Script/mapkey to Print to PDF a specific view of a part

[cgherghe-2]

I tried (in CREO 3.0) to create a mapkey that would go through these steps:

1) Click FILE --> PRINT --> click Quick Print

2) this brings up the PRINT windows, with Printer Name set to Microsoft Print to PDF

3) Click PROPERTIES

4) Click ADVANCED

5) PAPER SIZE: change from LETER to TABLOID

6) Click OK to close Advanced Options window

7) Click OK to close Document Properties window

8.) Click OK to close PRINT window

9) The "Save Print Output As" window opens
10) Type in File name: zzzz.pdf

11) Click SAVE button.

Problem is that the mapkey registration of commands stops at the Quick PRINT window and does not register any more clicks after that...
mapkey p= @MAPKEY_NAMEPrint to PDF, LANDSCAPE, ledger paper size.;\
mapkey(continued) @MAPKEY_LABELPRINT_LANDSCAPE_PDF;~ Close `main_dlg_cur` `appl_casc`;\
mapkey(continued) ~ Command `ProCmdQuickPrint`;

The default printer on my laptop is Microsoft Print to PDF, and the default is set to TABLOID size, but this does not seem to matter for CREO 3.0, it always defaults to LETTER in [Quick] Print. It may have to do with the box named PAPER AVAILABLE, which shows LETTER all the time and I could not find any way to change that to say TABLOID.
I tried everything on my laptop, from a Windows/system perspective, to make CREO 3.0 default to TABLOID.

So now I am left with making a script for CREO, but it seems that the mapkey register mechanism has its limitations (or I am not using it right).
Any suggestions?

[tbraxton]

I think it will be easier for you to use the File-> Save As-> PDF option if you want to do this using a mapkey. You can create export profiles (.dop extension) for the specific PDF settings you need and retrieve them as needed. Set up your PDF export setting(s) once and then use them with a mapkey sequence going forward as required.

Is there a reason you are not able to use save as PDF to accomplish this?

[cgherghe-2]

Truth is I do not know how to create export profiles, and I cannot control the color, width and quality of the line when I save as PDF.

In Quick Print I can play with table.pnt and I get enough leverage to achieve decent quality in the image files I produce (mind you, it is a lot of work there too, since it is relatively difficult to frame the desired zoomed view in the printed page, and then I have to convert the PDF to an image file using ImageMagick, but at least I get good drawings out if this convoluted process). 

With Save As option I get very feeble light gray lines, and I do not know where to go to control that...

I would appreciate it very much if you could shed more light on the subject.

[MartinHanak]

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@cgherghe-2 wrote:

Truth is I do not know how to create export profiles, and I cannot control the color, width and quality of the line when I save as PDF.

In Quick Print I can play with table.pnt and I get enough leverage to achieve decent quality in the image files I produce (mind you, it is a lot of work there too, since it is relatively difficult to frame the desired zoomed view in the printed page, and then I have to convert the PDF to an image file using ImageMagick, but at least I get good drawings out if this convoluted process). 

With Save As option I get very feeble light gray lines, and I do not know where to go to control that...

I would appreciate it very much if you could shed more light on the subject.

---

Hi,

if you want to apply pentable to save as PDF command, you have to put following options in config.pro (see lines used by me)

use_8_plotter_pens yes
pen_table_file E:\users\creo7_parametric\tabulka_per.pnt
pdf_use_pentable YES

[pausob]

Consider creating a drawing template.  Your template drawing would have 1 view - that shows a named view from the model.

Then you can build a mapkey that you run from your model which:

1) saves the current view with this special name

2) creates a new drawing, selecting the template

3) exports the newly displayed drawing.

Maybe a little bit more work, but it sure looks like you are up to the task (having admitted to having a convoluted workflow that involves imagemagick 😁)

[cgherghe-2]

Also, on my PDF Export Settings window, there is no option to use a certain profile...
Would this be because I am trying to export directly from a part (displayed as NO HIDDEN) to PDF, and not from a drawing to PDF?

[tbraxton]

The functions are different when save as PDF is done from a model vs a drawing. Printing a screen image from a model is a different situation than saving a drawing as PDf format. I do not use PDF to save screen images from the graphics window so someone else may offer some relevant guidance on that.

I use Techsmith Snagit to capture and annotate images and videos from the graphics window.

[cgherghe-2]

That is good to a certain point, where you do not have details to show -- when using screen capture, it is only that much one can enlarge the model. And a larger monitor will not change this, if at all -- CREO uses that much real estate for displaying and you are stuck with it.
When you print, you can blow up the model so that all details are showing (at least those of interest), but one also needs to use a thinner line for that purpose, you always have to play with the line width when printing. 
Anyway, I am not printing or using drawings much, I have to print from part or assembly (represented in NO HIDDEN on the screen), it seems the best option for me to obtain some decent black and white 3D drawings of the models. Thank you anyway!

[MartinHanak]

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@cgherghe-2 wrote:

Also, on my PDF Export Settings window, there is no option to use a certain profile...
Would this be because I am trying to export directly from a part (displayed as NO HIDDEN) to PDF, and not from a drawing to PDF?

---

Hi,

I guess PDF export profiles were implemented in Creo 4.0.

[cgherghe-2 · Accepted solution]

I figured out that once you get to the various printers, you actually leave CREO and land in Microsoft Windows' court. The change I need must be made on the operating system side, and it seems to be a Windows bug where the paper size (set at the printer level) does not propagate to any other apps than MS apps (and even for MS apps is not working). So this is not an issue with CREO, but with the operating system.

[Hidetaka]

It is a property, an "characteristic", not necessarily a problem.

You can use automation script to click that "print" button.

The paper size and plot can be pre-determined using configuration option.

I actually created a script that automatically print a drawing with correct paper size.

For example, with the script running, if I press Alt P, an A4-sized drawing will be automatically printed to an A4 paper, no other setting needed.

With automation script, I can also print all drawings of components in an assembly.

For PDF, I recommend using the PDF export functionality of Creo.