AutoCAD Platform Customization. Ambrosius Lee

are still on an older release, or the contract you are bidding on requires all the files for a project to be submitted in a specific format.

      No matter the reasoning, AutoCAD allows you to set the default file format it uses when saving a drawing instead of requiring you to change to an earlier format from the Files Of Type (Windows) or File Format (Mac OS) drop-down list in the Save Drawing As dialog box. The default file format for a drawing can be set in the Options dialog box (Windows) or Application Preferences dialog box (Mac OS).

      Follow these steps to change the default file format used when saving a drawing file in AutoCAD on Windows:

      1. Click the Application button ➢ Options.

      2. In the Options dialog box, click the Open And Save tab. In the File Save area, click the Save As drop-down list and then choose the default file format you want to use.

      3. Click OK.

      If you are using AutoCAD on Mac OS, use the following steps:

      1. Click AutoCAD <release> menu ➢ Preferences.

      2. In the Application Preferences dialog box, click the General tab. Then choose the default file format you want to use from the Save As drop-down list in the File Save area.

      3. Click OK.

      TIP

      Before you save a drawing file to an earlier file format, you will want to know which releases your users are working in. I don't recommend just saving all your drawing files to the oldest possible release, as that could result in some undesired results. Some objects in a drawing could disappear or be exploded into individual objects.

Table 1.2 shows which file format you should use to save your drawings so that users on an older release can open your files.

Table 1.2 AutoCAD releases and drawing file formats

      If you want to make sure that all the files in a project are saved in a specific file format, you can use one of the following tools:

      Autodesk DWG TrueView A drawing file conversion program that is standalone from AutoCAD. It's available on Windows only and can be downloaded from www.autodesk.com/dwg.

      AutoCAD 360 Online collaboration website that allows you to view, edit, and share DWG files with others on a project. After a drawing has been uploaded, it can be downloaded in a different file format. The AutoCAD 360 website can be found at https://www.autocadws.com/.

      ETRANSMIT command Command that can be used to resave all the drawing files in a sheet set, or in the drawing files you add to the Create Transmittal dialog box. It's available on Windows only.

      Script Pro Utility that allows you to run script files on selected drawing files. The utility is available for Windows only and can be downloaded from here:

      http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=4091678&linkID=9240618

      Script Files and SCRIPT command You can create a script file that opens, saves, and closes multiple drawing files. I cover creating script files in Chapter 8, “Automating Repetitive Tasks.”

      Defining Plotter Configurations and Plot Styles

      Plotting, printing, and publishing are all forms of outputting a drawing file to a hardcopy (a physical sheet of paper) or an electronic representation of a hardcopy. Doing so helps you keep your intellectual property in your drawings secure, and it also gives those that do not have access to or know how to use AutoCAD the ability to review and approve your drawings.

      Before you can output a drawing, you need to

      • Set up an output device

      • Define the plot styles that control the way drawing objects appear in the output

      • Configure the settings of model space or a named layout

      Configuring Output Devices

      Setting up an output device is commonly handled by installing a system printer in Windows or Mac OS, but AutoCAD on Windows also supports a second option that allows you to configure a nonsystem printer using custom device drivers. Nonsystem printers are stored in PC3 files. Once a device is set up, additional settings can be specified inside AutoCAD to control the output being sent to the device. After a device is configured, you can then assign the device directly to a layout or page setup, or set it as the current device when using the plot command.

      You can configure a nonsystem printer for use with AutoCAD on Windows by doing the following:

      1. Click the Application button ➢ Print ➢ Manage Plotters.

      2. In the Plotters window, double-click Add-A-Plotter Wizard.

      3. In the Add Plotter wizard, click Next on the Introduction page.

      4. On the Begin page, select one of the three types of plotters that can be added:

      • My Computer: The device is configured to use a port on your local computer, to plot to a file, or to use an AutoSpool utility (an application that controls how the plot file is handled).

      • Network Plotter Server: The device is configured by posting plot files to a network location where the plotter checks for new files that need to be plotted.

      • System Printer: The device is configured to use an installed system printer and allows you to control the properties of AutoCAD-specific output settings.

      Then click Next.

      5. You will see a different page based on which option you selected:

      • If you chose My Computer, the Plotter Model page is displayed. Select a manufacturer and one of the supported plotter models. Click Next.

      • If you chose Network Plotter Server, the Network Plotter page is displayed. Enter or select the name of the network server (UNC) that you want to use, and click Next. The Plotter Model page is displayed. Select a manufacturer and one of the supported plotter models. Click Next.

      • If you chose System Printer, the System Printer page is displayed. Select a printer that is installed under the operating system and click Next.

      6. If the Import PCP Or PC2 page is displayed, click Import if you have a PCP or PC2 file from AutoCAD Release 14 or earlier that contains plotter-specific information. Select the PCP or PC2 file and click Open. Click Next to move to the next page in the wizard.

      7. If you chose System Printer in step 4, the Ports page is displayed. Select a port on your local computer, plot to a file, or use an AutoSpool utility. Click Next.

      8. On the Plotter Name page, enter a name in the Plotter name text box and click Next.

9. On the Finish page, click Edit Plotter Configuration to make changes to the device's settings in the Plotter Configuration Editor (see Figure 1.4) or click Calibrate Plotter to adjust the output size compared to that of a test drawing in the Calibrate Plotter wizard. Both of these options are optional, and availability is based on the type of device you are adding along with the plotter model you specified. Click Finish.

      The new plotter is added to the Plotter window and is ready for use by AutoCAD.

Figure 1.4 Editing a plotter configuration file

      Do the following to edit a nonsystem printer in AutoCAD on Windows:

      1. Click the Application button ➢ Print ➢ Manage Plotters.

      2. In the Plotters