Plotting

Hello,

I need some advice. I have mentioned this awhile ago but kinda need a better solution. I am working on a very large project that requires details and their locations on a roof plan. The details are no problem plotting. I usually put about 4 details per page and batch plot 25 pages with no problem. The pages come out in order and basically immediately after i hit publish. HOWEVER!, I am using the architectural roof plans and want to add my callouts to them and have much difficulty plotting and even editing. There is so much detail on them that it is bothersome to even edit them. Plotting them is also a nightmare and takes forever for it to process. I do not even try to go into model space to put my callouts because of all the lag. I usually just use paper space. We have to send 7 copies of our drawings out and there are about 20 roof plans. Is there a way to make very detailed dwg files with dozens of layers to plot more efficiently. I really do think it has to do with all these layers but am not sure. Sometimes if I pdf them they process faster but this is not what I am trying to do. Any advice would be great. Sorry for long thread.

One suggestion (if you're not already doing this) is to xref the roof plan into a separate drawing, turn off all the layers you're not using, and add your callouts there. Once you turn off those layers, AutoCAD can ignore them, which may give you a performance boost.

Are there hatches or images in the drawings that are slow to print?

i mean all the layers are in use. no images. if i xref it and turn layers off wont they dissapear?

Okay, let's back up. What is the basic problem? Is AutoCAD running too slowly? Is the plotting process running too slowly? Is the drawing too crowded? Do you have too many detail callouts to add? All of the above?

The number of layers shouldn't affect performance. The number of objects, however, will. If you can't reduce the number of objects on a plan, and your system is still running slowly, then you need a more powerful system.

Have you tried the Sheet Set Manager?