Plot Maker 3.1 Confusion- Please Help!

[Anonymous]

I need help. The problem I am currently having is that I need to print 8.5 x 11 and 11 x 17 dwgs. I have title block templates set up. I import the drawings (drawn in 1/8" scale) and they load larger than the paper. When I scale them down by clicking on the borders and dragging them manually, the new window only shows the section of the drawing that I resized. I got a reply, but i either did it wrong, or it doesn't work for the current version that I have. Someone please help!

Thanks
April McBain
Golba and Associates Architecture
ArchiCAD 8 Plotmaker 3.1
april143mc@aol.com

[Link]

Hey April

It's not the best idea to rescale in PlotMaker. It's better to redefine your views in ArchiCAD so that when you update them in PM they will automatically resize. Plus, this way you get a better idea of what you're getting in ArchiCAD.

But, if you insist on using PM to resize, you firstly should go to Options>Preferences>Drawing Attributes and uncheck 'Scale'. This method is good if you are going to change the scale of many drawings. Then you should select the drawing and edit the 'Drawing Settings'. Do this by hitting ctrl/cmd+T or accessing it under the Edit or (right click) context menu. Under the Attributes tab you can set the scale or use the Fit to options.

Knock yourself out!

Cheers,
Link.

[Anonymous]

Link wrote:

It's not the best idea to rescale in PlotMaker. It's better to redefine your views in ArchiCAD so that when you update them in PM they will automatically resize. Plus, this way you get a better idea of what you're getting in ArchiCAD.

Link, how do you tell in AC how your drawing size will fit in Plotmaker? I'm really struggling with this one myself.

Wendy

[Djordje]

Wendy wrote:
Link, how do you tell in AC how your drawing size will fit in Plotmaker? I'm really struggling with this one myself.

You don't, except from previous experience.

That is why it is a good practice to do a trial run with both open, see how what fits, jump back to ArchiCAD, change the scales, reload PlotMaker. Much faster than it sounds.

[__archiben]

Wendy wrote:
Link, how do you tell in AC how your drawing size will fit in Plotmaker? I'm really struggling with this one myself.

there is some super-duper object available somewhere or other (from link himeself maybe, or via objects online?) that you can place in your archiCAD windows and it displays all sheet sizes you need based on the scale of the window.

at least if i remember correctly, this is one of it's features . . . it was link who showed it off at the archiCAD university in nottingham last september . . .

experience also helps plenty . . you begin to guage in your head what's going to fit where quite quickly . . .

~/archiben

[Anonymous]

If you need to,

you can always check the print size of your model (at scale) against the page size in your ArchiCAD print window (Page setout).

If it doesn't fit here it will not fit in PM on a page of the same size after you add your titleblocks etc.

This is assuming that the printer in AC is the same one you are going to use in PM.

As the others said more experience you get the better.

[Link]

Yes - I have created a part called PlotMaker Preview with Miguel Ladouceur that lets you preview your sheet in PlotMaker. It works wonderfully, and was demonstrated at ArchiCAD University. We have continued to test it since and are satisfied that it is completely bug free.

Miguel will be uploading it to objectsonline.com in the near future, but if you would like to purchase it early, just PM me.

It really is a powerful tool that previews exactly how much room you have on your sheet. You enter all the exact same settings into it, as you do to set up your sheet in PlotMaker. It allows for titles, titleblocks, ArchiCAD 9's grid numbering, and is completely scale sensitive. It takes all the guess work out of how much room you need in your model and will even let you position your plans, sections, elevations and details on your PlotMaker layouts before the model is built.

Trust me - it's awesome!

Cheers,
Link.

[Jefferson]

It is awesome! Link, post a screen shot of it! It's one of those things once you use it you can't quite imagine how you got along without it...........

[Link]

Well here's a preview of the page that explains how to setup the library part to match the plotter...

There is a lot more to it and it's all very intuitive.

Cheers,
Link.

[Anonymous]

So, you border becomes a library part??? How cool is that!!

Great job, Link!