Expert: Bob - 12/19/2004

Question
I have taken two auto-cad classes at a local collage.We always did our own printing.Iam now doing some drawings for work (blueprints for buildings) we do not have a printer there.When I email things to be printed they are dwg. files.Our printer wants plot files.He said it is easier for him to print.How do I send him plot files?Is there a way to convert my dwg. files to plot files before I email them?Iam using auto-cad 2002.
Thanks
Gary

Answer
Hi --First of all, sorry you got failed by the school on this basic point, and sorry the reprographic house or someone else did not explain the misunderstanding. You PLOT TO a file, as if to paper: you do not convert a dwg to a plt. Even if they can read and plot your dwg files, YOU need to control what is plotted, and should always plot to file, not leave it up to them.
Type "plot to file" into HELP, and maybe stop by a Borders Books,etc, and read the plotting chapter in any AutoCAD book from 2000-2004 (2005 is a bit different.) The basics are that you use the Add-a-Plotter wizard to configure their plotter on your machine, then plot to it, the same as to any printer.
By the way, "blueprints" is an antiquated term referring to prits made by a diazo process, and not really used by pros. One sheet is a sheet or a plot; the assembled sheets are called a drawing set, or a set.
BOB