How Do I Create a Batch Plot in AutoCAD?
AutoCAD is a powerful software used by architects, engineers, and designers to create precise and detailed drawings. One of the great features of AutoCAD is the ability to batch plot multiple drawings at once, saving time and effort. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of creating a batch plot in AutoCAD.
Step 1: Prepare Your Drawings
Before you can start the batch plot process, make sure all the drawings you want to plot are saved and closed. It is important to have a clear understanding of where your files are located on your computer so that you can easily locate them when setting up the batch plot.
Step 2: Open the Publish Dialog Box
To begin the batch plot process, open AutoCAD and go to the “File” menu. From there, select “Publish” and then choose “Publish to Web & Mobile”. This will open the “Publish to Web & Mobile” dialog box.
Step 3: Add Drawings to the List
In the “Publish to Web & Mobile” dialog box, click on the “Add Sheets” button. A file selection dialog box will appear where you can navigate to the folder where your drawings are saved.
Select all the drawings you want to include in your batch plot by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on each file name. Once all your desired drawings are selected, click on “Add Sheets” to add them to the list.
TIP:
- If you have a large number of drawings or they are stored in multiple folders, you can use AutoCAD’s search functionality by clicking on “Search Folder”. This will allow you to search for specific file types or names within a selected folder or its subfolders.
Step 4: Set the Plot Configuration
After adding the drawings to the list, you need to set the plot configuration for each drawing. By default, AutoCAD will use the last plotted settings.
However, if you want to change any of the plot settings, click on the “..” button next to each drawing and select “Edit Sheet List”. This will open the “Sheet List” dialog box where you can modify the plot settings for that specific drawing.
Step 5: Choose Output Options
Once you have set the plot configuration for all your drawings, it’s time to choose the output options. In the “Publish to Web & Mobile” dialog box, you can select whether you want to publish your drawings in a single document or as separate files. You can also choose the file format and specify other publishing options such as password protection and watermarking.
TIP:
- If you are unsure about which output options to choose, it is recommended to start with the default settings and make adjustments as needed based on your requirements.
Step 6: Start the Batch Plot Process
Once you have configured all the necessary settings, click on the “Publish” button in the “Publish to Web & Mobile” dialog box. AutoCAD will start processing each drawing in your list and generate the output according to your chosen options. The progress of each drawing will be displayed in a status bar at the bottom of the dialog box.
TIP:
- If you have a large number of drawings or complex drawings with many layers and objects, batch plotting may take some time to complete. It is recommended to let AutoCAD complete the process without interrupting it.
Step 7: Review the Output
Once the batch plot process is complete, you can review the output files or document. If you chose to publish your drawings as separate files, they will be saved in the specified location on your computer. If you chose to publish them as a single document, AutoCAD will generate a multi-sheet PDF file or another format based on your selection.
Congratulations! You have successfully created a batch plot in AutoCAD.
This powerful feature will save you valuable time and effort by allowing you to plot multiple drawings simultaneously. Remember to organize your drawings and set the desired plot configuration and output options before starting the batch plot process.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we learned how to create a batch plot in AutoCAD. We covered the steps of preparing your drawings, opening the publish dialog box, adding drawings to the list, setting the plot configuration, choosing output options, starting the batch plot process, and reviewing the output. By following these steps, you can efficiently plot multiple drawings in AutoCAD and streamline your workflow.