I could get in to specifics about the differences in output, but I really don't want to cloud the issue... I should be able to use any one of the three methods above and get EXACTLY the same results, as long as I use the same named Page Setup each time.

For publishing multiple sheets, I've typically hit PUBLISH, select all sheets listed in the dialog box that appears, and then select the correct Page Setup to use (via the Page Setup for the first sheet listed):

Through trial-and-error, I found that if I changed the "Publish to" and "PDF preset" (from "Plotter named in page setup") that I  get the correct output when publishing multiple sheets...?

Stranger still, if I go back to my original method of publishing, I get the correct results no matter what I do now...? What happened!?! How did this seem to correct itself?

Another oddity to share:

I used to use the DWG to PDF pc3 file when plotting/publishing... when I published (not plotted), I noticed that even though the DWG to PDF pc3 was listed in my Page Setup, it was ignoring that setting and decided to use the AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation) pc3 file instead (which is why I use this PC3 file now)?

Do the Output>Export to DWF/PDF settings override all others now (or have some influence)?

So confusing.... this makes no sense.

[leothebuilder]

Your best bet is to create page setups for each drawing layout with the settings you want.

Make sure that page setup is "set current"

When publishing and/or plotting autocad will default to using that page setup.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

The first method I mentioned has been an acceptable practice for a long time now... I've used it for years.

The more I've worked with this today, the more I'm realizing that the Export settings are somehow influencing the output when I Publish (glitch or bug?). Some of my drawings have 70-90 sheets and I don't want to have to flip through the entire set to make sure the PDF writer is functioning correctly.

The oddity I mentioned at the end of my original post... I realized there was an issue when I removed all of my PC3 files from my Plotter directory (except DWG to PDF pc3) and AutoCAD was flipping out trying to figure out what to do. I put the AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation) pc3 file back in and it could function again... even though I specified that DWG to PDF pc3 file, AutoCAD kinda went rogue.

I guess what I'm realizing is now that I have the Output settings to my liking, it works for all methods of plotting/publishing... just doesn't make any sense.

[dturner5VYFA]

What was the solution? I don't understand what you did.

[dturner5VYFA]

Can you explain that a little better? I don't see the option to "set current" in the page setup. Publish does not seem to be using the same settings that plot does. I cannot find where to select any plot settings in publish

[Anonymous]

Oof... I had to jog my memory a bit here. Sorry for the delay in response.

When I plotted a single sheet, AutoCAD used the file's correct Page Setup settings and the appropriate PC3 settings... these are the same settings you see and have access to when you plot or create/modify your page setup.

BUT... when I Published, things got weird. I would check my PC3 file over and over again, and regardless of what boxes and settings I had clicked (from the interface above), it seemed like it would ignore them and do something else. In my case, I wanted my lines to merge and they weren't merging.

Based on the pictures above, this method should be correct but it wasn't working!?!

What I discovered is that for Publish, AutoCAD uses the OUTPUT > EXPORT PDF Settings instead!?!

It makes ZERO sense, but once I changed the PDF Presets on this dialog box (see below), it finally worked!

[dturner5VYFA]

I finally figured it out. I had checked the box "Substitute TrueType fonts for SHX fonts" on the Publish Setup page - the next window after selecting which drawings to process- I guess I thought that might prevent other problems.

This is not an option when plotting. 

I was trying to figure out what was different about plot versus publish, but was focused on colors, as most of the problem was with colored text.

The problem was the font substitution for the WD text style. 

Thank you for helping me.