Plotting

[csme9wjt]

How do I print a large drawing over several 8.5" x 11" sheets. I am using AutoCAD 2000, and am limited to an 8.5" x 11" printer.
Thank you in advance.

[fuccaro]

A possible solution: create a new layer and set it to don’t plot. On that layer draw horizontal and vertical construction lines. All the drawing must be covered by a net having equal 8.5x11 cells (or a bit smaller, see bellow). Set the OSNAP to INTERSECTION. Go to the plot command and make the desired settings. In the PLOT AREA press the Window button and pick two diagonal corners of the first cell covering your drawing. After the drawing was sent to the plotter press ENTER to repeat the last command. Under the PAGE SETUP NAME select Previous Plot. Press WINDOW again and pick the corners of the next cell. One by one you can print all the drawing.
Because you can’t print on the margins of the paper you should use smaller cells as the paper’s dimensions.

[David Bethel]

I do it with a lisp routine in R12. The routine writes a script file with all of the exact commands needed to print windows similar to what fuccaro described. Only it is an automated.

That said, I have only been able to reproduce this in one format in A2K and it was a half a day process to get the routine to work. And it only knows about 1 printer ( Adobe Distiller ) and 1 size ( 24 x 36 ) and 1 CTB ( Mine ) and does not work if I so much as sneeze.

Needless to say, I dislike plotting in A2K.

But plotting windows is the way. I suggest 8.0" x 10.5" as most decent printers can deal with 0.5" total margins. Good Luck. -David