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.plt files,... How do I access them?

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dejope80

Structural
May 22, 2007
1
I'm currently learning how to do CT_DOT bridges and trying to figure out many things with this program. I love how the program is user friendly. Now, the companies that I have to send my files to prefer I send them in .plt format. I know how-to make .plt files, but I need to figure out how-to view and plot them,... If anyone can help me with this little problem, I would appreciate it.

-DeJoPe80

 
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You will find that under the print menu you can create a plt file. It gives you all of the different plt formats you can use even pdf. If your client wants a plt file just setup printer.plt and save the plt file to a name that works for you.
Regards,
Namdac
 
plot files are very old hat technology..( or even autocad speak)in anycase you need to use the hpgl2.plt driver and edit it so it creates .000 plot files .. that way anyone with a hpgl2 plotter printer capable printer just copies those output files to their plotter/printer to print them but to view you'll need a hpgl2 plotfile viewer like viewcompanion 3rd party program available on internet but not free.
The best way I beleive is to create pdf files using the pdf.plt it is an exact copy of what you have at the time of plot and is the easiest file to transfer as everyone has adobe acrobat reader so they can open it, see it and print it to scale, only limit is if they need it large format they need a large format printer but the same applies to plot files.. so my advice DON'T USE PLOT FILES use PDF instead as it is what is really the new Portable Data Format.. and you can even zoom in on a specific part of the drawing and just print that.. plus it can be difficult to tamper or edit a pdf but not impossible so most of us send pdfs by email for proof of concept or checking etc before we send that actual paper or electronic cad files.
Lorys
 
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