Autocad plotter configuration file pc3 file. pc3 file: Causes: The Plotter Configuration Editor provides options for modifying a plotter's port connections and output settings including media, graphics, physical pen configuration, custom properties, initialization strings, calibration, and user-defined paper sizes. In the dialog double-click the icon "Add-A-Plot Style Table Wizard". How do I change a plot style table in AutoCAD? To edit an existing plot The list displays any plotter configuration files (PC3) found in the plotter configuration search path and any system printers that are configured in the system. Each PC3 file contains specific settings tailored for a particular printer or plotter, making it easier for users to switch between different printing devices without having to reconfigure settings each time. You can add or modify the information in the Description area. Activate the icon Save changes to layout. Modifies a PC3 file's plotter port connections and output settings, including media, graphics, physical pen configuration, custom properties, initialization strings, calibration, and user-defined paper sizes. pmp) files. These printers do not appear as pc3 files in the plot manager command nor in the drop down of plotters in the AutoCAD plot command. If you don't see this icon, it was moved by your IT. These printer changes saved in previous versions of AutoCAD. Plot and print easily in Autocad drawings (. pc3 extension, that you wish to adjust. Plotter Model Parameters (. In the folder, you can start the Add-a-Plotter wizard, or double-click a PC3 file to open the Plotter Configuration Editor. Adding a New Plotter in AutoCAD Apr 16, 2025 · The PC3 file format is specifically designed for AutoCAD and serves as a printer configuration file. On the File menu, click Plot. You can drag and drop these options from one PC3 file to another. List of Options The following options are displayed. These files contain specific settings tailored for different plotters on a network, allowing users to save preferred configurations for future use. Plotter Configuration File Name Displays the file name you assigned in the Add-a-Plotter wizard. On the Add Plotter - Begin page, choose System Printer. Check plotter configuration path in the options Type OPTIONS in command line and hit Enter. Feb 25, 2025 · How to install plot style files (CTB and STB) . exe, which can be found in the AutoCAD program folder. Looks like we lost your page. Click Next. Mar 30, 2016 · In general, the CTB files are located in a deeply burried folder: C:\Users\ [Username]\appdata\roaming\autodesk\autocad lt 2013 - english\r18\enu\plotters\plot styles and the PC3 files (that are actually the plotter configurations) are in similar location: C:\Users\ [Username]\appdata\roaming\autodesk\autocad lt 2013 - english\r18\enu\plotters (Of course - in yoour case it would be not 2013 Well this is embarrassing. Each plotter configuration contains information such as the device driver and model, the output port to which the device is connected, and various device-specific settings. These settings allow you or your office to set a single plotting standard in one easy-to-access location. AutoCAD lists printers or plotters configured for use with Windows in the Plot and Page Setup dialog boxes. You can set up multiple configuration files for the same plotter by selecting a different configuration in the Plot dialog box. Locate the plotter configuration file, typically with a . You can find the exact location by going to the Options dialog box and checking the Printer Support File Path under the Files tab. Double-click the Add-a-Plotter wizard to add and configure plotters and printers. Copy this shortcut into the folder, where all Mar 8, 2013 · The ‘plotter’ is a pc3 file stored in your PC. The Plotter Configuration Editor provides options for modifying a plotter’s port connections and output settings including media, graphics, physical pen configuration, custom properties, initialization strings, calibration, and user-defined paper sizes. Also most of the settings in the PDF-XChange for Each plotter is defined by its configuration file (PC3), which includes the required settings for paper size, quality, and output parameters. We have always modified this setting on the fly by going into "Custom Properties" in the Plotter Configuration Editor whenever necessary. Modify General PC3 File Information The General tab of the Plotter Configuration Editor contains basic information about the PC3 file. dwg. Jan 2, 2018 · Defining Plotter Configuration Paths AutoCAD Plotter Configurations, otherwise known as PC3 files, are like any other file you might create and are stored in a directory somewhere on your computer or network. Double-click on the selected . plt files from a . A PC3 file in AutoCAD is a Plotter Configuration file that contains printer or plotter settings for use in software. The following utilities are used to create and manage plotter configuration and plot style files: Plotter Manager – Creates and edits plotter configuration (PC3) files. (By default, PC3 files are stored in the user profile folder. After you create a configured plotter (PC3) file using the Add-a-Plotter wizard, you can edit the file using the Plotter Configuration Editor. The default location for plot files is specified in the Options dialog box, Plot and Publish tab, under Default Location for Plot-to-File Operations. ) Choose Edit Plotter Configuration on the Add Plotter - Finish page in the Add-a-Plotter wizard. Select Print, then click on Manage Plotters. Modifies a PC3 file’s plotter port connections and output settings, including media, graphics, physical pen configuration, custom properties, initialization strings, calibration, and user-defined paper sizes. Some of these settings are Lines Merge, True Type Text As Text or Graphics, and Page Margins, and resolution. When saving changes to a plotter configuration file, for example within the Plot dialog box selecting 'Properties' and saving to the original or new . Create a new plot style table On the command line, type STYLESMANAGER. Creating a PC3 plotter You can create a PC3 plotter by accessing the application menu (the big red A button)> Print> Manage Plotters. Aug 1, 2025 · When trying to plot from or edit a page setup in AutoCAD products, a warning message is displayed: AutoCAD Warning [printer name]. This action brings up your plotter configuration options. FAQ 1. . The Importance Of Using Plotter Configuration (Pc3) Files In AutoCAD Several options in AutoCAD are only controlled by using a pc3 and pmp (plotter configuration) files in AutoCAD. Mar 2, 2010 · AutoCAD Plotter Configuration File What is a PC3 file? File created by AutoCAD, a CAD program used to create 2D and 3D designs; contains plotter