Plot PDFs and collect the output

Configure plotting in Batch → Command sequence → Add tool → Bundled tools → Plotting → Plot PDFs. This form controls one plotting step, including how its PDFs are collected at the end of the batch. It is separate from global Settings and the Batch DWG output mode.

Make your first PDFs

1. Add a small drawing set and open Plot PDFs in the Command library.
2. Set Layout name pattern to * for all paper layouts, or a pattern such as A* for selected sheet names. Model space is excluded.
3. Choose a PDF plotter and a paper size available in the CAD host you will run. Select the orientation.
4. Choose a CTB option and either Fit extents or Sheet at 1:1 as your starting setup.
5. Choose PDF output: Per drawing, One folder, or Combined PDF. The following sections explain the difference.
6. Choose Add to batch, review the configured command row, and choose the Batch output folder. Start with Copies when trying the sequence.
7. Choose Run batch. Inspect the resulting PDFs for content, scale, orientation, lineweights and page order before issuing them.

The bundled plotting tool has recorded acceptance coverage in AutoCAD LT 2026 Core Console. Exact plotter, media and CTB availability depends on your CAD installation; other hosts need separate verification.

Choose where the PDFs go

PDF output belongs to this Plot PDFs configuration. To change an existing step, double-click its row in Command sequence, make your choice, then select Update step.

Scroll the table sideways on a narrow screen. Keyboard: focus the table, then use the arrow keys.

One folder and Combined PDF require a chosen Batch output folder, even when DWGs use In place. In Copies mode that folder also receives the successful output DWGs. The PDF delivery goes in a new run-specific folder beneath it; separate plotting steps receive separate collections.

Collection uses only PDFs recorded by this plotting step in the current run. It does not gather unrelated files already in the folder. Individual exports are retained. Combined output preserves page sizes and is not a rasterised screenshot or a file-size optimisation setting.

Delivery happens after all drawings succeed. A cancelled or failed drawing prevents the completed collection from being published; inspect the retained individual exports and logs. After successful collection, use Open PDFs from the run result or History to find it. If delivery itself fails, review the run warnings and available disk space or folder access.

Fit a sheet or preserve its scale

Fit extents centres the layout’s content bounds and fits them to the chosen paper. It is useful when filling the page matters more than a fixed plotted scale. Stray off-sheet objects are included in those bounds and can make the intended sheet look very small.

Sheet at 1:1 is for prepared paper-space sheets. Choose media that matches the sheet. Plot area Layout uses 1:1 paper-space scale and explicit offsets, so Fit and Centre are disabled in that mode. It does not change the model-to-paper scales inside viewports.

With Extents or Limits, choose fit or a positive paper:drawing scale ratio. Limits uses the saved paper limits. Enable centring or enter X/Y offsets in millimetres. Check a known dimension on the resulting PDF whenever fixed scale matters.

The quick setups change area, scale and position while retaining your selected paper, CTB and layouts. These plot choices do not save new page setups into the drawing.

Choose CTB, paper and plot options

• Layout CTB uses each layout’s saved CTB.
• Monochrome uses the selected host’s stock monochrome.ctb.
• Choose CTB lets you select a file with Browse, or provide the CTB name or full path. Keep it accessible when reusing the setup.

This tool expects CTB drawings. STB drawings are rejected; choosing a CTB does not convert them. A missing plotter, paper definition or CTB must be resolved in the selected CAD host or configuration before retrying.

Use Custom… for a host-specific plotter or exact media name. A familiar paper description is not proof that the same media definition is installed in every host. More plot options contains lineweight and transparency choices.

Control ordering and repeated plotting

Collected output follows the Batch input drawing order, then the plotting order within each drawing. Layouts follow their tab order. If sheet order matters, arrange the input drawings and review layout tabs before running. The bundled Sort layout tabs naturally tool is available when natural name order, such as A2 before A10, is intended; it changes tab order, so test it on copies.

You can add separate Plot PDFs steps for different layout selections or plotting settings. Each retains its own PDF output mode and receives its own collection. This does not merge PDFs across different configured plotting steps.

Edit and save your plotting setup

The tool adds its source and required helper files automatically and stores the configuration in one command row. Double-click that row, press F2, or use the pencil action to edit it, then choose Update step. Reordering the row moves the whole plotting operation.

Use Save setup to retain the configuration. The setup references drawings, scripts and external files; it does not package all of them for another computer. Check CTB availability and media names on the next machine. Older fixed A3 tools remain under Show advanced tools for existing sequences.

Troubleshoot a plot run

Scroll the table sideways on a narrow screen. Keyboard: focus the table, then use the arrow keys.

A plain bd:plot-pdf command is not the configured plotting operation. Do not replace the library-generated row with an internal function name. If a setup from an earlier development build has a broken plotting row, recreate that step in the current build. Use History and the drawing logs to distinguish configuration errors from CAD plotter errors.

Related guides

Continue with Bulk-update drawing properties, or read the released trial troubleshooting guide.