FILE
- Last UpdatedAug 19, 2025
- 6 minute read
|
Function: |
Specifies the name of a PLOT file to which Isodraft’s isometric drawing output is to be sent. The command can also be used to produce files in DXF, PDF, SVG, Image, or EMF (Enhanced Windows Metafile) format or to automatically print the isometric. The command also allows the setting of various options to control the production and format of the output. |
|
|
Description: |
The FILE command specifies the name of the PLOT file for Isodraft output. Isodraft adds a three-digit number, jumping over any numbers which already exist. If DXF, PDF, image, or EMF output is requested, the suffixes .dxf, .pdf, .svg, (.tif, .bmp, .jpg, .png, .dif), .emf will be added respectively after the number. Note: The numbering ignores the file extensions. For example, if a file named /PLOT001 exists, the next file created will be /PLOT002 or /PLOT002.dxf or /PLOT002.pdf etc. If the same file command is used to produce all the file types, they will all have the same numeric suffix. For example, if the last PLOT file was /PLOT004 and the last DXF and PDF file were /PLOT002.dxf and /PLOT002.pdf respectively, and all the plot types are required for the next DETAIL command, the output will be /PLOT005 and /PLOT005.dxf, /PLOT005.pdf, /PLOT005.svg, /PLOT005.tif, /PLOT005.emf. By default, each DETAIL command will produce one PLOT file. If several pipes are specified in a DETAIL command, the user can specify that each plot will be in a separate file. If a pipe is too complicated to be shown on one plot, or the user has specified that the pipe should be split over more than one sheet, separate PLOT files can be produced. If the user wants the PLOT file to contain more than one drawing the user can specify a multiple PLOT file, and in this case, the user can also specify the length of paper available. Isodraft will automatically create a new multiple PLOT file when the paper length has been exceeded. The AVEVA E3D Design limitation on plotting size is 3275mm2 and this cannot be exceeded in either single or multiple file mode. DXF If Kanji output is required, the FILE command also allows the user to specify the dxf file as SHIFTJIS format (mostly used on IBM PCs) or EUC format (used on most other machines). Details of outputting .dxf format files to MicroStation are given in Recommendations for Importing DXF files from Isodraft into MicroStation). The following operations may be implemented by using the FILE SET command, an extension to the FILE command. |
|
|
|
Option to launch the Adobe reader for viewing Option to compress output files |
|
|
SVG |
Option to launch the Internet Explorer for viewing |
|
|
Printing |
Option to rotate and expand or reduce to fit the sheet Option to control the printer dialogue |
|
|
Image files |
Option to select the file type as Tif, Tif/LZW, TIF/G4 Jpg, Bmp, Png or Gif Option to set a reduction factor |
|
|
EMF |
No special options |
|
|
In addition, the FILE SET command allows the specification of the color mode and minimum line width for each file type and the separating of the isometric sheets into individual files for certain file types. The available color modes are Standard, Black and White, Grayscale, and Colourplus. Colourplus adjusts all black/white and gray colors to black and white to give the greatest contrast against the background. Note: True type fonts may only be used when the FILE command specifies that isometrics files are to be produced in DXF, PDF, Image, or EMF (Enhanced Windows Metafile) format (refer to TTFONT). Note: Both PDF and SVG may not be selected at the same time. |
||
|
Examples: |
FILE /P250-BDF Specifies the filename /P250-BDF. PLOT files will be named /P250-BDF001, /P250-BDF002, etc. FILE AND DXF /P250-BDF Specifies the filename /P250-BDF for both the PLOT file and the dxf file. FILE DXF EUC /P250-BDF Specifies that the PLOT file will be in DXF EUC format. The suffix .dxf is added to the filename automatically. FILE /PLOT MULT Specifies that the file named /PLOT can contain multiple plots. This is the default. FILE /PLOT MULT 2000 Specifies that the file named /PLOT can contain multiple plots, and gives the maximum length of paper. FILE AND DXF PDF PRINT IMAGE EMF "plot" SINGLE Creates the isometric of the selected pipe in all the format types - plot DXF, PDF, chosen Image type, EMF, and prints the plot files. FILE SET PDF Noview Nocomp Colourplus Bindpages Creates a PDF file with ‘Colourplus’ as the colour mode and with all the sheets in one file. Viewing and compressing the file are switched off. FILE SET PDF View Comp Colourplus Minl 2 Nobindpages Creates a compressed PDF file with ‘Colourplus’ as the colour mode, with one file for each sheet. The PDF file can be viewed as soon as the isometric is created. A minimum line width of 2 is added. FILE SET PRINT Reducetofit NODialog Colourplus Bindpages Prints the plot file which is set to the ‘reduce to fit’ option. The other options being - no fit, expand and reduce expand. The printer settings are set to show no dialog Box. FILE SET PRINT Expandtofit Dialog Colourplus Minl 2 Bindpages Prints the plot file which is set to the ‘expand to fit’ option. The printer settings are set to show no dialog Box. A minimum line width of 2 is added for all the lines. FILE SET IMAGE TIFGFOUR Colourplus Bindpages A TIF_G4 type image is created with ‘Colourplus’ as the colour mode and with all the sheets in one file. FILE SET IMAGE TIFGFOUR Reduce 0.11 Colourplus Minl 5 Nobindpages A TIF_G4 type image is created with ‘Colourplus’ as the colour mode and with one sheet in one file. A minimum line width of 5 is added along with an image reduction factor of 0.11. FILE SET EMF Colourplus Bindpages Creates an EMF file with ‘Colourplus’ as the colour mode. FILE SET EMF Colourplus Minl 6 Bindpages Creates an EMF file with ‘Colourplus’ as the colour mode and a minimum line width of 6 is added. |
|
|
Command Syntax: |
>- FILE -+- AND -. where value is the maximum length of the plotter’s paper roll in millimetres. |
|
|
>- FILE -+- SET -+- PDF ---+- VIEW ---. where uval is the reduction factor that ranges from (0.01 - 0.99). |
||
|
>--+- COLOURPLUS -. where uval is the minimum line width in millimetres ranging from 0.01 - 9.99. |
||
|
Querying: |
Q OUTPUT Q OUTPUT PDF Q OUTPUT SVG Q OUTPUT PRINT Q OUTPUT IMAGE Q OUTPUT EMF Q OPTIONS |
|