MicroStation CONNECT Edition Help

Print Dialog Key-ins

You can use key-ins to submit printed output to a printer. They provide options for customizing your print files to specific criteria and can be used in BASIC macros or in MDL applications. Printing key-ins are provided by the plotdlg.ma printing application.

You can use a one-step key-in to set up and produce printed output in one step, or you can use combined key-ins to both set up and produce printed output.

The following Print Dialog key-ins are supported:

Key-in: PRINT
  • Displays the Print dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES APPLYRASTERCOLORMODE [ ON | OFF ]
  • Enables or disables the color mode specified on the Print dialog to raster data.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES BORDER [ ON | OFF ]
  • Enables or disables the entire border.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES BORDER COMMENT [ string ]
  • Specifies a border comment <string>. The string is limited to 80 characters.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES BORDER FILENAME [ ON | OFF ]
  • Enables or disables printing of the active DGN file name on the border.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES BORDER MODEL [ ON | OFF ]
  • Enables or disables printing of the active model name on the border.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES BORDER OUTLINE [ ON | OFF ]
  • Enables or disables the border outline rectangle.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES BORDER PEN [ pen number ]
  • Specifies the pen (1 - 255, inclusive) used to draw the border (outline and text).
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES BORDER TEXTHEIGHT [ height ] [ units ]
  • Specifies height of any text appearing on print border. Valid units are dots, mm, cm, dm, m, in, and ft. If the units are omitted, the current print dialog units are assumed.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES BORDER TIME [ ON | OFF ]
  • Enables or disables the printing of the date and time on the border.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES BORDER WIDTH [ width ] [ units ]
  • Specifies the width of the border outline in physical units. 0.0 is a valid border width, and means use thinnest possible line. Valid unit strings are dots, mm, cm, dm, m, in, and ft. If the units are omitted, the current print dialog units are assumed.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES BROKENASSOCSYMB [ ON | OFF ]
  • Enables or disables printing of elements that have lost their associativity when the weight and/or style have changed.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES CONSTRUCTIONS < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of construction elements, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES DATAFIELDS < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of enter data fields, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES DIMENSIONS < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of dimension elements, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES FASTCELLS < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of fast cells, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES FASTCURVES < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of fast curves, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES FENCEBOUNDARY < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of the bounding fence, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES FILL < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of fill elements, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES LEVELSYMBOLOGY < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of level symbology, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES LINESTYLES < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of line styles, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES LINEWEIGHTS < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of line weights, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES PATTERNS < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of patterns, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES PLOTBORDER < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of the plot border, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES POINTS < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of points, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES TAGS < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of tags, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES TEXT < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of text, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES TEXTNODES < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables printing of text nodes, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES TRANSPARENCY
  • Enables or disables printing of transparency, similar to the check box in the Print Attributes dialog.
