Newbie(to the forum) Plotting issues

Hi to all from the new guy and many thanks for your efforts - It's a very useful forum.

I am not new to Acad but over the last three or for version changes I have completely lost the plot when it comes to managing plotters and page layouts.

Some simple pointers from you guys would be very much appreciated. I am currently running Rel. 2010 on a Lan workstation. I am trying to save page layouts so that they are available for use in all drawings I open. I have tried but am obvioously missing a couple of steps.

Also I would like to tell acad which plotter to use as a default (in the options dialogue box) it appears there but is not used as a default for subsequent plots.

Your advise would be very welcome thanks in advance

Eurodude

Your default printer designation can be made in Windows via Start > Devices & Printers. Find your printer. Right-click on it and choose Set as default printer.

To set the default printer in AutoCAD itself go to Options > Plot and Publish. Look in the upper left-hand corner where it mentions setting a default output device. This option specifically states it is for all new drawings.

Re: Page layouts.

What specific problems are you encountering?

Also I would like to tell acad which plotter to use as a default (in the options dialogue box) it appears there but is not used as a default for subsequent plots.

The default printer is saved per drawing, per layout. You need to edit your template drawing(s) and set it up once in there -unless- you always start with NO template, then see ReMark's second line.

[/i]To set the default printer in AutoCAD itself go to Options > Plot and Publish. Look in the upper left-hand corner where it mentions setting a default output device.

Note that this only applies to new drawings started with no template and existing drawings that have never been saved in R2000 or later format.

Thanks for the rapid response. I picked a windows default printer, sometimes it's used sometiimes not. I thought the options box - plot and publish defaults over-rode the windows default however, Another closer look tells me that the defaults in that box apply only to new drawings. Maybe another way for me to go is with page layouts - is there a way or a place I can save them so they are always available - even in drawings created elsewhere or at prior times?

Thanks for the rapid response. I picked a windows default printer, sometimes it's used sometiimes not. I thought the options box - plot and publish defaults over-rode the windows default however, Another closer look tells me that the defaults in that box apply only to new drawings. Maybe another way for me to go is with page layouts - is there a way or a place I can save them so they are always available - even in drawings created elsewhere or at prior times?

I use one template so I keep my pagesetups there. It can be automated but you can use PSETUPIN command, that will open a dialog box, at the bottom change the file type to .dwt, that will take you to the template folder, pick your template file, open, select one or all, and continue from there.

Thanks for the help and advice guys - I have the page layouts saved in the templates now. But I did find that they can also be imported in block form.

I made a new empty drawing, made a couple of page layouts for A3 paper ansd PDF monochrome plots saved the drawing and inserted it into an older drawing with no page setups and they appeared available to be used in the plot dialogue box.