Creating individual PLT files

[Anonymous]

We create PLT files for digitally archiving issued drawings and for using on our project intranet.

Under 8.1 when we use Publisher to create say a series of plot files they are all created in a single file as opposed to a series of separate files which are individually named by the user as they created.

The work around we currently use is to Publish Selected Item, which is OK but only a work around.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[__archiben]

Chris wrote:
Does anyone have any suggestions?

chris

yes - you have selected all of the files to be published in one go when you set their publishing parameters.

it's a bit of a hastle, but after setting the publishing properties to 'plot', you have to select each file individually in the list to be published and individually set up the plot to a file save locations for each.

you can then batch publish as many or as few as you like in one go and you get individual plt files for each.

not sure if this is a bug or a 'feature'. unfortunately i suspect the later!

~/archiben

[__archiben]

David wrote:
We just plot to a specified "Spool Folder". By default, each Layout is plotted individually. The problem is that the Spool Folder is set and stored by machine and not by .LBK file. I think this was previously addressed/added to the wish list.

david

the issue is with creating individual PLT files that can be kept as a record of each drawing issue. it is the method that we also use, although i'm sure that it won't be long before this becomes a PDF record.

if you select the whole list of files to be published and set up the 'plot-to-file' setting in one go for all of them, the publisher creates one big PLT file containing all of the individual layouts. this is obviously not good for archiving each drawing issue for later recovery.

also, i noticed in plotmaker 3.0's early days, that re-publishing the PLT (before removing the original and renamed it with a revision letter) would actually write into the first PLT doubling it in size rather than replacing, or saving a 'drawing1 copy.plt' file. i have not noticed whether this still occurs in 3.1 - we have measures in place to avoid it now (read: 'work-around').

maybe this is a bug and not a 'feature'? graphisoft?

~/archiben

[Djordje]

~/archiben wrote:
if you select the whole list of files to be published and set up the 'plot-to-file' setting in one go for all of them, the publisher creates one big PLT file containing all of the individual layouts. this is obviously not good for archiving each drawing issue for later recovery.

One more reason to go for PDF; there you can work by page, with PLTs you are FORCED to have a file for each page if you want individual pages (sheets) available.

IMHO PLT is a relict, although I agree it is still the fastest method of getting the right paper out when you need it.

[David Larrew]

This is a bug that was reported and discussed earlier. The "Spool Folder" method does work to an extent, at least for my office.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the question?... "How to create individual PLT files?". The "Spool Folder" method creates individual .PLT files for each Layout in the .LBK file.

I agree with Djordje, "PLT" format will eventually go the way of the 5 1/4" (and soon 3 1/2") floppies, old technology. Most reproduction service bureaus have switched (or are switching) to formats other than the .PLT file format.

[TomWaltz]

That works great for making the plt files.... but then how do you get rid of the Spool folder so you can plot to your plotter again?