AutoCAD LT 2004: Batch Printing using .bat/.scr

[mjvandertie]

Hello,

I'm fairely new to AutoCAD and .bat, .scr writting. I need to print large amounts of .dwg out and initially have been opening each drawing and then printing. This is incredibly time consuming and started investigating quicker methods. 

Through using this forum's prevous posts and other online resources, I have put together a .bat/.scr system that will open each .dwg, run a script on it, and then quit. Due to some difficulties with moving on to the next .dwg in the folder, this system will start autoCAD, open the .dwg, run the script, and then quit autoCAD and then open autoCAD again and repeat the process through the entire folder of .dwgs. 

I tested this system on a folder containing very few .dwgs and it seemed to work correctly. However, when testing it on a larger quantity, the printer recieves corrupt data and needs to restart. An error code was displayed that stated an error occured and to switch the main power switch off and on. I do not believe I'm exceding the printers memory due to the fact that other people have printed jobs with larger quantity and I believe there is a seperate error screen for that situation. I do wonder if the plot command can be interrupted by the quit command when exiting autoCAD causing corrupt data or if speed can cause corrupt data. Another problem may be due to the fact that I open and close AutoCAD so frequently that the maximum amount of jobs is reached. 

So far I have been thinking about adding a delay in both .bat and in the script using the commands TIMEOUT and DELAY. I am nervous to test these changes due to the fact that many people use this printer and the error can disrupt other people's jobs. 

Any tips or information that has helped you in the past would greatly be appreciated. 

The printer being used is: Kyocera CS 4501i.

AutoCAD LT 2004

Thanks!

[pendean]

Any reason you don't want to use the built in PUBLISH command in LT2004 for the task?
http://www.computec.org/tips/publish.htm
http://dwf.blogs.com/beyond_the_paper/2007/01/autocad_using_t.html

[mjvandertie]

I did not see that as an option before. That looks like it might work if all I have to do is print! However, what if I am doing something in addition to printing in the script? Also, if the amount of drawings exceed the memory capacity of the printer, how can I add a delay to prevent that issue?

Thanks for the response. This works for my current problem perfectly, just looking to explore other avenues!

****EDIT*****

Actually after following the directions I am limited to only publishing to MULTI-SHEET DWF file. I can not publish output to a plotter

[pendean]

PUBLISH lets you output to paper or DWF, there are two options in your old version, you want the second one:

From the Publish To pane of the Publish Drawing Sheets dialog box, you can select two types of output:
· Multi-sheet DWF File: Creates a DWF file. By default, the name of the file is the same as the name of the current drawing (and in the same location), but with a .dwf extension. To password-protect the DWF file, enter a password. Don’t forget the password or you won’t be able to view the DWF file.

· Plotters Named in Page Setups: Plots all the layouts in the list. This is how you batch-plot. (I know. The name of this item is not very clear.) Each item in the drawing set is plotted to the plotter named in its page setup, including the default page setup.

[mjvandertie]

Included is a screen cap of what I see when I use the publish command. I am using the wrong command or is there a setting that is blocking the "output to plotter" option? Could that fact that this is LT be limiting my options?

Thanks again!

[pendean · Accepted solution]

Must be a limitation of your very old LT version: sorry.
Unless you want to publish to DWF then print to your plotter... .

From your original post, it appears your printer/plotter is overwhelmed by the amount of data being sent to it. you will have to send only
a few at a time.

[mjvandertie]

I'll try adding those delays and testing when no one is here. Thanks for all your help!

[mjvandertie]

I added exagerated delays (3 seconds in the .bat for loop and 2 seconds in the .scr) and I was able to print without any errors. I'm going to continue to reduce the time lag to see at what point errors will begin to show. 

Just some added information, I stood by the printer while printing and looked at the current job status screen. Since my code prints based on time delays, it does not really take into account what the status is on the printer. Someone began to print a 180 page document but my script continiously kept sending the jobs. I wonder if there is a way to look at the job status of the printer through the .bat to minimize printer overload when multiple people start throwing jobs. Or if there is a "****" that could be put up between my printer and computer that will only send all the jobs (or consolidate all the jobs into one) at the end of the .bat program. 

Back to research.

Sorry for the late response and thanks for all your help!

[mjvandertie]

*Dam