AutoCAD is a powerful software used by architects, engineers, and designers to create precise and detailed drawings. One of the essential tasks in AutoCAD is plotting or printing the drawings to physical paper or digital files.
But where exactly are these plot files located? Let’s explore different scenarios and find out where you can locate your AutoCAD plot files.
Plotting to Physical Printers
When you want to print your AutoCAD drawing directly to a physical printer, the plot file is not saved as a separate file. Instead, it is sent directly to the printer and is not stored on your computer. This means that you won’t be able to find a specific plot file related to that print job on your system.
Plotting to PDF Files
If you choose to plot your AutoCAD drawing as a PDF file, things work differently. When you select “PDF” as the plotter in the Plot dialog box, AutoCAD will ask you for a location where you want to save the PDF file. This allows you to specify any folder on your computer or network drive where you want the PDF file to be saved.
Note: Make sure to remember or write down the location where you save the PDF file for future reference.
Saving Plot Settings
To make plotting more efficient, AutoCAD allows users to save plot settings as page setups. A page setup includes various settings like paper size, scale, plot style table (CTB/STB), and other options.
You can access page setups by typing “PAGESETUP” in the command line or by going through “Output tab > Page Setup Manager” in newer versions of AutoCAD. Once inside the Page Setup Manager, select an existing page setup or create a new one by clicking on the “New” button.
After you have configured the necessary settings, you can save the page setup with a descriptive name. This way, you can quickly apply those settings to future drawings without having to manually configure them each time.
Managing Plot Files
Now that we know where AutoCAD plot files are stored when saved as PDFs, it’s important to manage these files effectively. Here are some tips:
- Create a dedicated folder: It’s a good practice to create a dedicated folder on your computer or network drive specifically for storing AutoCAD plot files. This will help keep them organized and easily accessible.
- Use descriptive file names: When saving plot files, use descriptive file names that indicate the drawing name, date, and any other relevant information.
This will make it easier to locate specific plot files in the future.
- Maintain a filing system: Implementing a consistent filing system for your plot files can save you time and effort. Consider organizing them by project, discipline, or any other logical categorization that suits your workflow.
In Conclusion
AutoCAD plot files are not stored as separate files when printing directly to physical printers. However, when plotting to PDF files, AutoCAD allows you to specify the location where these files should be saved. Remember to leverage page setups and maintain an organized approach for managing your plot files for more efficient workflows in AutoCAD!
Keep learning and exploring, and make the most out of AutoCAD’s powerful plotting capabilities!