Microstation VJ Print Dialog Entity Fence

Question

I know Version J is an ancient software and I'm not sure if this is the place to inquire about this question, BUT. We have to use version J on our citrix server and IT has many options locked out so idiot users will not change anything to increase their productivity. I'm trying to figure out a way to have my print dialog box automatically select the Fence entity instead of the View entity when I open the print dialog. I have a plot driver file and a pen table file that I can edit for my own purposes. I tried to add a line ENTITY=FENCE into the driver file but that does not seem to be the answer. I'm not sure if there is a configuration variable that I can set to have the entity et to Fence. 
 Any Input or direction to assist me when be greatly appreciated. 
 
 Mike

Lorys · Answer

well its been too many years for me to remember J, but in v8i , nothing to do with the driver its a config file setting... 
 Specifically its a variable in the workspace config, but you cant have any stray elements outside your boundary shape 
 but in J you could still look under printing> automatically fit to see if there is something similar 
 MS_PLT_AUTO_FIT_VIEW=1 
 
 the only other alternative is to write a script that will force fit view then force a fence from the fit view and look for boundary or elements then execute the plot command with all the settings you need, ie paper size print driver etc, then print ( used to use this in XM ) via a personalised F key.. this is what I have used before but again not sure will work exactly in Version J 
 fit view extended;place fence allfiles;selview 1;PRINT;print maximize;print driver XXXX.plt 
 but there cannot be any elements outside the print boundary or it will fit to all elements to fit the view 
 
 to find a lot of the print keyins just control p and then go to keying window and type mdl load 
 enter and will display the loaded mdls one is the plot and you then pick next to that show keyins or keyins and you can then see all the different plot keyins including paper size maximise color etc 
 Hope this helps... but you need access to the config or to be able to edit your fkeys...

Lorys · Answer

your control p can't have a fence set unless you have a fence already placed, that said your settings are as I said before that it will fit the view and place a fence by extents of visible elements which is what my keyin does and if you set it on an F key then you don't have to type it and it will create the fence for you and launch your printer , you can set the printdriver and set the pentable as part of the keying and even paper size.. this for me is a big time saver .. when I published the quick print script on the forum many years ago Bentley sent me a Tee shirt with Bentley Detective on it ...it was a prized possession or a very long time until I wore it out and it got a bit moth eaten... 
 your only other option is to use batchplt.ma and make it generic enough to find the boundary level object and use it in a script file to use the active file and set that to run form a keyin script or action string , loaded by your custom F key, then it would ignore stray objects outside your boundary shape level ..this will take a bit of trial and error to set up but you cant expect much detailed help here as your product is too old for anyone to be familiar enough to be of specific help to debug your scripts... 
 btw fit view extended;place fence allfiles;selview 1;PRINT;print maximize;print driver XXXX.plt 
 might be fit view extended;place fence EXTENDED;selview 1;PRINT;print maximize;print driver XXXX.plt 
 check all the print keyins available can even execute plot so you don't wait,,, and can pick paper size too.. keyins rule !