batch plots are off center

[Anonymous]

I have a .dwg file with multiple layout tabs for printing.  When I print each tab layout individually as a pdf, the drawing appears centered on the plot ('center the plot' in page setup is not enabled...my work is just properly located to appear centered on the plot).  But when I batch plot the file to a pdf, without changing any page setup settings, the drawing plots off center.  What's up with this?  Examples of each plot are attached.  Thanks for any suggestions!

[bob_mpc]

I believe that you should publish to "Plotter named in page setup", not to PDF, to get the same results. When you publish to PDF, it ignores the page setups and uses the settings for DWGtoPDF plotter, set in Options (I believe...)

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your suggestion...it sounded like the perfect answer.  But unfortunately when plotting to the 'plotter named in page set up' the program does not create a pdf (even though I have named pdf as the plotter in page set up...it starts plotting and then crashes....just keeps trying to plot but nothing happens.  The workaround solution was to go back into each layout and modify the page set up to include checking the 'center the plot' box.  Took a little work, but at least it solved the problem.

[pendean · Accepted solution]

PUBLISH RULE OF THUMB FOR FLAWLESS PUBLISHING:
1. Launch Publish from a drawing that is not part of the publish set, but is configured with all your possible sheets and plotter options.
2. Bring in all the drawings/tabs to be published.
3. Import the pagesetup desired from the template file (in your case, one set up for PDF output).
4. PUBLISH.

[GTVic]

I have/had this same problem.

- I used the 2016 AutoCAD high quality PDF PC3

- I saved the drawing

- Started a new drawing

- Imported a layout tab and the page setup from the original drawing

- PUBLISH from the blank drawing

- all sheets are offset down and to the left by about the width of the margin (0.11")

I ended up putting an offset of 0.05, 0.05 mm into the page setup to solve the problem

In this case the plotted sheet size was 11x17 and the layout was scaled at 1:2 (1:2000) and the layout included a border that was exactly 11x17" that was not intended to be printed plus other items that were outside the margins. So I had setup all layouts by moving the edge of the border to the edge of the layout. As with the OP, it looks perfect in the layout and prints perfectly one sheet at a time but was offset by the publish command.

I believe the PUBLISH command includes some type of auto-centering logic because all my layouts were originally quite a bit off center and PUBLISH fixed that except for the extra undesirable offset. I think PUBLISH needs a switch to turn this feature off.

[darrelldixon]

We are having the same issue. Are layout is set to print at 1:1 and works perfectly when a single drawing is sent directly to the plotter or PDF. Using batch plot causes the page to shift and cuts off the right side border.

Has anyone found a way to fix this?

[Anonymous]

I'm experiencing the same problem but only when using Autocad 2016 for Mac. I did not (and still do not) experience this problem when using 2015 for Mac on another machine. 

[Anonymous]

This helped me...

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-for-mac/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticle...

[Anonymous]

I'm using autocad 2019 and have the same problem with centering the drawing by batch plotting with DWGtoPDF.pc3. I tryed to use another PDF plotter - AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).ps3, it works correctly. but once I used AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).ps3 in one file DWGtoPDF.pc3 started working correctly everywhere. it was repeated on multiple computers and works after restarting AutuCAD and rebooting the computer. maybe will help to somebody else.

[pendean]

I suggest you select one and stick with it across your entire office all the time in all files throughout.
Most of us here are not "Autodesk" and none of us had a hand in writing any of the code.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand you. I'm not "Autodesk", I'm an architect in a small architectural company, I don't wright any code. but you can repeat my steps - use "AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3" (build in Autocad2019, I don't know about earlier versions) for plotting to PDF and then use "DWG To PDF.pc3" again. 

[pendean]

Exactly, we are all AutoCAD/LT end users just like you, no one around here is Autodesk.

A PUBLISH test here reveals no difference between the two PC3 files in LT2019. Did you use the Migration Tool to move content from an older version when you upgraded? You may need to reset LT2019 (which removes all of your customizations) to fix it.

If you would like to report a bug to Autodesk please log into your accounts Support page, start a support ticket, and if a flaw in the PC3 files exclusive to LT2019 is found it will be documented.

[janet_p_coats_civ]

Setting all the same margins for all the printer/plotter options with the paper size needed solved the off centered plot when batch or publish plotting.

[MichaelGibson5012 · Accepted solution]

I have found that the centre plot works by centering the plot to the printable area which if you use a sheet that is not full bleed it will be off centre (look at the dotted line of the printable are on the sheets), we always use the full bleed 😁

[pendean]

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@MichaelGibson5012 wrote:

...we always use the full bleed 😁

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The best (and correct) tip: thanks for sharing.