properties, such as color depth, media type, and print quality; used to configure specific plotter settings and save them for later use. Description Displays additional information about the plotter. Sep 24, 2025 · To achieve this configuration, you can store the plotting device configuration files (PC3 and PMP), and plot style table files (STB and CTB) on a network drive. Driver Information Displays the following information: Plotter driver type (system or nonsystem), name, model, and location HDI driver file version number (specialized Simplest way of installing a plotter's configuration to your computer and create . You can drag these configuration options from one PC3 file to another. Understanding PC3 Files A PC3 file, which stands for "Plotter Configuration Version 3," contains specific settings for a plotter on your network. In the Options dialog box, Files tab, click the plus sign (+) to the left of Printer Support File Path. It will open the Windows Explorer and open the location where your plotters are stored. Dec 20, 2016 · When I enter the plot command in AutoCAD, old plotters and printers that I have used in the past create a dialog box that says that printer is not available. Steps to Change the Default Plotter in AutoCAD May 23, 2025 · When plotting or publishing from AutoCAD, the DWG To PDF plotter configuration file (PC3) is not available. Configuring a PC3 file ensures that your plotter prints consistently, with predefined graphic settings that streamline your plotting process. Examples of Use: Print Setup: Create a PCP You can edit this text in the Plotter Configuration Editor. Driver Information Displays the following information: Plotter driver type (system or nonsystem), name, model, and location HDI driver file version number (AutoCAD specialized driver files) UNC name of the network server (if the plotter is If you enter a new device name without an extension, the program assumes that the device is a PC3 file (Autodesk ® HDI plotter configuration file). Click Apply to Layout. These files are Autocad’s own printer drivers that allow you to have different plot settings inside Autocad, compared to your usual windows software (More on setting these up next time). Can I use multiple plotters simultaneously in AutoCAD? On the Ports page, select Plot to File. In the Plotter Configuration Editor, navigate to the General tab, where you can modify the description or settings for the plotter. Dec 9, 2024 · Configure plot settings For plots from Model Space and Paper Space, run the following steps. On the Finish page, click Finish. Select the Printer / plotter driver. Plotter configuration files are typically stored in the Plotters folder within the AutoCAD support files. dwg). Oct 8, 2023 · A plotter configuration file, or PC3 file, enables you to configure a plotter and to save the settings for later use. Jun 1, 2023 · We require certain prints to be "high quality". Here's what you can do to find it: Check your URL for typos Use the Search Bar in the upper right corner Plotter Configuration File Name Displays the file name assigned in the Add-a-Plotter wizard. Open the AutoCAD application and navigate to the Application menu. Driver Information Displays the following information: Plotter driver type (system or nonsystem), name, model, and location HDI driver file version number (AutoCAD specialized driver files) UNC name of the network server (if PC3 files, known as Plotter Configuration Version 3 files, are essential for configuring plotters within AutoCAD. It stores configurations such as paper sizes and print quality settings. When the Hide System Printers setting is enabled, only plotters with a PC3 file will display within the Plot dialog box. Find the desired plotter configuration (PC3) file and double-click it. pc3: This plotter configuration cannot be used for one of these reasons: the driver cannot be found, the device cannot be found, or the driver has a problem. Click OK. In the Autodesk Plotter Manager, double-click the Add-a-Plotter Wizard shortcut icon. If no PC3 file is found, the program searches for a Windows system printer with that device name. AutoCAD will save the changes to a temporary . You can get it back by creating a shortcut of styshwiz. Description Displays information you want to include about the plotter. 2. When you create new plotter configuration, AutoCAD stores all the necessary information about printer or plotter in PC3 file. Enter PLOT in the AutoCAD command line. The locations the program looks in for plotter configuration files are displayed. On the Plotter Name page, enter a name for the plotter configuration file. Don't know how to get rid of these "ghost printers". So if you delete it, then you will lose the plotter. Oct 3, 2025 · Issue: In some instances AutoCAD 2024 isn't saving printer properties changes made to custom . A new plotter configuration file (PC3) is created. Click the plus sign (+) to the left of Printer Configuration Search Path. Oct 29, 2025 · When plotting or publishing a drawing (DWG) file to a system printer selected in Plot dialog /plotter section in AutoCAD Products, no physical output or hardcopy printout occurs. pc3 files. What is a plotter configuration file? A plotter configuration file, known as a PC3 file, allows you to save and manage plotter settings for consistent use across multiple projects. Double-click a PC3 file from Windows Explorer or right-click the file and choose Open. I am going through the steps as usual, and AutoCAD 2024 To create a PC3 file for a Windows system printer Open the Autodesk Plotter Manager. Plot to File Plots output to a file rather than to a plotter or printer. Controls many of the settings in the plotter configuration (PC3) file. An AutoCAD PCP (Plotter Configuration) file is a configuration file used to define and store the settings and specifications for a particular plotter or printer. Usage: PCP files are used to ensure that drawings are plotted or printed correctly on specific output devices by specifying settings like paper size, plot style, and plotter-specific options. This is where Autocad will look for your PC3 – Plot configuration files. PC3 files, or plotter configuration files, are a hallmark of a well-run AutoCAD office. In the Add-a-Plotter wizard, read the Introduction, and then choose Next to advance to the Add Plotter - Begin page. Mac OS From the Mac OS menu bar, click <Product Name> Preferences. For this reason it’s important to configure a directory for both Printer Configuration and Plotter Model Parameter files when standardizing plotting for network use. Note that this step might be run for every layout or once in the drawing template to apply for new drawings. pc3 file to launch the Plotter Configuration Editor. fwb iwd xd jol ln zuxk gxi 5usi fr2 sft