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About Bill DeShawn
Expertise
I can address all 2-D questions and some 3-D questions. I do programming in AutoLISP if it doesn`t involve solid modeling. I can also address menu customization issues and can help you find answers to questions I can`t answer by taking your question directly to Autodesk via their newsgroups.
Experience
I used to do electronic and mechanical design for a flat panel monitor manufacturer, and now I do architectural drafting for an architect. I did and do AutoLISP and menu customization and take pride in making my lisp routines to do the work exactly the way the client likes them done.
Publications
I had a routine published in CADENCE magazine (no longer in publication and taken over by CADALYST). Some of my routines are published on my website at http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn
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You are here: Experts > Computing/Technology > Computer-Aided Design > AutoCAD > stb color mapping
AutoCAD - stb color mapping
Expert: Bill DeShawn - 11/2/2009
Question
QUESTION: Bill,
Thanks for the forum.
I have a frustration issue with a joint venture project. They have ctb plotting and all their layer names are different than ours. We have stb plotting and our plotstyle which we want to use apparently has no color mapping table. I used the Layer translator to change the names of all their layers to our names. That worked. Somewhat. But it didn't change any of the plot styles. So it still plots all funny. I tried the convertctb with the convertpstyles but when I got to the part where I pick an stb file, our main one said it didn't have a color mapping table. However, our other plot style worked great. Unfortunately, it doesn't really work for this project. Do you have advice on how i just magically stick a color map into our stb? I have no clue what a color map is, but it would really be nice if i could just push a presto button and get it in there....
Thanks again.
ANSWER: RKENT, SuperMember of CAD Tutor has this to say on the subject:
Use the convertctb command in a file set up to use CTB, when it asks for the file name to create use a unique name, I use one called Convert.stb. Now edit the Convert.stb, rename the styles given with the exact names of the ones found in the AIA .stb that you mentioned.
(Elizabeth: in your case give them the same name as the original ctb files.)
Now when you use CONVERTPSTYLES you will point to the Convert.stb because it has the mapping. The first time you change a layer to another style point to the AIA stb. Because all the styles in the convert are in the AIA the transition over is smooth.
Check that out, Elizabeth and let me know how it goes.
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Bill, thanks for the advice. Almost there but when I go to edit the converted one, it doesn't let me add styles. I'm going from something with fewer plot styles than I need. How do I get new plot styles?
ANSWER: Use the PAGESETUP command. You can either start a new page setup or edit an old one. When the pagesetup dialog comes up, make sure the dialog is fully shown. There might be an arrow at the bottom to expand or collapse the dialog, depending on the release of AutoCAD. On the upper right corner of the dialog is the Plot Style Table (pen assignments) selection window. Click on the arrow to the right of the window and scroll down to New... The rest should be self-explanatory.
Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hey Bill,
Thanks again for your advice. I just wanted to follow up to tell you that I figured out a solution. Perhaps it's not the most sophisticated thing ever, but it seems to work well.
I first ran the laytrans command with the translator I had set up to translate all their names to ours. Then i did the convertctb command and just saved it as "temp.ctb" knowing it would just be a placeholder. On the next dialog box, I typed in "temp.stb", also just a placeholder.
When I next ran the convertpstyles command, I clicked ok and selected the "temp" file that I had made. So thus far, I had a file with all the correct layer names that printed trash.
Next, I set up a .dws standards file using an office template that has all the layer properties and layer names in the file. I suppose you could also just use an existing drawing whose properties you like. I configured then checked the file properties by just hitting "fix" over and over again until it was all done. So at the end of this process, I had all the layers named correctly and all the plot styles correct. At this point, I could then just use my office's good ol' trusty stb from the pull down. Hurrah.
The whole process takes a bit over a minute. Not too bad. Right? Let me know if this is a really cracked way of doing it and if it's going to blow up my files any minute. Or if you have a better way to do it...
Answer
Actually, it sounds like you have a good solution. What I am confused on, however, is if you were working with an STB file by the name of AIA standard stb file. If so, AutoCAD already comes with those. Also is there a reason you can't get the plot style file from the people you got the drawing from? Or is the idea that it's your drawing from here on out and you will be the exclusive editor and plotter of the drawing without passing it back to its originator?
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn
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