Send PDF directly to plotter

Question

I am trying to set up a plot driver that will create a .pdf file and also sends the .pdf file to a networked plotter. I've seen some old posts that describe using a post-plot command but this was being done in XM. It seems to me that the dialog boxes have changed or been added from XM to v8i SS3. Is there a way to do this? 
 
 I did an experiment where I copied the pdf.pltcfg and under the Default Print File Name tab I defined File Name as the network plotter path/share name. This worked sending it to an HP 1200 large format plotter but there were some quality issues. The plot consisted of vector and raster data. The raster attachments are aerial photos (either jpeg2000 or Mr SID). I an area where there was vector data over the raster the raster was lighter than the rest of the raster. There were small blocks in these light areas (the boxes were the lighter part of the raster). 
 
 I want to be able to do this because we use roll plots with aerial images under roadway designs for public meetings. We also use a lot of shaded areas (vector data) filled with transparent fill. If we use a normal plot drive and use the "rasterize" check box some of the vector data shows up very thin or sometimes even dotted. Th .pdf driver does not require using the "rasterize" check box. I really do not want to create a .pdf, open it with Adobe and then print from there. We have some issues with Adobe. The colors never match the direct plot and the scale is never correct when printing through Adobe. 
 
 Microstation v8i SS3 08.11.09.357 
 Windows 7 Pro

David Allen · Answer

We are running MicroStation V8i (SS2) on Windows 7 x64. 
 We don't seem to have any scaling issues when creating PDFs from MicroStation, then opening/plotting with Adobe Reader. 
 We (I) maintain 4 drivers for each client (for each office): Full and half-size "direct print" and full and half-size PDF. 
 I am intrigued by your suggestion - that after creating the PDF, that it also be automatically plotted to a specific device. 
 I know there is a setting in the PDF driver to automatically open the PDF after creation... but that only gets you half-way there. 
 I am wondering if you set the output location of the PDF to a directory on the file server that automatically plots any PDF that shows up in the folder - to a specific plotter? You could set up different folders for each printer/plotter in your office? 
 This is sort of how the old eQuorum "DOS" queues used to work. 
 Just a thought. 
 May be worth talking to your IT folks if they could set up such a directory? 
 David Allen 
 Transportation CADD Manager 
 Pennoni Associates Inc.