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Plotmaker: Display Options Problem

Stuart Smith
Enthusiast
In Display Options -> Options for Display & Output -> Fills: the setting reverts back to "All to Vectorial Hatching" whenever the file is opened.

This is problematic, since we would like it it to stay on "Keep Original Settings" so that we don't have to go in and change it every time we plot.

Is there some way to set it and make it stay?

Mac OS X 10.3
Plotmaker 3.1.0 v2
AC user since 8.1
8 REPLIES 8
Anonymous
Not applicable
Someone else will proably have an easier method. You could use this an opportunity to start creating a template. I have started a template layout book for our office that includes custom pensets, titles, masters ect. The settings you are talking about will also be saved in the template.
__archiben
Booster
Stuart wrote:
In Display Options -> Options for Display & Output -> Fills: the setting reverts back to "All to Vectorial Hatching" whenever the file is opened.
just tried it and it sticks here . . .

dumb question, but you are saving the file? (feel free to lambast me if that really is a stupid question

~/archiben
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Anonymous
Not applicable
Sorry to jump right in there but while we're on the subject of vectorial hatching... my understanding was that vectorial hatching is a more accurate (lack of a better word) setting.
They are a real representation of your fill and not the constantly sized image that bitmaps give you. Sometimes it might be better to retain your original settings (which in AC may be bitmap) but when would that be?
Anonymous
Not applicable
Oh... by the way.
Mark Flamer suggested creating a template layout book.
Since you most likely have an office standard of some sort, it really is a good idea. You change all your settings (importing title blocks to your masters, fill settings in display options etc) once and you're set every time.
Stuart Smith
Enthusiast
Thanks for the responses, here's some more info.

Yes, I've been saving! Every time I open the file, that setting reverts back to "All To Vectorial Hatching", even if I change it to "Keep Original Settings" and save.

We do have a template, and I checked the settings in that file, and it too exhibits the same behaviour.

I created a new layout book (using 'New + Reset') and that file seems to work the way I would expect it to, i.e. changes to that setting stay changed after saving and reopening.

Perhaps this is a v1 to v2 problem? The files with the problem were created with v1 but the one created with v2 seemed to work fine.

Does this mean I need to recreate my template file from scratch? Grrrr.
AC user since 8.1
Stuart Smith
Enthusiast
Sometimes it might be better to retain your original settings (which in AC may be bitmap) but when would that be?
Well, for example, in our current project, we have set up composites for the walls with hatches, but for small scale plans we would like to see a simple black poche, which we set up using the Display Options in ArchiCAD.
Then when we bring it in to PlotMaker to print it out, PlotMaker switches it back to hatches! Thanks alot PlotMaker! I just want PlotMaker to leave my fill settings alone!
AC user since 8.1
__archiben
Booster
Stuart wrote:
Perhaps this is a v1 to v2 problem? The files with the problem were created with v1 but the one created with v2 seemed to work fine.

Does this mean I need to recreate my template file from scratch? Grrrr.
i doubt it - just do a 'save as...' with your current template. that's the somplest way of creating the file in the newer version format. but i didn't think that there was a version issue between v1 and v2 until i just checked . . . see attached.

~/archiben
b e n f r o s t
b f [a t ] p l a n b a r c h i t e c t u r e [d o t] n z
archicad | sketchup! | coffeecup
Anonymous
Not applicable
In ArchiCad, I've noticed whenever I save or redefine a view, that view set includes little things like your solar angles, 3d background and your construction and polygon fill settings. It saves a whole bunch of other stuff too but this allows you to have a lot more control in terms of your views. It does of course mean you have to save/redefine your viewsets with these settings as you want them. If the settings in ArchiCad are ok, hopefully "keep original settings will work". Maybe you will have to create a new layout book if that doesn't work though. Pity... I didn't see an attribute manager for plotmaker.