Another plot to PDF question / plot question

[Steven P]

Good afternoon,

Just read the plot to PDF question below and that reminded me of something I was thinking of.

I have a LISPs to create a PDF plot, this all leads to populating the command:

 

(command "-plot" detailedplotconfiguration layoutname PDFPlotter papersize paperunits orientation plotupsidedown PLOTAREA PAUSE PAUSE plotscale plotoffset plotwithplotstyles plotstyletablename plotwithlineweights shadeplotsetting fullpath saveplotsettings proceeedwithplot)

 

So this line with the 2 pauses is for plotting a window.

 

Is there a way to set PLOTAREA to 'window pause pause' to remove the need to specify pauses in the command?? I tried it quickly buy it doesn't like it as simple as (setq PLOTAREA "Window pause pause"). 

 

Thanks

 

Steven

 

[ronjonp]

Choose the window option? Have you heard of the publish command?

Quote

Command: -PLOT
Detailed plot configuration? [Yes/No] <No>: y
Enter a layout name or [?] <Layout1>:
Enter an output device name or [?] <_DWG To PDF.pc3>:
Enter paper size or [?] <ANSI full bleed B (17.00 x 11.00 Inches)>:
Enter paper units [Inches/Millimeters] <Inches>:
Enter drawing orientation [Portrait/Landscape] <Landscape>:
Plot upside down? [Yes/No] <No>:
Enter plot area [Display/Extents/Layout/View/Window] <Display>: w
Enter lower left corner of window <0.000000,0.000000>: Enter upper right corner of window <0.000000,0.000000>:

Enter plot scale (Plotted Inches=Drawing Units) or [Fit] <1=1>:
...

Edited October 31, 2018 by ronjonp

[BIGAL]

If your plotting from layout 1title block then you can do some simple stuff like check what title block is present and have a list of window sizes, alternatively if you use the block insert point and scale again you can work out the plot window.

 

We push everyone to have the title at 0,0 and at 1:1 so it works 100%

[Steven P]

Thanks so far.

 

RonJon, you've confused me though with the quote - I'm not sure what I am mean to do with that, sorry!

Yes, could do publish but the LISP works well with other things and I was looking to see if I could make the code a bit simpler in some ways

 

BIgAl - I know what you mean, it should be simple to do that. Generally I have the layouts setup so I can plot extents and not worry about the borders and titles (we have a few different clients, different borders, some clients are for 1 project, some for many projects, so I do the layouts that way to catch them all). Where I would use the window is plotting from the model tab or a zoomed in selection of the layout tab, sometimes the engineers just want a 'zoomed in pdf of that bit please'

 

If I could combine the plot area with the pauses for a window plot I could make that with 1 line earlier in the code, rather than a condition / if command later (If (= plotarea "Window") (plot command 1) (if (= plotarea "extents")( plot 2 command)

[ronjonp]

20 minutes ago, Steven P said:

RonJon, you've confused me though with the quote - I'm not sure what I am mean to do with that, sorry!

When I used the option W ( window ) for plot area it prompted to pick points. Isn't that what you're after?

[Steven P]

Thanks RonJon, sort of.. I've found that when I use the (command -plot ...  ) within a LISP routine you need to add the 2 pauses to give you time to select the points - otherwise AutoCAD ploughs on with reading the line and you get an error with the plotting (it won't work). Add in the 2 pauses - AutoCAD moves on only after a user input to the next bit - and it all works.

 

But you are right, a -plot command from the command line and it does as you show - and I understand what you are showing me now, thanks.

[ronjonp]

You could also create named views to plot. Why are you using this to plot rather than SSM or publish? SSM had been around since AutoCAD 2008.

Edited November 1, 2018 by ronjonp

[eldon]

Perhaps you could plot to Limits (having set the Limits previously). That would not entail a pause to select.

[BIGAL]

I know lots of posts above but simplest way is have a pull down menu have your client names there and behind the menu is the window settings LL UR scale etc then just call your plot lisp. Were I used to work had 2 title blocks one a state authority so had to match that exactly, so just had 2 plot routines, would do now as I suggested.

 

^c^c^p[PlotPdfHarrys](setq ll "-6,-6")(setq UR "804,535")(plotmypdf LL UR)  

^c^c^p[PlotPdfFREDS](setq ll "-0,0")(setq UR "420,297")(plotmypdf LL UR)  

[maratovich]

Steven P
Attach an example of your title block, you need a dash file dwg

[Steven P]

Maratovich... which clients title block.... there are a few clients all with different blocks

 

RonJon - I'm doing it this way because when I wrote the script it worked this way! Just trying to tidy up what works and I am sure there is a tidier way of doing things

 

BigAl - that's an idea. Mostly I am happy when I am plotting the full drawing to PDF, its those occasions when the engineer wants a set area plotted - so preset limits won't really work (for example "PDF just that room for me" as opposed to the whole building.