Printing A4 sized test prints from an A1 sized layout

[charlie72]

What is the best way to check A1 sized layouts prints using mimimal prints? Is there anyway i could take a viewport of an A1 sized layout and print in in A4 as this would save considerably on paper costs?

[ReMark]

We draw all our piping schematics on a sheet size of 24x36. Howvever, we have layouts in each schematic not only for these full size sheets but for 18x24, 11x17, 8.5x11 horizontal and 11x8.5 vertical. The viewport in each layout is scaled to encompass everything drawn in model space.

[bonehead411]

That's the beauty of creating a range of page setups. One drawing can be plotted in a variety of different ways depending on which you choose in the plot dialogue box.

 

http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/autocadtips/AutoCAD_tips_create_page_setup.html?rss

[eldon]

At the risk of being howled down by the Paper-spacers, this is one case where plotting from model space is the simplest option. Just plot a window, picked to suit, and it scales itself to fit an A4 sheet. No layouts to bother with because the scale does not matter, and far faster. I send faxes this way.

[bonehead411]

........and far faster.......

 

Hooooowwwlll :wink:

 

I would have to disagree on that point. With page setups in place it takes but 3 clicks from plot box to printer, as all the relevant settings have been determined previously.

[eldon]

 

With page setups in place

 

My method does not require page setups

[ReMark]

Since the OP does not require the drawing to be printed to scale I could see plotting from model space using the "window" and "fit to scale options".

[bonehead411]

I grant you that Eldon, but it does require tweaking all the settings every time a plot is required. The OP suggests he has A1 layouts set up which he wishes to plot to A4 on a frequent basis. Page setups can achieve this with minimal input.

Having used both methods in the past, I know which is easiest and fastest for me, but that's not to say it's the correct way for each and every one of us.

But that's the great thing about this place, you get answers and, more often than not, choices too!

[AlinOz]

OK guys, take the gloves off. As a long time user of AutoCAD I suggest that each and every one of you has a valid point and none of you are right or wrong. I see very little in AutoCAd being Black and white and usually there are better or not so good ways of doing things, but I'd leave it up to the individual to find the best way for them.

 

For me, I love the Page setups and take this one step further - run them from within Sheet Sets... Yeah, best of both worlds to get 20 A1 Drawings out in A3 in one file - excellent. There again, I may just want to fax off a section of the drawing I'm currently querying someone about - Modelspace here I come and plot that Window out.

 

You see, it's all horses for courses and sometimes we just need to do it the quickest way available at the time...

 

Oh, and to clarify my "Right and Wrong' statement above - I make this based on the situation where you are working on the file all on your own. If you work in an organization or in a situation where others will be working on your file, then Standards should/ need to be set up and you MUST then adhere to them. Otherwise your drawing may well be an absolute nightmare for those following behind you. So when you get hold of someone else's drawing and it isn't quite the way you think it should be done, use the term "why did they do it that way" rather than "What the hell do they think they're doing" because there may have been a good reason it was done like that and you may possibly learn something new from the experience...

[charlie72]

Thanks guys. I worked and played about with this and found that a combination of most of what was said above is probably the best solution. Selecting a window in model space has lots of potential for what i want to achieve, that of just checking a small section of a larger drawing will print out without and glitches in A4 size. After all i don't want a page layout of this at the moment and i don't want a lot of layouts clogging up at the bottom of my screen. Nor do i want these layouts finding their way into the SheetSetManger. Anyway this seems to best work for me at the moment. Thanks