Electrical Design Software | Elecdes Design Suite by Scada Systems Ltd

Plot Configuration


The plot configuration dialogue allows the user to set up the properties of the current print job, which may be a preview, single drawing print or a batch print.

Printer Setup

The first step to setting up a print job should be to select a printer to use, paper size, DPI, and orientation. This can be done with the Print Setup button on the dialogue.

Base Unit

Allows the user to select a base unit of either inches or millimetres. The default margin sizes will automatically alter to reflect a change in base units. Base units also define the units used for line weights and dash sizes etc. The base units are specified primarily for when a user scale factor is selected. See below.

Scaling

If the scale to fit checkbox is unchecked, the scale entered in the edit box is defined in base units per drawing unit. Toggling the base units between inches and millimetres will affect the scale factor calculations. If a base unit of millimetres has been selected, entering a scale factor of 2.0 would cause the printing scale to be 2.0 millimetres for every drawing unit. Drawing units are specific to each individual CAD Drawing. Any user defined scale factor will scale the drawing by the same degree both horizontally and vertically.

Orientation check Box

The orientation of a print job will default to be aligned for optimal use of the paper chosen with Print Setup.

The user may over-ride the default orientation and rotate the drawing on the sheet by 90 degrees if desired.

Margins

Enter in the physical margin sizes desired in the printed drawing. The units specified in the margin sizes are in base units. Note that the actual margin sizes which result on the paper will be the sizes you have entered PLUS the margins defined by the printer as unprintable. Your margins should be set to compensate for the unprintable areas of the paper.

Dash size

Dashed lines on your drawing are all displayed and printed with a common dash size. This dash size can be set (in base units) on the plot configuration dialogue.

Modify Pen Weights

The Batch Printer enables the user to select a pen weight for any of the 256 colours available in DWG format drawings. The displayed pen weight is in base units. To change the weight of a selection of pens, select the pens from the pens list-box, enter a value into the weight edit box, and then click Apply.

Be careful not to press enter when applying a pen weight as this will initiate the print.

Font Mapping

The Batch Printer allows the user the choice of all installed windows true type fonts to use as a replacement for DWG format SHX type fonts. DWG SHX fonts (e.g. romans.shx ) are unsuitable for use with the Batch Printer and should be mapped to an appropriate true type font. (e.g. romans.TTF)


Fonts mapped will be used for display and for printing.

Bold Fonts will be used whenever pen weights are set "heavy" (> 0.5mm).

True Type fonts used in a DWG file do not require mapping.

A maximum of 100 font maps are allowed.

To map a font:

  • Click the FONTS button.

  • Select or enter an SHX font name in the combo box of the displayed dialogue. (e.g. romans.shx)

  • Click the "Substitute Windows Font" button.

  • You will be displayed the standard windows font selection dialogue. Select the TTF font to substitute. [Size, Bold, Italic settings are ignored.]

  • Your font map will be added to the list in the plot configuration dialogue.