Print Organizer - Printing a file with multiple sheets

Check out this thread

communities.bentley.com/.../140690.aspx

I've had the same issue and that is the only reason I would like some functionality of Batch Plot to stay in the new releases of USTN.

Thanks for the link to the thread.  All of my styles are setup to locate my print border, they define a pltcfg driver, but do NOT define a printer.  This allows the style to utilize the user's default printer.  After reading the 140690 thread, I can now understand why changing the pltcfg would cause this, since my pltcfg's contain a print style definition.  The explanation given makes sense, however it is not 100% accurate. In the scenario where a user wishes to print to a printer other than their default printer, they use the File/Printer Setup (as suggested in the 140690 thread), and change their printer.  This alone is enough to cause the issue described in my original post.  Personally, this is not how I would expect the application to respond (neither do any of my co-workers, and others on this forum).  By changing the printer, you are not applying a new style. I believe the problem exists, because in the File/Printer Setup dialog, you are able to change the pltcfg and the printer.  If you change one or the other, or both, it must reload both into the settings and cause the print settings and border definitions to be lost.

We need the flexibility to print to different printers without creating an entire new pset for every printer.  Ideally we would have one pset file, and could EASILY switch to different printers or to a PDF file.  There are many issues with maintaining multiple psets for one project.

Adam - Not a bad idea.  I've heard of a few other consultants going this route.  Thanks for the reply.

There are a few topics that I want to address that have come up in this thread.

• For the next release of MicroStation we are adding a new type of print definition called Flex print definitions. Flex print definitions dynamically discover models and shapes at print time.  When you add a design file to Print Organizer you will also select a print style, which defines the printable area (if it is not already defined in the Print Preferences, ie – All sheet models) and how the plot should look. What you will see in Print Organizer is one plot definition in the list per design file just as you do in Batch Print today, not all the enumerated plots. This means that newly added models or print areas will be dynamically discovered at plot time without having to recreate or alter your print set. The existing behavior of having print definitions enumerated when design files are added to the print set is now called CAD print definitions and this is the default behavior. Stay tuned for more details in the next week or two.
• Blain, the issue that you brought up about the first sheet getting printed 100 times after changing the printer or print style needs to be logged with support. They will need to see the design file, print styles, etc. to help you troubleshoot this issue.
• To comment on Adam’s suggestion, we have several users that print to PDF first and then submit them to a physical printer for hardcopy.  
• Per Rod’s suggestion, we have the ability in InterPlot Organizer to create sheet models back into a design file based on the print definition. I am not sure how many users actually took advantage of it though. In a perfect world, everyone would use sheet models, but we’re not there yet.

As we get closer to a new release of MicroStation, I will be sure to post info on what we are updating with plotting in addition to Flex print definitions.

Regards,

Jo Terri

Unknown said:

For the next release of MicroStation we are adding a new type of print definition called Flex print definitions. Flex print definitions dynamically discover models and shapes at print time.  When you add a design file to Print Organizer you will also select a print style, which defines the printable area (if it is not already defined in the Print Preferences, ie – All sheet models) and how the plot should look. What you will see in Print Organizer is one plot definition in the list per design file just as you do in Batch Print today, not all the enumerated plots.

Thanks for the update. This addition will make a world of difference as we all make the transition from Batch Print to PO.

All - Sorry to resurrect this thread but it seemed like the most relevant of the ones I found.

I am having trouble with PO updating the levels that are on or off from the design file.  I followed the instructions found here: communities.bentley.com/.../7203.aspx but certain levels are continuing to print even though they are turned off in the design file.

Any help is much appreciated.

Certain print workflows may depend on the design file being writeable. For a test try one of the following options.

In Print Organizer select Edit > Preferences and uncheck “Open design files in read-only mode”  

Or, If MS_PRINTORGANIZER_OPEN_DGN_READWRITE is set to 1, the Print Organizer background process opens design files in read-write mode.

Also, make sure a Print Style is not defining Level on\off settings.

Certain print workflows may depend on the design file being writeable. For a test try one of the following options.

In Print Organizer select Edit > Preferences and uncheck “Open design files in read-only mode”  

Or, If MS_PRINTORGANIZER_OPEN_DGN_READWRITE is set to 1, the Print Organizer background process opens design files in read-write mode.

Also, make sure a Print Style is not defining Level on\off settings.