BG-Map TechNote

Configuring Printers and Plotters for BG-Map

Updated 10/27/09

This document explains how to configure printers and plotters for printing of book maps and large format maps in BG-Map

Wait!
Before setting up printers and plotters, make certain that you have copied the BG-Map Plot Styles, Plotters, and PMP files to the correct locations.  If you reinstall or upgrade AutoCAD, you will also need these files.  You can download them here.

Configuring a Plotter (Printer) for Small Book Maps

Follow these instructions to configure a printer to print Small Book Maps (8-1/2” x 11” or A4).

  1. At the AutoCAD command line, type CONFIG and press <enter>. Choose the plotting tab, and click "Add or Configure Plotters". A window will pop up showing your plotter configuration files.  (Note: If you are reconfiguring an existing small book map plotter, delete the file BGM-PR-SM.pc3 before proceeding.)
  2. Double click "Add-A-Plotter Wizard".
  3. Click the "Next>" button. Select "System Printer", and click "Next>".
  4. Select the printer that you wish to use to print small book maps. This can be any installed Windows printer that has been set up for paper size 8-1/2" x 11" (or A4).
  5. Click "Next>".
  6. Again, click "Next>" (Do not click "Import File"). For "Plotter Name", enter the following exactly: BGM-PR-SM
  7. Click "Next>", and then click "Finish".
  8. Follow the instructions under "Setting the Paper Sizes", below.

Configuring a Plotter (Printer) for Large Book Maps

Follow these instructions to configure a printer to print Large Book Maps. Complete the instructions in this section only if you have a printer capable of printing on 11" x 17" (or A3) paper.

  1. At the AutoCAD command line, type CONFIG and press <enter>. Choose the plotting tab, and click "Add or Configure Plotters". A window will pop up showing your plotter configuration files.  (Note: If you are reconfiguring an existing large book map plotter, delete the file BGM-PR-LG.pc3 before proceeding.)
  2. Double click "Add-A-Plotter Wizard".
  3. Click the "Next>" button. Select "System Printer", and click "Next>".
  4. Select the printer that you wish to use to print large book maps. This can be any installed Windows printer that has been set up for paper size - 11" x 17" (or A4).
  5. Click "Next>".
  6. Again, click "Next>" (Do not click "Import File"). For "Plotter Name", enter the following exactly: BGM-PR-LG
  7. Click "Next>", and then click "Finish".
  8. Follow the instructions under "Setting the Paper Sizes", below.

Configuring a Plotter (Printer) for Large Format Maps

Follow these instructions to configure a plotter to print Large Format Maps. Complete the instructions in this section only if you have a large format printer capable of printing on paper of 24” x 36” or greater size.

  1. Install the plotter as a Windows printer using the driver that came with your plotter, or download a driver for your version of Windows from the plotter manufacturer's website.
  2. At the AutoCAD command line, type CONFIG and press <enter>. Choose the plotting tab, and click "Add or Configure Plotters". A window will pop up showing your plotter configuration files.  (Note: If you are reconfiguring an existing large format plotter, delete the file BGM-PLOT before proceeding.)
  3. Double click "Add-A-Plotter Wizard".
  4. Click the "Next>" button.
  5. Select "System Printer". Then, click "Next>"
  6. Select the plotter from the list of Windows printers. Click "Next>".
  7. Again, click "Next>" (Do not click "Import File").
  8. For "Plotter Name", enter the following exactly: BGM-PLOT
  9. Continue to click "Next>", and then click "Finish".
  10. Follow the instructions under "Setting the Paper Sizes", below.

Setting the Paper Sizes

In the BG-Map Print menu, select "Print Options.”

NOTE: Print options are stored separately for each BG-Map user. You must set paper sizes separately for each BG-Map user.

Temp

Small Book Map Paper Size Make certain that you have completed “Configuring a Plotter (Printer) for Small Book Maps” above.

  1. Click the top “List” button.
  2. AutoCAD will list the available paper sizes as in the example below:
Available media sizes.
  "Oversize: ANSI E "
  "Oversize: ANSI D  (landscape)"
  "Oversize: ANSI C  (landscape)"
  "ANSI E - 34 x 44 in."
  "ANSI D - 22 x 34 in. (landscape)"
  "ANSI C - 17 x 22 in. (landscape)"
  "Tabloid 11 x 17 in "
  "Legal 8 1/2 x 14 in"
  "Letter 8 1/2 x 11 in"
  1. Find the paper size for small book maps - - in the above example: “Letter 8 1/2 x 11 in”
  2. Highlight all of the text on that line, including the quotation marks, right click, and copy it to the clipboard.
  3. Go back to the Print Options Window, and click the top “Paste” button.

Large Book Map Paper Size Complete this only if you have a printer capable of printing on 11” x 17” (A3) paper.  Make certain that you have completed “Configuring a Plotter (Printer) for Large Book Maps” above.

  1. Click the second “List” button.
  2. AutoCAD will list the available paper sizes as in the example above:
  3. Find the paper size for large book maps - in above example: “Tabloid 11 x 17 in”
  4. Highlight all of the text on that line, including the quotation marks, right click, and copy it to the clipboard.
  5. Go back to the Print Options Window, and click the second “Paste” button.

24” (A1) Paper Size Complete this only if you have a printer capable of printing on 24” x 36” (A1) paper.  Make certain that you have completed “Configuring a Plotter (Printer) for Large Format Maps” above.

  1. Click the third “List” button.
  2. AutoCAD will list the available paper sizes as in the example above:
  3. Find the paper size for 24” maps - in the above example: "Oversize: ANSI D  (landscape)"  (Always choose the “Oversize” option, if available.)
  4. Highlight all of the text on that line, including the quotation marks, right click, and copy it to the clipboard.
  5. Go back to the Print Options Window, and click the third “Paste” button.

36” (A1) Paper Size Complete this only if you have a printer capable of printing on 36” x 48” (A0) paper.  Make certain that you have completed “Configuring a Plotter (Printer) for Large Format Maps” above.

  1. Click the bottom “List” button.
  2. AutoCAD will list the available paper sizes as in the example above:
  3. Find the paper size for 36” maps - in the above example: ""Oversize: ANSI E "  (Always choose the “Oversize” option, if available.)
  4. Highlight all of the text on that line, including the quotation marks, right click, and copy it to the clipboard.
  5. Go back to the Print Options Window, and click the bottom “Paste” button.

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