MicroStation SIG #8: A-Z Printing and Plotting

Here are some questions that have been sent to us directly...

1. what is the most common workflow for printing, scale border up or scale referenced work down?

2. are pdf's available for on demand, hands-on courses?

3. give simple example of pen tables and design script.

4. pls go over print organizer

We will answer those for sure.  Please submit any other questions on printing....

Tom Lazear

1. The .pdf, .tiff, and .cit attachments sometimes print with gray background even though transparency is on, is there a fix for this problem?

2. When we print to a small printer it wants to print from bypass tray, is there a way to select other trays? How is this done?

1) If using the windows driver to print to paper you must have the rasterized button checked on via the print dialogue to get transparency

2) You can edit the printer.pltcfg under windows printer section and select the tray. Here is info from the help file:

Specifies the default paper tray to be selected. This value can be any valid tray name for the selected printer, such as

Tray 1, Manual Feeder, and so on.

When a printer has a choice of trays (or paper sources) you can check the available tray names by clicking the Configure Windows Printer icon in the Print dialog, which opens the system Print dialog. In this dialog, you can select a printer and then view the printer's properties, including that for paper source.

Questions raised during Live Q&A Webinar for MicroStation SIG #8: A-Z Printing & Plotting           

1. What is most common workflow, scale border up or reference-scale work down?  Ans.  Our experience is more and more are scaling reference work down to fit into standard paper-dimension borders.   However, both are in use and both methods were demonstrated.
2. Are PDF’s of OnDemand exercises available?  No, the OnDemand courses use Scorem which is not printable.  So, those exercises must be viewed onlne.
3. Give example of pen table and design script.    Pen table example was demonstrated.
4. Please go over Print Organizer.   Print Organizer was demonstrated.
5. Attached raster files print with grey background even though Transparency is turned on. Why?   Ans:  Some printers understand transparency given with commands and some don’t.   you can always check “Rasterization box” and MicroStation will send out a raster file that recognizes transparency.  The file will be much larger and print slower. 
6. How choose tray of paper for printing?  For Windows printer driver, use the print preferences dialog supplied by the printer manufacturer.    For Bentley driver, you must be using system dialog somewhere to get the print to the printer.  Choose tray there.
7. Is there a way to control resolution when using the Rasterization check box?  Yes, edit the printer driver configuration file. With the “base properties” tab selected, click on the ‘raster printing’ section at bottom of dialog.   Increase the 50% to a higher quality.  Caution, this will make the file even larger.  
8. How can we make the print to  PDF automatically name the file and place the PDF file in a particular folder?  Edit the printer driver configuration file.  With “base properties” tab selected, click on Default Print File Name section.  The File Name field defines what the file will be called and where it is saved.  Set AutoIncrement to TRUE, and AutoOveride to TRUE.    To complete the change, see File on the dialog and click Save.  Then, if MS is open, close the print dialog and open it again.  Do a file print and see the file goes to MS-pltfiles  config variable (change that variable if you want plot files to go elsewhere)
9. Can sheets be automatically numbered?  Answer is yes.   If designing a new border/title block, on the title block drawing, go in to add-text.  Pick f(x) on the add-text dialog.  Under Fieldtype pick model properties.  Click ok.  under sheet section, click sheet number.  Click ok.  place that text where you want it in your border.  That number will automatically change if pulling the sheet number from the sheet model (because sheet model numbers automatically increment each time you create a new sheet model within a file).