Expert: Bill DeShawn - 2/2/2009

Question
When we open drawings saved in an older version of AutoCAD to print them, they either come with no printer selected or an old printer we no longer use.  Is there a way to make old drawings open and know what printer to use by default?  We have AutoCAD 2000.

Answer
Mark:  Not by default.  But you can use PAGESETUP to save page setups.  Create a folder on your computer or network and call it PageSetups.  Then use the PAGESETUP command to create a page setup to plot the sheet.  Remember that page setups in paper space are different from page setups in model space.  When you plot in paper space (or layout) and choose "Previous Plot", it chooses the plot you did last in paper space (or layout).  The plot that you did last in Model Space is ignored.  The same goes for Model Tab Plots.  Previous plots refer to the last plot you did in Model Tab.  When you set up your sheet they way you like it, you can then use the PAGESETUP command to save the page setup and give it a name.  Make the name appropriate.  For example, when I create a page setup for the HP Designjet 430 to plot at a scale of 48 on 24x36 paper in paper space, I name the page setup accordingly:  HP430_24x36_48_PS
When the page setup is finalized and saved, save a copy of your drawing with the SAVE command (not SAVEAS) to the PageSetups folder that you created on your computer or network.  Give the drawing the same name as the pagesetups, or something else that is appropriate so that you will be able to find it easily when you want it.  The next time you want to set your page up the same way, use the PSETUPIN command to go to the PageSetups folder and select the page setup drawing of your choice.  Then a dialog box will come up and give you a chance to select the page setup that you want.  The first time you use the PSETUPIN command, you will have to browse to the folder,  But after that, you the command will take you right to the PageSetups folder every time.

Let me know if you need more explanation:
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn