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Plot Batch (layouts to named PDFs)

The submittal folder in one run: every layout to a PDF named <sheet number> - <sheet title>.pdf (sheet set first, title block second, layout name last), one per sheet or one merged set, after a pre-flight that catches the sheet-set / title-block mismatches, duplicate numbers and stale dates before the client does.

Command VDCPLOTBATCH · VDC Sheets tab › Sheets panel
The submittal folder in one run: every layout to a PDF named <sheet number> - <sheet title>.pdf (sheet set first, title block second, layout name last), one per sheet or one merged set, after a pre-flight that catches the sheet-set / title-block mismatches, duplicate numbers and stale dates before the client does.
Layouts + sheet set + title blocks → pre-flight (number / title / duplicates / date / revision) → check sheets → PC3 + page setup → PDFs + log Plot Layout No. Title Pre-flight [x] C-100 C-100 COVER ok [x] C-101 C-101 SITE PLAN ok [ ] C-102 C-102 GRADING ERROR sheet set C-102 / block C-103 [x] C-103 C-103 UTILITY date 08-01 differs (set 09-10) [x] C-501 C-501 DETAILS ok PC3: DWG To PDF.pc3 setup: (each layout's) one PDF per sheet pattern: <number> - <title> folder: VDC Reports\Plots C-100 - COVER.pdf C-101 - SITE PLAN.pdf C-103 - UTILITY.pdf C-501 - DETAILS.pdf Job_PlotBatch.csv (log) or one merged Job - Set.pdf Numbers and titles: open sheet set (DWG path + layout match) → title block (VDCTITLEQC tag lists) → layout name. Pre-flight: set vs block number (ERROR) and title, duplicate numbers, missing title block, issue-date / revision drift from the set's majority. Plots keep each layout's page setup with the plotter swapped to the chosen PC3; a named page setup can override all. BACKGROUNDPLOT 0 for the run.
PDFs   Settings / log   Pre-flight ERROR (unchecked by default)

What it does

  • Lists every layout with its number, title, the PDF name it will get and its pre-flight result; sheet-set order first, then tab order.
  • Pre-flight only (aux button) writes the checks to the CSV without plotting.
  • One PDF per sheet (pattern <number> - <title>, tokens <layout> <drawing>, duplicates get (2)) or one merged multi-page PDF in order.
  • Log CSV: layout, number, title, severity, check, message, PDF; opens the folder when done.

Watch for

  • An out-of-date DST names the files wrong, the pre-flight shows where it disagrees with the title block; fix it in the SSM or with VDCSHEETNUM.
  • The PC3 must exist on the seat; media comes from each layout's page setup.
  • Plain AutoCAD throughout. Settings %APPDATA%\VDC\PlotBatch\settings.json.

Dialog

Plot Batch (layouts to named PDFs) dialog
Plot Batch (layouts to named PDFs), VDCPLOTBATCH

When to use it

  • Every submittal: a folder of correctly named PDFs in sheet order, without renaming files by hand.
  • Catching the sheet whose title block still says last month's date before the client does.

How to run it

  1. Open the sheet set in the Sheet Set Manager if the project has one (numbers and titles then come from it).
  2. Run VDCPLOTBATCH - review the sheet list and the pre-flight column; uncheck what should not plot.
  3. Pick the plotter (PC3), a page-setup override if the layouts need one, output mode, name pattern, folder; OK - Plot.
  4. Read the summary; the folder opens when done; the CSV log carries the pre-flight and what plotted.

Options

  • Names: pattern with <number> <title> <layout> <drawing> tokens; illegal characters become dashes; duplicates get (2), (3).
  • Page setup override: blank = each layout keeps its own page setup with only the plotter swapped to the chosen PC3; a named setup replaces it for every sheet.
  • Merged set: one multi-page PDF in sheet order (name pattern with <drawing>).
  • Pre-flight only: the aux button runs the checks and writes the CSV without plotting.
  • Skip mismatched: sheets with a pre-flight ERROR start unchecked.

Watch out for

  • Numbers come from the SHEET SET first - an out-of-date DST names the files wrong; the pre-flight says where it disagrees with the title block.
  • BACKGROUNDPLOT is forced to 0 for the run (plots are foreground) and restored; the progress dialog's Cancel stops the batch.
  • The PC3 must exist on the seat; DWG To PDF.pc3 ships with AutoCAD, office PC3s must be on the plotter path.
  • Media comes from each layout's page setup; a layout with no page setup plots at the PC3's default size.

Related: Title Block QC · Sheet Set Paths · Sheet Numbers · Plan Email