Setting up a page in AutoCAD involves defining parameters like paper size, plot area, plot scale, plot style table, and more to ensure your drawing is plotted or published correctly. One common way to manage these settings is by creating or modifying a Page Setup.
To set up a page in AutoCAD, you typically use the Page Setup Manager to create or modify saved configurations.
Creating a New Page Setup
Based on the provided reference, here are the steps to create a new page setup:
- Click the Output tab.
- Locate the Plot panel.
- Click Page Setup Manager. This opens the Page Setup Manager dialog box.
- In the Page Setup Manager dialog box, look for the Page Setups area.
- Click the New button within this area. This opens the New Page Setup dialog box.
- In the New Page Setup dialog box, you will be prompted to enter a name for your new page setup. Provide a descriptive name (e.g., "Arch D PDF," "A3 Layout Color").
- Under the Start With section, select an existing page setup that is similar to the settings you desire for your new setup. This provides a starting point.
- Click OK.
After clicking OK, the Page Setup dialog box opens, allowing you to configure the detailed settings for your new page setup, such as:
- Printer/Plotter: Choose the output device (e.g., a physical plotter, a PDF printer like "DWG To PDF.pc3").
- Paper Size: Select the desired paper size (e.g., ANSI D, ISO A3).
- Plot Area: Define what part of the drawing will be plotted (Layout, Extents, Display, Window).
- Plot Scale: Set the scale at which the drawing will be plotted (e.g., 1:1, 1/4" = 1'-0").
- Plot Style Table (Pen Assignments): Select a CTB or STB file to control how object properties (like color, lineweight, linetype) are plotted.
- Plot Options: Configure settings like plotting object lineweights, plotting with plot styles, plotting paper space last, and plotting transparencies.
- Drawing Orientation: Choose portrait or landscape.
Once you have configured all the settings, click OK in the Page Setup dialog box to save your new page setup. It will then appear in the list within the Page Setup Manager and can be applied to specific layouts in your drawing.
Benefits of Using Page Setups
- Consistency: Ensures uniform plotting settings across multiple layouts or drawings.
- Efficiency: Quickly apply saved settings without reconfiguring every time you plot.
- Standardization: Helps enforce company or project plotting standards.
- Batch Plotting/Publishing: Essential for using features like the PUBLISH command, which can output multiple drawings or layouts based on their assigned page setups.
By creating and utilizing named page setups, you streamline your plotting and publishing workflows in AutoCAD.
