aarhus MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 Your Technology Advantage Spring 2013 Jeanne Aarhus

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1 Your Technology Advantage Spring 2013 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 Presented by: Jeanne Aarhus aarhus ASSOCIATES Quail Drive Bellevue, NE Office:

2 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 1 Print Organizer The new Print Organizer replaces the old Batch Print utility and provides the ability to create prints in sets using the new.pset file. These sets are organized in definitions and grouped by folders. Print Sets include DGN references, models and print properties, such as size, scale and forms that control how the print will be published. Unlike the previous Batch Print utility, the Print Organizer supports the following features: Batch Print Replacement Print Preferences Print Sets Print Preview Print Definition Settings In-place Editing PDF Output Project Explorer Integration Print Styles Named Expression Integration Print Organizer allows you to define organized print sets to better reflect the desired printed set of drawings for a project. Print Organizer preserves the defined print order in the print set when publishing to PDF or other document types. Print Organizer Dialog

3 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 2 Batch Print Replacement Print Organizer provides a seamless upgrade for Batch Print users. Legacy data created for the Batch Print utility such as pen tables and job set files are supported in Print Organizer. Print Organizer's File Open menu item can open a print set (.pset) file or a job set (.job) file. When Print Organizer opens a job set file, each corresponding model in the job set is converted to a print definition. The print definition properties are obtained from the print specifications stored in Batch Print's batchplt.spc file. Therefore, it is necessary to have access to the batchplt.spc file when initially opening a job set file in Print Organizer. After a job set file is imported into Print Organizer, you can apply a print style, use the multi-edit feature, or in-place editing to individually set print preferences per item as opposed to Batch Print's existing per set attributes. Print Sets Print Organizer allows you to define hierarchical organized print sets that best reflect the ordering of their published output. Print sets consist of a collection of print definitions and folders. Print definitions can be organized inside folders, with intermingled sub-folders and print definitions inside each folder. Print Organizer preserves the hierarchy defined in the print set when publishing PDF documents. Print Preview Print Organizer allows you to preview prints of individual print definitions. Use the command File Print Preview to open a resizable Preview window. Options are available to select an individual print definition to preview, or to preview the next or previous print definition in the print definition list box.

4 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 3 Print Definition Files Print definition files provide the settings for printed output using the print dialog or the new Print Organizer batch print dialog. These files have a.pset extension and replace the old.ini print configuration files used in the past. Types of Print Definitions Print Organizer now supports two types of print definitions, Fixed and Variable. A Fixed print definition is created, it contains all of the settings necessary for the print job, unlike Variable print definitions that obtain their settings at print time from a print style. Fixed Print Definitions A Fixed print definition contains a snapshot of the models, view parameters, and various other parameters such as size, scale, and color options. The discovery of models and print shapes occur when this type of print definition is created. To configure Print Organizer to create Fixed print definitions, you must clear the Enable variable print definitions check box on Print Organizer s Preferences dialog. Variable Print Definitions SS3 now supports Variable print definitions. This type of print definition defers the discovery of models and print shapes until print time. This ensures that all new models print automatically when using a pre-defined print set. In-Place Editing Print Organizer allows you to edit print definitions in place and compose print sets interactively through operations like drag and drop. PDF Output Print Organizer allows you to create PDF output that preserves the hierarchy defined in the print set. This is accomplished by defining the Enable Bookmark Hierarchy property in the pdf.pltcfg printer driver configuration file. Enabling Bookmark Hierarchy maintains the hierarchy defined in Print Organizer dialog. If the PDF bookmark property is disabled, only the base print definition name appears in the PDF bookmarks section. The default behavior is enabled. This printer driver configuration property has no effect on PDF files created from the interactive Print dialog. It is applicable to Print Organizer, and only relevant for print sets containing folders. Project Explorer Integration You can view, print, compose, and navigate print sets using Project Explorer and Print Organizer.

