Plot Multiple Drawings to a Single Sheet

[MaKeSHift_Generation]

I'm using Autocad 2011 and I do not have an 11x17 printer, only a large formate plotter. How do I print multiple 11x17 drawings on a single sheet of paper using 24" wide paper on the large formate plotter?

[ReMark]

One way to do it.

 

Open a new drawing and draw a rectangle equal to 24x36. Divide the rectangle into quadrants. Now Xref in four of your 11x17 drawings (one per quad). Print it.

 

If you are going to have to go through this in the future save the new drawing as a "master". If you make changes to the four smaller drawings and have to print them again open this master drawing and the xrefs will be updated. Now you're all set to print them.

[MaKeSHift_Generation]

Will that work on the layouts?

[MaKeSHift_Generation]

I'm wanting to print multiple Layouts on one sheet since that's how my title blocks and everything is set up.

[ReMark]

Layouts? Funny, I think I missed that word in your original post.

 

One option. Use the lisp routine found in this link. It is called LAYOUT2X2 and was written by the Dacotah Kid.

 

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Visual-LISP-AutoLISP-and-General/Plot-multiple-layouts-on-single-sheet/m-p/1970293

 

You'll have to scroll down the page to find the routine. I haven't used it so I cannot tell you how it works or if it works.

 

You're on your own. Come back and tell us how you made out. Details...we need details.

[MaKeSHift_Generation]

That works great for drawings with multiple layouts. I'm trying to print 4 B size layouts from 4 different drawing files. I guess these details would have help in the beginning.

[ReMark]

That works great for drawings with multiple layouts. I'm trying to print 4 B size layouts from 4 different drawing files. I guess these details would have help in the beginning.

 

I could not have said that last sentence any better than you just did.

 

You want the Miracles Department. That's down the hallway on your left. Second door. Just walk right in. Someone will be with you in a moment.

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Or...look into using the Publish command.

[Dana W]

Seems a bit tedious while I was thinking about it, but how about copying all 4 files into a new drawing, then set up a 24 x 36 layout, put in 4 viewports, one in each quadrant, one per "page" surrounded by a properly scaled border & title block.

 

Remark, does publish allow printing 4 small pages on one big paper? I was just looking at it and can't seem to find a way.

[BIGAL]

Dah check your plotter does it support auto tiling this means the plotter waits a preset amount of time before plotting have your drawings ready and just keep plotting as fast as you can ours is set to 60 secs, so enough time to send 4 A3's = 1 A1 sheet. ie 4x60secs

[ReMark]

I threw Publish in out of frustration.

 

I now think pulling all four SEPARATE drawings into a new drawing and creating a layout with four 11x17 titleblock and borders in it might work. Each would have its own viewport.

[Dana W]

I threw Publish in out of frustration.

 

I now think pulling all four SEPARATE drawings into a new drawing and creating a layout with four 11x17 titleblock and borders in it might work. Each would have its own viewport.

 

Thx. Not having used Publish very much, I wasn't sure if the option to 'tile' smaller pages to one larger page was in there. Maybe Autodesk would consider adding something like that. Some shops use the 24" roll plotters and separate 11x17 capable ink jet printers just like the last one I worked in. They needed both formats frequently and a printer is cheaper than a couple of years worth of 75% empty paper.

[ReMark]

I'm going to have a go at this problem just to see if what I said can be done. I have the perfect drawings to do it with too. I've created 18 3D piping isometrics using mdoel space/layouts and they are all in 11x17 format. So I'll try to plot four different layouts on one large 24x36 sheet. I'm thinking perhaps Xref might come in handy here too. Your thoughts?

 

Back in the dark ages, before Layouts and Xrefs, I used to plot multiple 11x17 plot plans on a 24x36 sheet. I created a "master" sheet (divided into four quadrants) and then inserted each of four 11x17's into a quadrant and then went ahead and plotted it. I did not save this drawing as it was temporary only although the master itself was saved for repeated use.

[BIGAL]

Almost forgot this one one of my old customers used to cut his paper rolls in half so would do continuous A3 sheets one after another you can definately buy 17" A3 rolls. Turn cut off and would get all the sheets joined together.