Processing Print Output in a Batch

Use the BatchPrint command to send a set of drawings and Sheets to printers in a batch job.

You can save batch print jobs to Batch Print List (*.bpl) files for subsequent use.

Note: You can batch print only Sheets with PageLayouts associated to them, either directly for the specific Sheets or by PageLayouts stored in other drawings. Also, within each PageLayout used in batch prints, you must specify a printer.

You can print a Batch Print List to any of the following:

• The printer specified for each Sheet
• A single, multi-sheet PDF file
• Multiple single-sheet PDF files

To process print output in a batch:

1. Click File > Batch Print (or type BatchPrint).
2. In the dialog box, use functions and options to create and edit batch print jobs:
   • Include: Specifies whether Model tabs only, Sheets only, or both are included for printing.
   • Add files: Adds one or more specified drawing files to the print job list.

     For each Sheet within a drawing, a separate entry is added to the print job list. The Model tab also appears as an entry in the list if a printer is associated with the tab. You can choose to include Model tabs only, Sheets only, or both.

   • Add folder: Adds all files and their Sheets of the folder you specify to the print job list.
   • Import: Fills the print job list from a file you previously saved.
   • Add current drawings. Automatically adds all opened drawing files to the print job list.

     For each Sheet within a drawing, a separate entry is added to the print job list. The Model tab also appears as an entry in the list if a printer is associated with the tab. You can choose to include Model tabs only, Sheets only, or both.

   • Save current print list. Lets you save the print job list to a *.bpl file before starting the printing process.
   • Save: Saves the print job list to a *.bpl file. For each list entry the Sheet name and the PageLayout are stored with the file name and folder.
   • Remove Sheets: Removes the selected files from the print job list.
   • Clear list: Deletes all files from the print job list.
   • Select all: Selects or clears all Sheets in the print job list.
3. In Built-in PDF Printer Settings, click PDF Options to specify the properties of the PDF file. See Setting PDF Publishing Options.

   Note: PDF Options are available only when the Sheets use PageLayouts with the built-in PDF printer specified as output device.

4. In the print job list:
   • In the Print column, select or clear the Sheets to print with the batch job.

   • In the Page layout column, select the PageLayout to apply when printing the corresponding Sheet shown in the File name (Sheet name) column. You can also click Import in the drop-down list to use a PageLayout from another drawing.

     In the Print configuration column, select the Print Configuration to apply when printing the corresponding Sheet shown in the File name (Sheet name) column. You can also click Import in the drop-down list to use a Print Configuration from another Print Configuration file.

   • Check the Status column to determine whether the Sheet can be printed:
     • If you see the message "No PageLayout", create a PageLayout for the Sheet in the corresponding drawing, or select a PageLayout in the PageLayout column.
     • If you see the message "Printer not available", no printer has been specified for the PageLayout you want to use.
   • In Group, select the Sheets of a single drawing you want to group in an output file with multiple pages.

     Note: The group feature is available only when the Sheets use PageLayouts with the built-in PDF printer specified as output device. If you use the group feature, the Publish as Multi-sheet PDF option is not available.

     Note: The group feature is available only when the Sheets use Print Configurations with the built-in PDF printer specified as the output device.

   • In the Copies column, set the number of copies to print per Sheet.
   • Select a list entry. Under Settings, information appears about the list entry such as printer/plotter name, paper size, orientation, and print scale. This section also displays the full path to the drawing, the full drawing name, and the full Sheet name of the selected list item.
5. Click Print Preview to see a preview of the Sheet you selected in the print job list.
6. Optionally, select Open output file after printing to automatically open the output file.
7. In File location for built-in printer output specify the Path. The path sets the folder to store output files to built-in printers (such as *.pdf, *.jpg, and *.dwf files). Click Browse to change the path. Additionally, you can select Same as parent drawing to save the files in the same folder as the dwg file.
8. Optionally, select Print stamp on to add print stamps on the printed drawings to help you identify printing copies. Click to configure a printstamp. The Print Stamp dialog box, which groups all options for configuring print stamps, appears.
9. Click Start to start the print job.

   The progress bar displays the batch progress.

   To temporarily stop the batch process, click Pause.

   To cancel the batch process, click Abort.

   To exit the dialog box, click Close. This does not finish the running batch process.

  When you reopen the Batch Print dialog box during batch printing, the dialog box shows the progress.