5 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 4 Print Styles Print Styles allow you to define and re-use named collections of print definition properties. Print Styles are created using Print Organizer's Define Print Styles option on the Tools menu, and are stored in the open DGN file or in the configured DGN libraries. Print Styles are applied using Print Organizer or the Print dialog. Print Styles are useful if you frequently use the same print definition properties every time you print. For example, if you always print at a particular size with a specific pen table, you can define those print definition properties in a Print Style and have them automatically applied to a print set. This is accomplished by identifying a print style as a default print style or by assigning a print style to a printer driver configuration file. You can also store groups of commonly used print definition properties in a Print Style and then reference them on demand. This method of referencing print styles is helpful when you use a group of print definition properties for a specific project or on an occasional basis. You can now export and import print styles from one project to another. The File menu on the Print Styles dialog contains items for exporting and importing print styles from one DGN library or DGN file to another. New Print Style Access Print Styles can now be accessed directly from within MicroStation using the new Settings Print Styles menu item. You can also apply a print style from within the Print dialog using Settings Apply Print Style. Named Expressions Print Organizer supports named expressions for print definition and output file names. Named expressions are created using the product's Named Expressions dialog and are stored in the configured DGN libraries. Once the named expressions are defined, they are visible in the appropriate Print Organizer dialogs. Print Organizer also supports custom expressions and predefined expressions for print definition and output file names. Single Sheet Printing Enhancements have been made to the Print dialog for single sheet printing. These enhancements include several new print configuration variables, additional print attributes, a revised Print-Preferences dialog, and changes to printer driver configuration files. InterPlot Design Scripts SS3 now supports ProjectWise InterPlot Design Scripts. Design Scripts allow you to alter the appearance of a design file when it is plotted or published. Add Active File to Set This new setting allows you to add the active design file to the open print set. This tool can be accessed using the Print Organizer dialog, File Add Active File to Set.

6 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 5 Print Dialog Enhancements have been made to the Print dialog for single sheet printing. These enhancements include several new print configuration variables, additional print attributes, a revised Print-Preferences dialog, and changes to printer driver configuration files. The Print dialog includes: Print Preferences Print Attributes Transparency Print Color Mode View Background Raster Options 3D Plotting Visible Edges Settings Printer Configuration Drivers Print Levels/References Print Preferences Many print settings that were previously only available through configuration variables are now located in the new Print Preferences dialog. The previous configuration variables are still recognized and honored and will override the Print Preferences dialog. These settings will be disabled in the Print Preferences dialog. NOTE: System administrators can remove the option for Print Preferences using the following configuration variable. MS_PLTDLG_DISABLE_PREFERENCES_DIALOG

7 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 6 Print Attributes There are a couple of new settings in the Print Attributes dialog shown below. Transparency All elements transparency settings are honored during the printing process. Transparency can only be printed in rasterized mode, except when using the PDF printer driver. In addition to full transparency support in rasterized mode, the PDF printer driver is also capable of printing vectors with transparency in non-rasterized mode. Apply Print Color Mode to Raster When defined this setting applies the print dialog color setting to raster data and vector data. Use View Background Color when Rendering When defined the output honors the view background color when rendering. Raster Options These settings are not saved in the printer driver configuration file; they are used for the current print only. Parameters set via this dialog correspond directly to raster controls in the printer driver configuration file. Valid ranges for some settings, however, are not identical to the printer driver configuration files. This permits consistency with the Raster Manager user interface while maintaining compatibility with legacy printer driver configuration files.

8 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 7 3D Plotting Used to define the settings that control the Plot To 3D option for the PDF printer driver. Settings are saved in the user preference file and are retained between sessions. Visible Edges Settings Used to control hidden line removal settings when printing hidden line display styles in non-rasterized mode.

9 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 8 Print Levels/References This new settings allows you to override entries level settings for both active and references files at print time. You can also include level and reference override settings in a print style to modify existing print definitions or to create new print definitions.