Key-in: PRINT ATTRIBUTES VIEWBGCOLORRENDER < ON | OFF >
  • Enables or disables the view's background color when rendering the plot.
Key-in: PRINT AUTOCENTER < ON | OFF >
  • Turns auto-centering on or off.
Key-in: PRINT AUTOFENCEALIGN < NONE | XAXIS | YAXIS >
  • Sets the fence alignment for the print.
  • None — Does not align the fence with the x- or y-axis of the printer.
  • XAXIS— Aligns the fence with the x-axis of the printer.
  • YAXIS— Aligns the fence with the y-axis of the printer.
Key-in: PRINT BOUNDARY FENCE
  • Selects the fence, if present, as the active print entity.
Key-in: PRINT BOUNDARY FIT ALL [ view_number ]
  • Sets the Area field to Fit All. If a view number is included, it changes the View field to that number.
Key-in: PRINT BOUNDARY FIT MASTER [ view_number ]
  • Sets the Area field to Fit Master. If a view number is included, it changes the View field to that number.
Key-in: PRINT BOUNDARY SHEET
  • Sets Area field to Sheet.
Key-in: PRINT BOUNDARY VIEW [ view_number ]
  • Selects a view specified by number (1 - 8, inclusive) as the print entity.
Key-in: PRINT COLORMODE < MONOCHROME | GRAYSCALE | COLOR >
  • Sets Color field to Monochrome, Grayscale, or True Color.
Key-in: PRINT COPIES
  • Sets the number of copies to print.
Key-in: PRINT DESIGNSCRIPT ATTACH [ filename ]
  • Attaches the named resymbolization design script. If no filename is given, the Select Design Script File dialog opens.
Key-in: PRINT DESIGNSCRIPT DETACH
  • Detaches the design script file.
Key-in: PRINT DESTINATION [ DEVICE | PLOTFILE | METAFILE | IPSERVER ]
  • Sets the print destination.
Key-in: PRINT DRIVER < print_driver_filename >
  • Loads a printer driver.
Key-in: PRINT EXECUTE [ output_filename ]
  • Produces printed output using existing settings.
  • Specify output filename (optional if active printer is system printer).
  • Selecting a new printer (loading a new printer driver) clears most settings. It is best to select a printer, specify settings, and then use the PRINT EXECUTE key-in to produce the printed output.
Key-in: PRINT FULLSHEET [ ON | OFF ]
  • (Windows printer only) Sets Full Sheet setting on or off.
Key-in: PRINT MAXIMIZE
  • Selects maximize mode and sets the horizontal and vertical print size to values that maximize the print size, without rotating the page or changing the printed output’s aspect ratio.
Key-in: PRINT OPENPRINTSETUP [ print_definition_filename ]
  • If a print definition (*.pset, *.ini) file is specified, loads that file and makes it the print entity. If no print definition file is specified, opens the Select Print Definition File dialog, which lets you select a print definition file to use.
Key-in: PRINT ORIENTATION [ PORTRAIT | LANDSCAPE ]
  • Sets the page orientation to portrait (no rotation) or landscape (90° rotation).
Key-in: PRINT PAINTPREVIEW
  • Refreshes the print preview area and the Preview window.
Key-in: PRINT PAPERNAME [ name ]
  • Sets named form as the current form, such as letter, legal, or A4.
Key-in: PRINT PENCOLOR [ 0–255 ]
  • Sets pen to a specified RGB value in the range 0 to 255, where 0 is background color.
Key-in: PRINT PENTABLE ATTACH [ filename ]
  • Attaches the named resymbolization pen table. If no filename is given, the Select Pen Table File dialog opens.
Key-in: PRINT PENTABLE DETACH
  • Detaches the pen table file.
Key-in: PRINT PENTABLE EDIT
  • Opens the Modify Pen Table dialog with the current pen table loaded. If no pen table currently is loaded, opens the Select Pen Table File dialog.
Key-in: PRINT PENTABLE IMPORT [ filename ]
  • Opens the Import AutoCAD Plot Style Table File dialog.
Key-in: PRINT PENTABLE NEW
  • Opens the Create Pen Table file dialog.
Key-in: PRINT PLOTTO3D [ ON | OFF ]
  • (PDF Printer only) Sets the Print to 3D setting on or off. If set to on, the Rasterized control is hidden.
Key-in: PRINT PREVIEW
  • Opens the resizable Preview window.
  • If the Preview window is already displayed, this key-in refreshes the preview window (and the preview area of the Print dialog), but does not synchronize the preview image with the view.
Key-in: PRINT PRINTERNAME [ printer_name ]
  • If a printer name (or printer driver name) is specified, selects that printer as the active printer.
  • If the printer name is omitted, displays the Print dialog.
Key-in: PRINT QUALITY [ 0–100 ]
  • Sets print quality (where 100 is best).
Key-in: PRINT PROPPUB NONE
  • Do not include any of the EC properties when publishing a PDF document.
Key-in: PRINT PROPPUB ALL
  • Include all of the EC properties when publishing a PDF document.
Key-in: PRINT PROPPUB [ property publishing filter file ]
  • Include only the EC properties that are included in the property publishing filter file.
Key-in: PRINT RASOPT < BRIGHTNESS | CONTRAST | GRAYSCALE | MONOASIS | QUALITY >
  • Sets the raster options for the display of raster image files referenced to the model.
