Plot to Limits Incorrectly Displayed

[Anonymous]

I have several drawings (some, but not all) that behave as follows (in LT 2015):

   1. Limits correctly set to capture desired plot area.

   2. Plot set to plot to Limits.

   3. Preview shows either only one corner of desired plot or zero entities that should be within limit-defined area.

When I use the plot to Window option and choose the same area as defined by the limits setting, the drawing plots correctly. And, as mentioned above, some of my drawings behave as expected (i.e. the limits plot correctly).

I tried the DVIEW command per a suggested solution found elsewhere, but the subsequent responses did not match those documented in the suggestion (maybe only for full AutoCAD?).

[pendean]

Not enough info: PREVIEW shows what you have selected in PLOT command plus whatever your output device requires for margins (which vary from device to device, driver to driver). So what are they?

BTW Are you still plotting from modelspace? Most of us moved to paperspace for absolute plot control to avoid those old problems with limits and windows options.

[Anonymous]

I am only plotting to a Brother ink-jet (either letter, or ledger). The margins are typically about 1/8" minimum on each edges (or more for two of the four, depending on the aspect ratio of drawing, of course). Yes, I am still plotting from modelspace (old habits).

Additional info: For purposes of this discussion, I am selecting "Fit to paper" and "Center the plot" (doesn't matter if this setting is selected or not). The "What to plot:" comes out as expected for  Display, Extents and Window (based, of course, on my window definition). It's only the Limits plot that sometimes does not work as expected. Also, I'm using the Windows System Driver for my ink-jet, but even when I plot to my .pdf "printer" the issue persists.

[steven-g]

Can you post a couple of drawings one that works and one that doesn't so we can try and reproduce the behaviour ourselfs.

[Anonymous]

Here they are (names self-explanatory). BTW, thank you very much for your diligence in helping me with this annoying issue . . .

[pendean]

You must spend a lot of time editing and recalculating limits all day long. Old habit are hard to die for sure, but this one deserves to die today.

If scale is not relevant as you noted, your two DWG files plot just fine with EXTENTS as the what-to-plot choice and are the better options for both cases IMHO.

It's over-kill to plot limits AND center plot AND no-scale for sure.

[steven-g]

I don't have the benefit of using your printer, but for me, both drawings preview correctly using all PDF options and also for my own printer. Why it should ignore the limits on your system I don't know, the only thing I could think to suggest would be to turn on the grid and use the 'limits' option and choose not to show the grid outside the limits which would show up if the limits are being respected on your computer.

[cadffm · Accepted solution]

EDIT: Both ways (CAMERA/DVIEW) are not available in LT version, or? Sorry.. but i edited you file for you, see my attachment.

The problem is the current camera TARGET,

check the current camera view setting, command: VIEW

Use command Camera to set camera position to 0,0,1 and target to 0,0,0,

set the camera view as current view (command VIEW) and erase the camera view.

or try to follow this AKN page by using DVIEW:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Plot-o...

[steven-g]

+1 well spotted, but as you say LT doesn't have the option to set the camera or target positions, so it would be interesting to find out how it became changed, and how to get it back.

[pendean]

OP did not create the content, or has been using a problem template for a while now.

[steven-g]

Yeah, it would look that way. Looks like it's just one more of the things LT will let you view when it comes from full Autocad but in this case no way to change it.

[Anonymous]

Hi Steven-G,

With great anticipation, I opened the "Plot-to-Limits Not working" drawing, entered the Grid command, selected Limits, turned off Grid beyond Limits (selected No - the grid immediately adjusted to my assigned limits), but still have the same issue (zero entities displayed in Plot Preview). Looks like I'm stuck with plotting to Window (and moving on to the Paperspace environment). Thanks for your input . . .

[Anonymous]

Actually, I did create the content, and I generally do not use templates (at least not for these two sample drawings). I don't want to sound unappreciative, but I also want the actual conditions to be known (in case someone is further investigating). In any case, thanks to all of you who have weighed in . . .

[Anonymous]

I just checked and the working drawing has camera at 0,0,1 and target at 0,0,0, but the non-working drawing has different >0 values for these settings. I'm wondering if the non-working drawing is problematic because I may have imported some third-party entities that brought settings with them. If that's the case, then I guess my previous post (stating that I created the content) is not entirely accurate.

[steven-g · Accepted solution]

I don't know why that would affect the 'camera' and 'target' but that does look as though it is the cause of the problem, I get the same readings but for some reason that doesn't mess up the printing limits, you are describing, at least not on my computer, so something else may be at issue. It would be worthwhile you keeping an eye on any future drawings and if they show the same problem maybe you could figure out how the problem starts.

One thing I did try on my computer was copying your drawing and pasting the contents into a new drawing and for me that returned the camera and target back to the 'normal settings'. See if that works for you. Finding out HOW it happened would be great and may help other users in the future, so I hope you can figure out how this happens. If you do import other objects it is feasible that they bring some odd behaviour with them. It's certainly worth watching.

[Anonymous]

Whatever you did to my alter my drawing (running View on it, confirms that the camera is now 0,0,1 and target is now 0,0,0) to create "Plot-to-Limits Not Working_RE.dwg" corrected the issue. I didn't bother confining the grid to limits and your version still plots correctly. But as stated elsewhere, I cannot alter the camera and target settings in LT. So, I will follow the latest advice and see if I can spot a pattern with other (new) drawings that I create - I'll post any relevant discoveries that I find.