10 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 9 Printer Configurations Printer Configuration Drivers There has been several changes to the use and location of the delivered Print Drivers. The new location for the print drivers files is as follows: C:\Document and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ Bentley\MicroStation\WorkSpace\System\pltcfg The following print driver files have been replaced or substituted using the following list. V8/XM V8i printer.plt printer.pltcfg emf.plt epson24.plt hpljet*.plt hppcl5.plt hp5*.plt ripwin*.plt printer.pltcfg (rasterized on) hpgl2.plt hpgl2.pltcfg drftprop.plt hp650c.plt hpdjet.plt novajet2.plt pscript.plt pscript.pltcfg epscripm.plt ps650c.plt pscriptc.plt hpglrlt.plt hpglrlt.pltcfg jpeg.plt jpeg.pltcfg pdf.plt pdf.pltcfg png.plt png.pltcfg tiff.plt tiff.pltcfg cgm.plt OBSOLETE wmf.plt OBSOLETE cals.pltcfg markup_pdf.pltcfg Print Definition Files Most of the old.cfg print driver files have been moved to the following location and new.pltcfg driver files have been provided. Migrating to this new format is highly recommended. \WorkSpace\System\pltcfg\ Note: When editing definitions in the.pltcfg files you can select more than one using the <CTRL> key.

11 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 10 New Printer Configuration Drivers When previous print configuration driver files (.PLT) are opened using the new dialog they are converted to the new file type (.PLTCFG). General Tab Displays general information about the selected printer driver configuration file. Base Properties Tab Provides settings to control the properties defined for the selected printer driver configuration file. These properties are divided into several categories. The categories that are displayed, as well as the individual properties within those categories, depend on which printer driver is currently loaded. General Section Driver Properties

12 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 11 Default Print File Name Print Border Raster Printing

13 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 12 Advanced Print Drivers Use the following configuration variable to hide the Edit Printer Driver option in the print dialog. MS_PLTFILE_EDITOR = HIDE_MENU_ITEM

14 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 13 Paper Sizes Tab Paper Size Name / Windows Form Name You can standardize the list of paper sizes for each printer driver. Each paper size can include a Windows form name that maps to the actual Windows driver form name. For example, if your sheet definitions use ANSI A and ANSI B paper size names, but your Windows printer driver uses LETTER and TABLOID, you can define ANSI A and ANSI B in the printer driver configuration file with their Windows form names set to LETTER and TABLOID. The Print dialog will display the names ANSI A and ANSI B, but will use LETTER and TABLOID when communicating with the windows operating system. The last paper size in the list is the default if no other size is defined as default in the dialog. TIP: You can <Left-Click> in the gray area of this section to delete all paper sizes.

15 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 14 Color Maps Tab Provides the ability to control the color maps defined for the printer driver. For example, you might want to map the yellow and white colors in your color table to black when printing, or define specific colors to grayscale. Old Method: pen(1)=(0, 4)/rgb=(0,0,0) pen(2)=(9,14)/rgb=(90,90,90) ; black ; gray New Method: NOTE: You can edit more than one color at a time using the <CTRL> key or the <SHIFT> key to select multiple colors and then pick the EDIT button.

16 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 15 Weight Maps Tab Provides the ability to control the thickness of the 0-32 line weights for printer driver. Old Method: weight_strokes(mm)=(0.05, 0.09, 0.25, 0.40, 0.53, 0.65, 0.80, 0.95, 1.10, 1.30, 1.50, 1.70, 1.90, 2.10, 2.30, 2.50, 2.80, 3.10, 3.40, 3.70, 4.00, 4.40, 4.80, 5.20, 5.60, 6.00, 6.50, 7.00, 7.50, 8.00, 8.50, 9.00) New Method:

17 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 16 Line Styles Tab Provides the ability to control the line style definitions for 0-7 linestyles. Old Method: style(1) = (0.35, 1.05) style(2) = (1.75, 1.05) style(3) = (4.20, 1.40) style(4) = (2.80, 1.05, 0.70, 1.05) style(5) = (1.40, 1.40) style(6) = (2.10, 0.70, 0.70, 0.70, 0.70, 0.70) style(7) = (2.80, 0.70, 1.40, 0.70) /units=mm ; dot /units=mm ; med dash /units=mm ; long dash /units=mm ; dot-dash /units=mm ; short dash /units=mm ; dash-dot-dot /units=mm ; long dash - short dash New Method:

