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Plot

Plots drawings to printers and to files, through prompts at the command bar; this command is meant for scripts and routines.

Note: To print drawings through a dialog box, use the Print command.

 

Accessing the Command

command bar: plot
alias: -plot

: Plot

Prompts you in the command bar:

Detailed plot configuration [Yes/No] <No>:  (Type Y or N)

 

  • When you don't want detailed plot configuration, you are prompted:

Enter a layout name or ? <Model>: (Enter a name, type ? for a list of layout names, or press Enter to accept the default)

Enter a page setup name <>: (Enter a name, press Enter for none, or type _previous plot or <previous plot>)

Enter an output device name or ? <default.pc3>: (Enter a name, type ? for a list of device names, or press Enter to accept the default)

Write the plot to a file [Yes/No] <No>:  (Type Y or N)

Save changes to model tab [Yes/No] <No>:  (Type Y or N)

Proceed with Plot [Yes/No] <No>: (Type Y or N)

 

  • When you want detailed plot configuration, you are prompted:

Enter a layout name or ? <Model>: (Enter a name, type ? for a list of layout names, or press Enter to accept the default)

Enter an output device name or ? <dfault.pc3>: (Enter a name, type ? for a list of device names, or press Enter to accept the default)

Enter paper size or ? <Letter>: (Enter a name, type ? for a list of size names, or press Enter to accept the default)

Enter paper units [Inches/Millimeters] <Millimeters>: (Type I or M)

Enter drawing orientation [Portrait/Landscape] <Portrait>: (Type P or L)

Plot upside down [Yes/No] <No>: (Type Y or N)

Enter plot area [Display/Extents/Limits/View/Window] <Display>: (Enter an option)

Enter plot scale (Plotted millimeters = Drawing Units) or [Fit] <Fit>: (Enter a scale factor or type F)

Enter plot offset (x,y) or <0.0000,0.0000>: (Enter a x,y offset distance, or press Enter to accept the default)

Plot with plot styles [Yes/No] <Yes>: (Type Y or N)

Enter plot style table name (enter . for none) or ? <bricscad.stb>: (Enter a name, type ? for a list of style names, or press Enter to accept the default).

Plot with lineweights [Yes/No] <Yes>: (Type Y or N)

Remove hidden lines [Yes/No] <Yes>: (Type Y or N)

Write the plot to a file [Yes/No] <Yes>: (Type Y or N)

Save changes to model tab [Yes/No] <Yes>: (Type Y or N)

Proceed with Plot [Yes/No] <Yes>: (Type Y or N)

 

Command Options

Option

Description

Detailed plot configuration

Toggles detailed plot configuration:

  • Yes - prompts you with 16 options; see below
  • No - prompts you with six options

Enter a layout name

Specifies the name of the layout to plot.

  • Enter the name of a layout, such as layout1
  • ? - lists the names of layouts in the drawing.
  • Model - plots the model tab only.

Enter a page setup name

Specifies the name of a page setup:

  • Enter a name
  • Press Enter for none

See the PageSetup command.

Enter an output device name

Specifies the name of the output device (plotter or file):

  • Enter a name of a PC3 file
  • ? - lists the names of devices available on this computer, such as:
    "Adobe PDF"
    "Default Windows System Printer.pc3"
    "Print As PDF.pc3"

When the default is None, you must specify a name.

Write the plot to a file

Determines whether the plot is sent to a file:

  • Yes - plots the drawing to a PLT file; the program displays the Create Plot File dialog box:
    Specify a file name, and then click Save.

  • No - plots the drawing to a printer or other output device.

Save changes to model tab

or

Save changes to layout-name

Toggles saving the plot parameters to the model or layout tab:

  • Yes - saves the plot parameters, which can be used for the next plot
  • No - does not save plot parameters

Proceed with Plot

Toggles plotting of the drawing:

  • Yes - plots the drawing
  • No - does not plot the drawing; exits the command
 
Detailed Configuration Option Description

Enter a layout name

Specifies the name of the layout to plot.

  • Enter the name of a layout, such as layout1
  • ? - lists the names of layouts in the drawing.
  • Model - plots the model tab only.

model tab only.

