AutoCAD 2018 plot issue

[Peter.deVries]

Hi you all,

I have just encoutered a strang problem within AutoCAD 2018 while plotting a drawing.

The thing is that I have a drawing with an XREF attached, with several layers not displayed. Plotting with AutoCAD 2016 shows exactly the same as in AutoCAD, but when plotting in 2018, the XREF layers are somehow turned on automatically...?!?

I have attached a video that shows the drawing and creating a preview, so you can see what I am talking about.

This issue occurs independent of the type of printer, so it is an AutoCAD issue.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Kind regards,

Peter de Vries

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> but when plotting in 2018, the XREF layers are somehow turned on automatically...?!?

Is the XRef-insertion-layer off or frozen?

Does that happen in other drawings with other XRef's too?

Have you installed AutoCAD 2018 Update 1.2?

- alfred -

[steven-g]

It could be a different variable setting between the two versions, one that showed up in a quick search was "visretain=1" but it could be another variable, I would start by checking which variables are different between the two versions.

[Peter.deVries]

Hi Alfred,

First, thank you for your swift reply.

Second, the drawingfile is exactly the same between the AutoCAD versions. I just opened in 2018 and tried to plot. It behaves differently in 2018 than in 2016 somehow. So it is not about an Xref layer visible or not, because it is the same DWG.

I have not tried it with other drawings, but it seems unlogical since it is the same drawing functioning perfectly in 2016 but not in 2018.

My AutoCAD version is actually 'Civil3D as AutoCAD' and shown below:

I have not yet heared of Update 1.2, by the way... My Autodesk Desktop App says that my updates are all up-to-date.

Hope to find the problem (and solution :)) soon!

Regards,

Peter 

[steven-g]

Sometimes things change between versions,https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/ENU/AutoC...

And new variables are added, this one was added in 2018, which looks very suspect. Might not be, but I would still check the different variables.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> So it is not about an Xref layer visible or not

As long as you have not tried it you can't say yes or no (for 2018). Even if it handles your drawing different in 2 versions of AutoCAD I guess we should search for a solution for 2018, right?

And I just want to find the point for me to reproduce your issue, nothing else.

More important: I have not asked for visible yes/no, I have asked off or frozen, that is different!

>> I have not tried it with other drawings, but it seems unlogical

See above, we try to solve an issue you have with your drawing and AutoCAD 2018.

So we need first identify if it's specific to the drawing set or it's a general issue on your system.

As long as not trying anything we won't get more close to the deep source or the problem.

>> your screenshot

Update AutoCAD to 2018.1, your does not have all updates installed.

- alfred -

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> My Autodesk Desktop App says that my updates are all up-to-date

Sorry, my fault, not 2018.1.2, but 2018.1 is current.

If your Desktop App does not find it go to your subscription center ==> updates ==> there it can be downloaded too.

- alfred -

[Peter.deVries]

Hi Alfred,

Thanks for your reply.

Within the registry as well as the system variables, I have not found the variable VISRETAINMODE.

Furthermore, my company has disabled the updates from 'manage.autodesk.com', so I am not able to download the 2018.1 update. It also doesn't show up within the Desktop App... Does this have to do that I have Civil3D installed and not AutoCAD?

The only workaround right now is to open the DWG in 2016 and plot it there...

Regards,

Peter

[pendean]

Talk to your boss or your IT about what they think about you having to use one software to plot and another to work in: I bet then you'll get access to the updates you need for 2018.

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> Within the registry as well as the system variables, I have not found the variable VISRETAINMODE

VISRETAIN is a variable stored in the drawing, you won't find it in the registry.

>> my company has disabled the updates

Then they should re-enable that (I guess your cars are all going to service or is that blocked to)

>> Does this have to do that I have Civil3D installed and not AutoCAD

Civil 3D includes AutoCAD, Map3D and Civil3D ... so you need all these service packs installed.

- alfred -

[Hidden_Brain]

there is a new variable called XREFOVERRIDE that was recently introduced:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2016/ENU/AutoC...

check to see if that is the culprit.

[Peter.deVries]

Thank you for your suggestion, Hidden_Brain,

The variable 'XREFOVERRIDE' was on 0, the preview ánd the plot showed layers that were turned off.

I changed 'XREFOVERRIDE' from 0 to 1, did another preview and the results were the same.

Furthermore, the variable 'VISRETAIN' was already been set to 1.

So we can rule that one out 🙂

However, I checked the layers that were showing up and it turned out that they were not frozen, but only turned off - in the main layer settings.

When I would freeze those layers, they finally stopped showing up on the preview...

Though I am happy that I have found a workaround, this is not as it should be. This was also not working like this in previous AutoCAD versions.

Doesn't anyone else have this issue?

Regards,

Peter

[Haruko-CTQ]

We are having same issue. we are in touch with Autodesk tech support for this issue. but doesn't sounds like we can get fix quickly.... I'm interested to know if you find solution to this. I'll post findings in here.