18 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 17 Pen Tables Use Pen Tables to re-symbolize your graphical data without making any changes to the actual design file defining level symbology. Pen Tables are ASCII text files that contain instructions for resymbolizing the printed output of design files. You can edit Pen Tables using any text editor or using the MicroStation Print dialog. I recommend using the Print dialog if you are not familiar with pen table language. Below are some examples of design file re-symbolization. Re-symbolization Original Graphics Re-Symbolized Graphics Element Section Processing Order Use this area to define the sections of changes to be applied using the Pen Table. The order of the sections listed is critical to controlling the final output. Element Selection Criteria Use this tab in the Pen Table dialog to define what elements will be re-symbolized. Element Output Actions Use this tab in the Pen Table dialog to define what re-symbolization will be applied to the selected section.

19 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 18 Text Substitution This feature is used to generate text strings to replace the actual text element characters in the design file. This substitution only occurs during the plot process and does not change the display of the text characters in the design file. Using text substitution is an efficient method for populating text values in borders and other standard annotation items. NOTE: Many organizations have changed their application for the text substitution process and implemented MicroStation fields rather than pen table text substitutions for common text values. The difference is that FIELD value displays in the design file and on the finished output; where text substitution only displays the value on the finished output. More Re-Symbolization Original Graphics Re-Symbolized Graphics

20 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 19 Print Configuration Variables MS_DEFAULT_PLTCFG_FILE Defines the printer driver configuration filename. This file (instead of the most recently used one) is selected when you open the Print dialog box. The value of this variable may be either a.pltcfg or.plt file. MS_PLT_AUTOAREA_RESULT_LIMIT Defines the maximum number of print definitions to be created when searching for multiple shapes or cells. MS_PLT_ENGINE_CMDLINE_ARGS Specifies custom command line arguments used by Print Organizer when invoking its background MicroStation process. MS_PRINTDEF_PATH Specifies the search path for saved MicroStation print definition (.pset and.ini) files. MS_PLT_INVERT_WHITE_COLORS Allows you to override the colors that are automatically inverted from white to black if necessary. If this variable is not defined, the default inverted color numbers are 0 and/or 7, depending on the drawing file format and color table. The syntax for this value is the same as a level number list, with range MS_PLT_UPDATE_FIELDS Controls when fields are updated prior to printing or previewing. If set to 0 or undefined, fields are not updated prior to either printing or previewing. If set to 1, fields are updated prior to printing. If set to 2, fields are updated prior to both printing and previewing. MS_PLT_SHOW_PRINT_STATUS If ON, a print status dialog opens when a job is being printed. You can cancel the print job. For rasterized and rendered prints, you also can see the status of the rasterization process. This check box is on by default. MS_PLT_ENABLE_AUTO_ROTATE If on, the plot rotation is manipulated in order to achieve the best fit. This setting applies only to the HPGL2, HPGLRTL, and PSCRIPT Bentley printer drivers. MS_PLT_ENABLE_AUTO_ORIENT If on, the paper orientation is manipulated in order to achieve the best fit. This setting applies only to CALS, JPEG, PDF, PNG, PRINTER, and TIFF Bentley printer drivers. MS_PLT_ENABLE_PRESERVE_SCALE If on, the current plot scale is preserved when a new view, fence, or paper size is selected.