Enter an output device name

Specifies the name of the output device (plotter or file):

  • Enter a name of a PC3 file
  • ? - lists the names of devices available on this computer, such as:
    "Adobe PDF"
    "Default Windows System Printer.pc3"
    "Print As PDF.pc3"

When the default is None, you must specify a name.

Enter paper size

Specifies the name of the paper size:

  • Enter the name of a paper size
  • ? - lists the names of paper sizes available for the plotter, such as:

    Available media sizes.
    "Letter"
    "Legal"
    "Executive"
    "A3"

The available paper sizes vary according to the printer selected.

Enter paper units

Specifies the units used for paper sizes:

  • Inches - shows paper sizes in inches
  • Millimeters - shows paper sizes in millimeters

Enter drawing orientation

Determines how the drawing is plotted on the paper:

  • Portrait - prints the drawing so that the tall edge is upright
  • Landscape - prints the drawing so that the short edge is upright

Plot upside down

Toggles upside-down plotting:

  • Yes - prints drawing upside-down
  • No - prints drawing normally

Enter plot area

Specifies the area of the drawing to plot:

  • Display - plots the area shown in the current viewport.
  • Extents - plots the extents of the drawing, ensuring all non-frozen entities are plotted.
  • Limits - plots the limits of the drawing, as defined by the Limits command.
  • View - plots the current view, or a named view. See View command; prompts you:
        Enter view name - (specify the name of a view.)

  • Window - plots a rectangular area defined by the user; prompts you:

  1. Select first corner of window - (specify one corner of the rectangle.)

  2. Select second corner of window - (specify the other corner.)

Enter plot scale

Specifies the plot scale factor:

  • Plotted Inches (or Millimeters ) - specifies the inches (or millimeters) on the paper.
  • Drawing Units - specifies the number of drawing units (inches, meters, etc).
  • F - fits the drawing to the paper; BricsCAD calculates the scale factor automatically.

Enter plot offset

Specifies the offset distance for the print; enter positive or negative distances to move the drawing in the x and/or y distances:

  • Positive values - moves the drawing up and to the right
  • Negative values - moves the drawing down and to the left

The lower left corner of the drawing is moved by the specified distance. This is useful when the paper has a title block area that might interfere with the drawing.

Plot with plot styles

Toggles the use of plot styles:

  • On - uses plot styles to determine the look of the printed drawing.
  • Off - does not use plot styles.

Plot styles override lineweight settings.

Enter plot style table name

Specifies the plot style table to use, which assigns properties to "pens," colors, and entities.

  • Enter a STB file name
  • ? - lists the names of plot styles available in the drawing.
  • . - specifies no plot style.

Plot with lineweights

(This option is unavailable when Plot with Plot Styles is turned on.) Toggles the use the lineweights:

  • On - mimics lineweights assigned to the drawing in the print
  • Off - ignores lineweights

Remove hidden lines

Toggles removal of hidden lines for 3D drawings:

  • Yes - removes hidden lines
  • No - does not remove hidden lines

Write the plot to a file

Determines whether the plot is sent to a file:

  • Yes - plots the drawing to a PLT file; the program displays the Create Plot File dialog box:
    Specify a file name, and then click Save.

  • No - plots the drawing to a printer or other output device.

Save changes to model tab

or

Save changes to layout-name

Toggles saving the plot parameters to the model or layout tab:

  • Yes - saves the plot parameters, which can be used for the next plot
  • No - does not save plot parameters

Proceed with Plot

Toggles plotting of the drawing:

  • Yes - plots the drawing
  • No - does not plot the drawing; exits the command

 

Related Commands

Print - plots drawings through a dialog box.

QPrint - plots drawings using the current settings.

Preview - previews drawings before they are plotted.

ConvertCtb - converts CTB plot style files to STB files.

ConvertPStyles - converts drawings from CTB to STB plot styles.

Layer - assigns plot styles to layers.

PageSetup - assigns plot style to drawings.

ExportPdf - exports layouts in a drawing to a pdf docucment.

PlotStyle - sets the current plot style.

StylesManager - creates and attaches plot styles to drawings.

Publish - allows to print a sheet list (= a list of model space or paper space layouts). Saves a sheet list to a file.

-Publish - prints a saved sheet list (= a list of model space or paper space layouts).

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