multiple layer plotting

[PeterPan9720]

Hi to everybody,

I saw a lot of posts on similar arguments but until now I been not able to solve this issue.

I have an electrical dwg contain 100-150 layers, every time I

have to plot it's an hard job.

Switch off all layers except the layer 0, plot to pdf, give the

file name to pdf and store it in a dir, when all layers has been

plotted I have to merge all single pdf to one unique pdf file,

sorting again the layer name (single pdf file).

Until now I was able to create a VBA macro which give me a list

of all layers into dwg file, I'm able to put a specific layer ON

or OFF (not in automatic mode).

I searched also for API tied with adobe acrobat distiller in order

to give the file name automatically from the macro running with

AUtocad, but this is an hard job and needs programming knowledge

higher than mine.

Pls Help Me.

[Pablo Ferral]

I don't understand why you would create a drawing with 150 Layers, and then turn them all off before you plot ?! Could you clarify your process a little more...

[alanjt]

I don't understand why you would create a drawing with 150 Layers, and then turn them all off before you plot ?! Could you clarify your process a little more...

Clear as mud, come on man!

[PeterPan9720]

I don't understand why you would create a drawing with 150 Layers, and then turn them all off before you plot ?! Could you clarify your process a little more...

 

I'll try to explain more in detail

1) I have a single file DWG with more than 100 layers, all in the same model space window.

2) Each single layer is a sheet of an electrical drawing.

3) the final document must be a single PDF file.

 

Actually the "manual" procedure to obtain a PDF is to

1) plot each single layer to a PDF file, by switching on, plot and again off each single layer.

2) finally after n times of the same operation with all layers you have the same number of single file pdf.

3) In order to have a single PDF as the single dwg you have to merge the PDF (one for each layer) sorting before each file to merge in the same way as the dwg is.

4) finally after the PDF merge operation the result is a single PDF file which contain several pages.

5) after all above operation you will have to visit a good clinic for your mind !.

 

I'm searching for a "macro" to do this automatically, but seems that the problem is the Adobe File Name sending to the windows that appears when you plot to a file.

 

I hope this could help you.

Thank you

[Lee Mac]

Depending on the PDF plotter you use, if you go to control panel > Printers and check the properties of the PDF printer, I believe you can suppress the filename prompt.

[alanjt]

Depending on the PDF plotter you use, if you go to control panel > Printers and check the properties of the PDF printer, I believe you can suppress the filename prompt.

I know you can with Adobe. God I miss having access to the full version. Stupid economy.

[PeterPan9720]

Depending on the PDF plotter you use, if you go to control panel > Printers and check the properties of the PDF printer, I believe you can suppress the filename prompt.

 

Thank you I'll check, but in this way your previous plot will be overwritten by the new.

[alanjt]

Thank you I'll check, but in this way your previous plot will be overwritten by the new.

 

If this option exists, there's another option to prompt if file exists.

[PeterPan9720]

If this option exists, there's another option to prompt if file exists.

Thank you for your answer but the scope of the "automatism" is to avoid ask any keyb input

 

I know that some VBA use a function that send key like as you are typing it

[Lee Mac]

I know that some VBA use a function that send key like as you are typing it

 

An example using SendKeys (function repeats last command):

 

(defun RepeatLastCommand ( / WSH )
 (vl-load-com)

 (setq WSH (vlax-create-object "WScript.Shell"))  
 (repeat 2 (vlax-invoke WSH 'SendKeys "{UP}"))
 (vlax-invoke WSH 'SendKeys "~")  
 (vlax-release-object WSH)
 
 (princ)
)

[PeterPan9720]

An example using SendKeys (function repeats last command):

 

(defun RepeatLastCommand ( / WSH )
 (vl-load-com)

 (setq WSH (vlax-create-object "WScript.Shell"))  
 (repeat 2 (vlax-invoke WSH 'SendKeys "{UP}"))
 (vlax-invoke WSH 'SendKeys "~")  
 (vlax-release-object WSH)
 
 (princ)
)

 

Thank you for your answer, but with this you are still inside the Autocad environmental, I have to send key to an external windows that is the file name request from pdf software, and as I explained before if I have to write anytime the filename for each layer to plot, the purpose of the macro becomes useless.

Thank you every body for the support