21 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 20 MS_PLT_ENABLE_SCALE_CLIPPING If on, the plot fence or sheet size is reduced to accommodate the specified scale factor. MS_PLT_SET_LAYOUT_FROM_SHEET If OFF, the Print dialog operates as if no sheet layout information is set. MS_PLT_SET_PLOT_STYLE_TABLE_FROM_SHEET By default, any plot style table (CTB or STB file) specified in the sheet definition is automatically attached to the plot. If off, sheet plot style tables are ignored. MS_PLT_SET_UNITS_FROM_SHEET If OFF, the Print dialog's units are not set from the sheet definition. Other sheet attributes, such as form size and scale, are honored. MS_PLT_AREA_PRIORITY By default, sheet definitions in the model take priority over the active fence. New fences are ignored when the print area is set to Sheet. If OFF, the active fence takes priority over sheet definitions. MS_PLT_FORM_SCALE_PRIORITY If ON, the default form scale is reapplied whenever the paper size changes. By default, the current print scale is preserved. MS_PLT_MAX_ON_NEW_AREA If ON, the print size is maximized automatically when the print area changes. This includes when a view number is selected or a fence is placed. By default, the current print scale is preserved. MS_PLT_AUTO_FIT_VIEW Controls the setting for the print area. None If set to None, the print area is set to View. Fit Master If set to Fit Master and a fence or sheet is not defined, the print area is set to Fence. Fit All If set to Fit All and a fence or sheet is not defined, the print area is set to Fence. MS_PLT_THUMBNAIL_PREVIEW_TIMEOUT Controls how long the thumbnail preview in the Print dialog paints before stopping to allow the rest of the dialog to refresh. The default is 10 seconds. MS_PLT_APPLY_COLOR_MODE_TO_RASTER If OFF, the print engine does not apply the color mode specified on the print dialog to raster data. MS_PLT_USE_USE_VIEW_BACKGROUND_COLOR_FOR_RENDER If ON, the print engine does not change the background color for the print when rendering. MS_PLT_FIT_RASTER_REFS If ON, raster references are included when computing the range for the FIT print area. By default, they are not included.

22 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 21 MS_PLTDLG_DISABLE_PREFERENCES_DIALOG If ON, the option for opening the Print Preferences dialog is disabled. MS_PLTDLG_CLOSE_AFTER_PLOT If ON, the print dialog closes itself automatically after a plot job is successfully performed. By default, the print dialog remains displayed after a plot. MS_PLTDLG_ALLOW_FORM_SIZE_EDIT If ON, the size of the print can be modified in the Print dialog. MS_PLTDLG_SHOW_ACCURATE_PREVIEW_ROTATION If ON, the Preview dialog displays the plot in its current rotation. If OFF, the plot is displayed as if it had no rotation. This setting applies to Bentley printer drivers only when the print rotation is 90 or 270 degrees. MS_PLTCFG_PATH Specifies the search path for printer driver configuration (.pltcfg or.plt) files. This path is also used to locate related files such as PostScript prolog files. MS_PLTDLG_SHOW_BASIC_LAYOUT_CONTROLS If ON, the Rotation field and the Mirror option menu are not displayed in the Print dialog. The orthogonal print Rotation option menu is shown instead. (SS3 Only) MS_DESIGNSCRIPT_PATH Specifies the search path for design script files. If undefined, MS_PENTABLE is used. MS_PLT_ENABLE_VARIABLE_DEFINITION_MODE If ON, Print Organizer creates VARIABLE print definitions. If OFF, Print Organizer creates FIXED print definitions. MS_PRINTORGANIZER_OPEN_DGN_READWRITE If ON, Print Organizer background process opens design files in read-write mode.

23 MicroStation Print Organizer V8i-SS3 22 That's probably more than I have time for.but hopefully not more that you wanted to know! Thank you for your time Hope you enjoyed the session! Call for affordable and flexible rates and schedules. Contact: åarhus ASSOCIATES, LLC Quail Drive Bellevue, NE Jeanne Aarhus (402) jeanne@aarhusassociates.com Copyright 2013 Aarhus Associates, LLC. Aarhus Associates and the Aarhus Associates Logo are registered trademarks of Aarhus Associates. All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners. Aarhus Associates believes the information in this document is accurate as of its publication date. Such information is subject to change without notice and is subject to applicable technical product descriptions. Aarhus Associates is not responsible for inadvertent errors.