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Plotting MX Roll Plans

Plotting Roll Plans Within MicroStation

Plotting MicroStation Cut Sheets

MX Plotting

To plot all or any part of any MX display/drawing select Plot... from the MX File menu.

In addition to obtaining the main Plotting panel, the MX graphics area changes to a gray background and the current display/drawing will be zoomed to it's extents.  A white rectangle  will also appear showing the relative position of the proposed plot sheet shown at the default size and scale.

MX Drawing to Plot.  At the top of the Plotting panel is MX Drawing to Plot.  The current display/drawing is provided as default.  Select a different display/drawing if desired.

Drawing Size.  The Drawing Size region of the Plotting panel reports the displays/drawings dimension at the drawing scale for your convenience.  These dimensions can be switched between Metric and Imperial values.

MX Drawing Scale.  To the right of Drawing Size is MX Drawing Scale reporting the scale at which the display/drawing was created.

Scale.  Under MX Drawing Scale is the plot Scale.  The default plot scale is always the MX Drawing Scale.  To plot to a different scale other than the default scale, select from the Scale pull down.

For Imperial projects, because the ratios are "metric units" the imperial ratios have to be converted to metric ratios.  Therefore, if the display/drawing was drawn at 1:240 (20 scale) the MX plotting ratio is 1:787 (240x3.2808333) and at 1:600 (50 scale) the MX plotting ratio is 1:1968 (600x3.2808333).  For Imperial projects, it may be easier to draw at the desired plot scale before attempting to plot.

Printer.  In the Printer portion of the Plotting panel, select your target printer.

Printer Properties.  To specify printer options such as output sheet size, click the Properties button.  The panel below will be displayed for the B12_OCE9600HP_1 driver.

plot dialog

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property options differ from printer driver to printer driver, attempt to interpret the following information for your selected printer.  From the Paper Size tab:

Orientation.  Select either Portrait or Landscape.

Application page size.  Select from one of the available standard sheet sizes.  Should you desire a custom sheet such as a roll plan, click on the More Sizes.... button.

plot dialog

 

 

The Paper Sizes panel allows the specification of plot sizeFrom the Custom paper size, adjust the Width or Height as desired.  Keep in mind that at least one dimension must be less than 35.5 inches for the OCE' printer.  In addition, MX will plot "empty" space, so attempt to keep the sheet size just a bit bigger than the detail.   Select OK to return to the Properties panel.  Notice the custom paper size is now shown in the Application page size area.

Select OK to return to the Plotting panel.

Edit Plot Position.   From the Plotting panel select the button marked Edit Plot Position. 

                                 

The Edit Plot Position panel will allow you to dynamically position the display/drawing relative to the plot extents, and also controls plot rotation.  To pan the display/drawing with respect to the plot, check Use Zoom Toolbar to Position Plot, click and hold the middle mouse button to drag the display/drawing with respect to the plot.  To position the plot sheet within the MX graphics window, check OFF the Use Zoom Toolbar to Position Plot box.

Select an angle for rotating the plot with respect to the display/drawing.  Angles are measured counterclockwise.

When all the settings have meet your satisfaction, select OK from all of the Plotting panels to submit the plot.

 

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