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CAD tip CAD tip # 7585:

   
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Q - question

Plotting/exporting a series of drawing frames composed in a DWG drawing (or creating layouts).

A - answer If you get a DWG drawing which contains multiple frames (with individual drawings, title blocks) composed as a rectangular array in the modelspace, you can use the following utility that "batch plots" these sub-drawings, or - better - splits them into individual layouts, that can be batch-plotted using the PUBLISH command, or "explodes" them to separate DWG files or presets a set of page setups.

The free LISP utility CADstudio PlotDWGarr can be downloaded from Download. After you load it with APPLOAD, you can use the PlotDWGarr command to start the batch plotting (to the current - last-used - print device, with the current parameters - see your last PLOT) of all frames in the array, or the LayDWGarr command to generate new layouts containing the individual "drawings" (frames), or the wbDWGarr command to wblock the frames to separate DWG files, or the pcDWGarr command to generate a set of page setups (plot configs).

In all cases, the application first prompts for the shape of the rectangular array with the "drawings". You will sequentially specify the top left point (1), the size of a single frame (2), the distance between columns (3) and between rows (4), the number of columns and rows (see the picture). Possible missing frames - frames with no content - are ignored (not plotted).

Entering data

Alternatively you can specify the plot frames using predrawn rectangles (on a given layer) or block references (of a given name).

As a result, either a respective number of plots is printed, or a series of numbered layouts or DWG files or a set of page setups is created. The generated layouts are created from the layout template "(PlotArrTemplate)" (rename an existing layout to this name). In this template you can predefine the viewport size, its scale, page setup, etc.). You can then plot this series in one go using the PUBLISH command. Similarly, the pcDWGarr creates page setups and automatically publishes these setups to the output device defined in the page setup template ("PlotArrTemplate").

Since version 1.8, you can use predefined texts (or attribute blocks) to name the individual frames. You can specify the output folder. AutoCAD LT is also supported.

See LayDwgArr in action:

See a sample of a drawing.

Please avoid using AutoCAD drawings in this "fake modelspace" way - use rather Layouts, or specialized solutions like AutoCAD Electrical.

ACADACADEACLT
100% *  CAD 
30.9.2010    31841×   FAQ  
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applies to: AutoCAD · AutoCAD Electrical · AutoCAD LT ·

See also:
Tip 13228:DWG or DXF file exported to/from Fusion 360 has incorrect size (scale, 10x larger/smaller).
Tip 11604:How to set plot transparency for all layouts in a DWG?
Tip 10759:How to publish a DWG to a PDF file without attaching "-Model" to its name?
Tip 6672:I want to display my drawing the same way it is printed (e.g. black-and-white display of a DWG)
Tip 6515:AutoPDF - Automatic publishing of PDF file on every save of the DWG drawing


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