  • Brightness/Contrast — Sets the brightness or contrast for the display of raster image files. Setting a value greater than zero increases the brightness or contrast. Setting a value less than zero decreases the brightness or contrast. Values from -100 to 100 inclusive may be used.
  • Quality — Sets the percent of the printer's resolution capability that Raster Manager will take advantage of when printing raster images. A value of 50 means that an image will print on a 600 DPI printer as if it were only 300 DPI. Values from 1 to 100 inclusive may be used.
  • Grayscale — Enables or disables the grayscale printing of raster files.
  • Monoasis — Enables or disables the application of color rules to monochrome raster attachments. Color rules specify that when printing, the raster's foreground color is inverted if it is identical to the background color of the output media. If set to off, color rules are applied.
Key-in: PRINT RASTERIZED [ ON | OFF ]
  • Sets Rasterized check box to on or off.
Key-in: PRINT REFRASTER [ ON | OFF ]
  • Enables or disables the printing of all types of rasters, including Raster Manager attachments and imported DGN rasters. If set to off, the other raster options are ignored.
Key-in: PRINT ROTATION [ rotation in degrees ]
  • Sets all print rotations.
  • The existing PLOT PAPER ROTATE key-in can still be used to set 0, 90 cw, or 90 ccw rotations.
Key-in: PRINT SAVEASPRINTSETUP
  • Opens the Save Print Definition File dialog, which lets you save the current print definition (*.pset,*.ini) file.
Key-in: PRINT SAVEPRINTSETUP
  • Opens the Save Print Definition File dialog, which lets you save the current print definition (*.pset,*.ini) file.
Key-in: PRINT SCALE [ percent_scale% | working_unit_scale ]
  • Sets the print scale and recalculates the printed output’s horizontal and vertical sizes.
  • If the scale is specified as a percentage, the percentage is relative to the printed output’s normal (maximized) print size.
  • If the scale is specified as a working unit value, the scale maps that number of working units to one printer unit (the units specified in the printer driver configuration file's Resolution property).
Key-in: PRINT STYLE < print_style_name >
  • Applies the named print style to the print definition.
Key-in: PRINT SYNCTOVIEW
  • Updates the preview area.
Key-in: PRINT THUMBPREVIEW [ ON | OFF ]
  • Enables or disables the Show design in preview setting in the Print dialog.
Key-in: PRINT TRAYNAME [ tray_name ]
  • Selects the printer tray to use.
Key-in: PRINT UNITS < MM | CM | DM | METERS | IN | FT >
  • Sets the printer units.
Key-in: PRINT XFORM < value > [ units_string ]
  • Sets horizontal size of the currently selected paper size (form).
  • Units — Valid unit strings are mm, cm, dm, m, in, and ft. When string is omitted, assumes units are defined by the active printer driver configuration file's Driver Resolution property.
Key-in: PRINT XMIRROR [ ON | OFF ]
  • Sets print mirroring around the X axis on or off.
Key-in: PRINT XORIGIN < value > [ units_string ]
  • Specifies the horizontal print margin (print offset) and deselects auto-center and maximize modes.
  • Units — Valid unit strings are mm, cm, dm, m, in, and ft. When string is omitted, assumes units are defined by the active printer driver configuration file's Driver Resolution property.
Key-in: PRINT XSIZE < value > [ units_string ]
  • Sets the horizontal print size, recalculates the vertical size to maintain the printed output’s original aspect ratio, and deselects maximize mode.
  • Units — Valid unit strings are mm, cm, dm, m, in, and ft. When string is omitted, assumes units are defined by the active printer driver configuration file's Driver Resolution property.
Key-in: PRINT YFORM < value > [ units_string ]
  • Sets the vertical size of the currently selected paper size (form).
  • Units — Valid unit strings are mm, cm, dm, m, in, and ft. When string is omitted, assumes units are defined by the active printer driver configuration file's Driver Resolution property.
Key-in: PRINT YMIRROR [ ON | OFF ]
  • Sets print mirroring around the Y axis on or off.
Key-in: PRINT YORIGIN < value > [ units_string ]
  • Specifies the vertical print margin (print offset) and deselects auto-center and maximize modes.
  • Units — Valid unit strings are mm, cm, dm, m, in, and ft. When string is omitted, assumes units are defined by the active printer driver configuration file's Driver Resolution property.
Key-in: PRINT YSIZE < value > [ units_string ]
  • Sets the vertical print size, recalculates the horizontal size to maintain the printed output’s original aspect ratio, and deselects maximize mode.
  • Units — Valid unit strings are mm, cm, dm, m, in, and ft. When string is omitted, assumes units are defined by the active printer driver configuration file's Driver Resolution property.
Using a One-Step Key-in to Create the Print File
Using Key-ins to Select the Postscript Printer, Fence Contents, Set Scale and Create the Print File
Print Preview
Parent topic: Using the Print Dialog