Send PLT files to the plotter using PlotFlow. Some day, we will be able to run it on the server. Currently, everyone has to run it locally.
(Update, 2006-10-07) This process is mostly obsolete, but I haven't categorized it that way quite yet.
It applies to sending out PLTs (no longer used) using Reprodesk (don't need it anymore) on Virtual PC (good riddance).
The current method of service bureau printing is to email PDFs. But we still have PLT files as archives. While those could probably be emailed too, Reprodesk would probably be the better way if we could remember how.
If you use Entourage, ignore this post.
To attach a file to an email, you can drag it to the mail icon. Mail will start a new message with the file attached. Nice. (Entourage does the same thing.)
When sending files to Wintellians, don't do this. Start the new message, then click 'Attach'. Select the file, and check 'Send Windows-Friendly attachments'. I don't know what it does, but it sounds good.
If you do the drag and drop thing, you won't get this option.
(I assume Entourage, as a Microsoft product, is Windows-friendly by nature.)
PS: Don't send 'Windows-Friendly attachments' to Mac people.
Mac OS X 10.3, Panther, has built-in ZIP compression functionality in the Finder. Use it instead of stuffit. The ZIP format is more standard, and cuts down on problems with the Wintellians.
To create a ZIP file from anything, select the items in the finder, right-click, and choose 'Create Archive of [something]'. A file is created with the extension .zip. If you archived one item, the zip will have the same name. If you archived more than one, the file will be called 'Archive.zip'. Seriously consider changing this name to something more descriptive.
The original files remain.
An overview of Publisher in AC9, and publishing DWGs. Publisher in AC10 and 11 is here.
Place layout lines where you plan to split the wall.
One or two check plots may be sent directly to the plotter. Any more than that takes forever, during which time you can't do anything else in PM. Usually, create PLT files. Always create PLTs when giving drawings to anyone else.