[Fixed] Batch printing from AutoCAD: empty PLT and valid PDF

[Peter2]

I have problems with batch-printing from AutoCAD. The standard-script ("command") from Autocad is like this:

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Print in File: Yes
Filename: d:\plots\hello
continue: yes

The standard extension is PLT, and at the moment I have to bad solutions, after changing different settings in PDF-XChange:

a) The "save as - " dialogue appears and breaks my script.
b) The script works "fine" - and create a PLT with 0 bytes and a valid PDF.

What is the best setting for AutoCAD-scripts?

Peter

[Ivan - Tracker Software]

PDF-XChange driver doesn't support Print-to-file feature.
To turn off save dialog you have to set appropriate settings on "Save" page of printer's settings.

[Peter2]

PDF-XChange driver doesn't support Print-to-file feature....

???
Normally an application provides the "print-to-file" feature in its print-dialogue, no matter which printer is used: Text, Postscript, HPGL, RPCS, PCL, ...
PDF-Creation is different because the result is not a sheet of paper, made by a printer, but it is always a file, independent from the "print-to-file" feature. And this is why there a conflicts saving the file - who should "save the PDF"? The AutoCAD-command or the PDF-XChange-command? What happens when one applicationasks for the dialogue and the other app does not?
I hoped you had some experience in the concatenation of this tools.

...To turn off save dialog you have to set appropriate settings on "Save" page of printer's settings.

This is what I did - results see above..

Peter

[John - Tracker Supp]

Hi,

Please save your PDF-XChange settings to a 'profile' and 'Export' these to a file and send us the file and we will investigate further, see printer preferences -> Profilles.

Thanks

[Peter2]

Thanks, John

but the problem is clear now. It was my fault.

I thought "PDF is a file and this is why I have to use 'print to file'". But this is wrong - in AutoCad I have to select "Print" and in PDF-XChange I have to select "Don't ask for dialogue". Rather simple.

Sorry for confusion.

Peter

BTW:
Nevertheless a full "save to file .." would be more powerful for AutoCAD (for example with HPGL drivers), because there I have all possibilities to create my path and file-name for the saved file. Now I have to use the save-file-feature of PDF-XChange.

[Paul - Tracker Supp]

Thanks for that Peter.

Do you consider this issue resolved from our perspective then?

[Peter2]

...Do you consider this issue resolved from our perspective then?

The original question is solved, yes.

But now I'm thinking about a new question (Should I start a new thread?)

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Where is the value for path and filename of the PDF stored?
In registry or in INI-files or in "Application Data?
Is it possible to change the values for the path and the filename of the PDF via script/batch/regedit/ini-edit?

Peter

[Paul - Tracker Supp]

Hi Peter,

yes this should be a new thread.

If you create a profile the settings can be exported to a file otherwise it is in the registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange 4.0\Drivers\PDF-XChange 4.0\Profiles\<profile name>\Save\Path.

Just wondering why you don't want to use the settings in the driver?

[Peter2]

...otherwise it is in the registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange 4.0\Drivers\PDF-XChange 4.0\Profiles\<profile name>\Save\Path

Wonderful, thanks.

...Just wondering why you don't want to use the settings in the driver?

Because we are using a PC as "remote controlled printing machine". Different users ("Jim, Joe, Tom, Sue") send print-jobs to the PCs, and because the PC knows the owner of the job it can change the path and store Jims PDF to \\pdfdata\Jim and Sues PDF to \\pdfdata\Sue.

Peter

[Paul - Tracker Supp]

OK thanks for the clarification.

If you need more on this please post a new thread so we can keep this one on topic.

regards