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Save printed output to a file rather than to a printer or plotter.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
4 min.
Tutorial resources
These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:
Transcript
00:04
In addition to plotting directly to a printer,
00:06
you can use any plotter configuration to create plot files that can
00:11
be used with spooling software or given to a service bureau for output
00:16
to see this in action,
00:18
select the layout you want to print
00:20
such as the details layout.
00:23
Then on the quick access toolbar, click plot to open the plot dialogue.
00:30
Of course, you could also open this dialogue from the application menu
00:34
by right clicking the layout tab
00:36
or by using tools in the ribbon.
00:39
Since this layout has a named page setup already associated with it
00:44
in the page set up group box, you can see the name of the page set up.
00:49
And you can also see that this particular page setup is already configured
00:53
to save the output to a PDF file
00:57
in the printer plotter group box under description.
01:01
There is a plot to file check box.
01:05
Since creating a PDF file is by definition an operation that plots to a file.
01:11
This check box is selected by default.
01:15
And with the DWG to PDF dot PC three plotter configuration selected,
01:20
you cannot clear this check box.
01:23
But if you select a different printer, you can control this
01:28
in the dialogue. Expand the name, drop down and select a different printer
01:34
for demonstration purposes. I'm going to select my laser printer.
01:39
You should select an actual printer that you use at your office.
01:45
Once you have selected an actual local or network printer,
01:49
the plot to file check box becomes available
01:53
to plot to a file, select this check box,
01:57
then review the other plot settings
02:00
and adjust them as needed.
02:04
Also note that as soon as you change the printer
02:07
in the page set up group box, the page setup name now says none.
02:12
Since all of the plot settings can be saved to a named page setup.
02:17
If you will often plot to a file,
02:19
you can save these settings as an additional named page setup.
02:24
When you are ready to create the plot file, click. OK?
02:30
Since you are plotting to a file, you see a file dialogue
02:34
at this point,
02:35
you should navigate to the folder in which you want to save
02:38
the file and enter a file name for the plot file.
02:43
Note that the drawing name is provided as the default file name
02:47
and the plot file is assigned the dot PLT file extension.
02:52
Click save
02:54
to save the plot file.
02:57
There is one last thing to remember.
02:59
Plot files are meant to be used with spooling software
03:03
or to be given to a service bureau for output.
03:07
In other words, if you know what type of plotter is used at your local copy center.
03:12
You can create a plot file and then send that PLT file to the copy center
03:18
or you can create a simple batch file and use it to send the PLT file to your printer.
Video transcript
00:04
In addition to plotting directly to a printer,
00:06
you can use any plotter configuration to create plot files that can
00:11
be used with spooling software or given to a service bureau for output
00:16
to see this in action,
00:18
select the layout you want to print
00:20
such as the details layout.
00:23
Then on the quick access toolbar, click plot to open the plot dialogue.
00:30
Of course, you could also open this dialogue from the application menu
00:34
by right clicking the layout tab
00:36
or by using tools in the ribbon.
00:39
Since this layout has a named page setup already associated with it
00:44
in the page set up group box, you can see the name of the page set up.
00:49
And you can also see that this particular page setup is already configured
00:53
to save the output to a PDF file
00:57
in the printer plotter group box under description.
01:01
There is a plot to file check box.
01:05
Since creating a PDF file is by definition an operation that plots to a file.
01:11
This check box is selected by default.
01:15
And with the DWG to PDF dot PC three plotter configuration selected,
01:20
you cannot clear this check box.
01:23
But if you select a different printer, you can control this
01:28
in the dialogue. Expand the name, drop down and select a different printer
01:34
for demonstration purposes. I'm going to select my laser printer.
01:39
You should select an actual printer that you use at your office.
01:45
Once you have selected an actual local or network printer,
01:49
the plot to file check box becomes available
01:53
to plot to a file, select this check box,
01:57
then review the other plot settings
02:00
and adjust them as needed.
02:04
Also note that as soon as you change the printer
02:07
in the page set up group box, the page setup name now says none.
02:12
Since all of the plot settings can be saved to a named page setup.
02:17
If you will often plot to a file,
02:19
you can save these settings as an additional named page setup.
02:24
When you are ready to create the plot file, click. OK?
02:30
Since you are plotting to a file, you see a file dialogue
02:34
at this point,
02:35
you should navigate to the folder in which you want to save
02:38
the file and enter a file name for the plot file.
02:43
Note that the drawing name is provided as the default file name
02:47
and the plot file is assigned the dot PLT file extension.
02:52
Click save
02:54
to save the plot file.
02:57
There is one last thing to remember.
02:59
Plot files are meant to be used with spooling software
03:03
or to be given to a service bureau for output.
03:07
In other words, if you know what type of plotter is used at your local copy center.
03:12
You can create a plot file and then send that PLT file to the copy center
03:18
or you can create a simple batch file and use it to send the PLT file to your printer.
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