Plot to File Default Filename

[JLeeSaxon]

In R2013, the default file naming convention for plotting to a file (jpg, pdf, etc) was [your dwg's filename].pdf

This was ideal for me.

Since R2013 SP1 (including R2014, which I've just moved onto), it has changed to [your dwg's filename] [name of the sheet you're plotting].pdf - as in "DSMC-AS-L Model(1).pdf" instead of "DSMC-AS-L.pdf"

I don't like that at all. Having to manually change it every time is pretty obnoxious.

Is there an way to change this?

[pendean]

AutoCAD has always done the latter: so unless it was a quirk in only 2013 before the patch, did you lose a customization that created the former? AFAIK it's all or nothing in AutoCAD, nothing means no name is auto-assigned at all.

[Charles_Shade]

Are you using DWG to PDF or a third party PDF driver?

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

It is the same way in 2010 with plotting to pdf.  Now if you use the EXPORTPDF, it will do what you're looking for <drawing name>.pdf.  AFAIK this has always been the functionality of plotting to pdf, and I'll see if I can explain why this may be.  There are many industries that have many layouts in the same file.  AutoDesk put this naming scheme (<drawing name> <layout name>.pdf) in place for those who plot multiple layouts to pdf from the same file.  If they hadn't, then you can see what a mess it would have made.  Plotting 3 layouts to pdf would have resulted in only 1 pdf.  HTH

(if ("mysolution"=answer) then (click "Accept As Solution"))

[JLeeSaxon]

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@Charles_Shade wrote:

Are you using DWG to PDF or a third party PDF driver?

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Thanks to this post, I realized what happened. I was using "Adobe PDF," which comes with Acrobat, instead of "DWG to PDF." The change I experienced was probably due to an update to Acrobat rather than AutoCAD.

By the way, don't use Adobe PDF. It has a bug in the way it handles wipeouts, causing them to plot (as a frame with some printers, as a solid block with others) even if you have frames off.

[JLeeSaxon]

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@Anonymous wrote:

...for those who plot multiple layouts to pdf from the same file.  If they hadn't, then you can see what a mess it would have made...

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Definitely, that makes sense. I wish they'd make a system variable for this, though, with <drawing name> <layout name> the default and just <drawing name> an option. Maybe even allow custom naming conventions.

[Anonymous]

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@JLeeSaxon wrote:

 Maybe even allow custom naming conventions.

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What kind of naming are you looking for?  I'm sure something could be cooked up with a macro and diesel.  Unfortunately LISP is not available to LT users otherwise I'd go that route, but some pretty good things can be done with just a macro and Diesel.

(if ("mysolution"=answer) then (click "Accept As Solution"))

[Jozi68]

Does anyone know of a LISP routine for this?

I have to use DWG To PDF.pc3, as it is the company standard. 

However, I don't want <drawing name> <layout name> as the default,  I just need <drawing name>

[pendean]

No LISP in LT: are you in the wrong forum?

[Anonymous]

If you use the "Publish" Command the wipeouts are just fine, otherwise you get that black blob on paper (But it looks just fine in PDF viewers).

[Anonymous]

looking for the same thing. I want to plot just the dwg. name, not the layout too.

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@Jozi68 wrote:

Does anyone know of a LISP routine for this?

I have to use DWG To PDF.pc3, as it is the company standard. 

However, I don't want <drawing name> <layout name> as the default,  I just need <drawing name>

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[maratovich]

Lisp does not work in LT.
Or do you have the full version?