1. 
   
   New file selection options, Manual, Import listing, All file in
   folder, All files in folder and sub-folders.
   
2. 
   
   Option to save plot files into a folder named for the
   printer/plotter.
   
3. 
   
   Option to save plot settings to drawing files after
   printing/plotting.
   
4. 
   
   Option to Import and Export plot settings.
   

In
the main PlotM8 dialog box, the user has these options available:

1. 
   
   Select more files to plot - Once the user has selected the first batch
   of drawings to plot, they can select more files from a different drive or
   directory. This saves time because they will not have to set up the
   plotter settings again
   
2. 
   
   Save Listing to File - Once the user has created the list of selected
   files, they can export the list out to a text file.
   
3. 
   
   [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] - The user sets up the plotting parameters
   by selecting the method to plot (Layout settings, Layout settings with a Plot
   Style or Manual Settings):
   a) Layout settings - Plots using the printer/plotter assigned to the
   layout(s).
   b) Layout settings with a Plot Style - Plots using the printer/plotter
   assigned to the layout(s) except uses a picked Plot Style..
   c) Manual Settings - The user picks the plotter, paper size, paper units, drawing orientation,
   to plot upside-down, number of copies, plot style, enter preplot commands
   (similar to the Change option), plot the model space tab, plot all model space
   views, plot current paper space tab or plot all the paper
   space tabs (layouts), area to plot, plot scale, plot to scale using dimscale, plot offset or centered,
   plot options of lineweights, plot paper space last, and hide objects, plot
   to a printer/plotter or to a file.
   d) If you want to have views or layouts that do not plot, rename them
   by adding a prefix of NP, when PlotM8 plots using the "Plot All MS Views" or "Plot All
   Layouts" method, it will skip over the views or layouts with the NP
   prefix.
   Once the user has set all their
   defaults, they will proceed to the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
   process.
   
4. 
   
   [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] -
   Allows user to set startup directories for: project/drawing
   files, a directory to save plot files and the option to enable a delay
   if AutoCAD starts losing its network license (this only affects users
   that run AutoCAD from a network server and AutoCAD is licensed from a
   network server). The user will also enter the authorization
   unlock code here. They can also view the license agreement and
   register the software.
   
5. 
   
   Run - Allows the user to run the files selected for changing, plotting and/or
   purging.
   
6. 
   
   Cancel - Allows the user to exit program.
   
7. 
   
   Help - Brings up the online help.
   
8. 
   
   [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] - Displays PlotM8
   information.
   

1. 
   
   Batch Plot Method - The user selects the method that they wish to plot
   by:
   a) Plot using Layout settings - use plot settings defined in the layout(s).
   If a layout is named with a prefix of NP it will be skipped while
   plotting.
   b) Plot using Layout settings w/ Plot Style- use plot settings defined in
   the layout(s) along with a picked plot style. If a layout is named with a
   prefix of NP it will be skipped while plotting.
   c) Manual Settings - User defines t he following plot settings:
   
   
   1. 
      
      Plot device - The user picks the plotter they wish to use from a
      popup list of available plotters.
      
   2. 
      
      Paper size - The user can pick from a list of paper sizes specific
      to that printer/plotter driver.
      
   3. 
      
      Paper units - The user can select Inches or Millimeters.
      
   4. 
      
      Drawing Orientation - The user can pick the orientations of Portrait
      or Landscape.
      
   5. 
      
      Plot upside-down - The user has the option of having the output printed
      upside-down on the paper.
      
   6. 
      
      How to Plot - The user has four options to pick from on the method
      used to plot:
      a) Plot Model Space - This option will
      plot all the selected drawings model space only.
      b) Plot All MS Views - This option will plot every saved model space view
      in each selected drawing. If a view is named with a prefix of NP it will
      be skipped while plotting.
      c) Plot Current Layout - This option will plot the
      current paper space layout but uses the selected plotter and the
      settings picked in this dialog box.
      The "Append layout name to plot to file name"
      toggle directly below "Plot Current Layout" radio button
      lets you control how the plot file is named when saving plot files to
      disk. When unchecked, it will leave off the layout name, when checked
      it will append the layout name to the end of the plot file name.
      d) Plot All Layouts - This option will plot
      all the paper space tabs (layouts) but uses the selected plotter and the
      settings picked in this dialog box. If a layout is named with a prefix of NP it
      will be skipped while plotting. (Note: These options
      do not use
      the plot settings saved in the layouts when using Manual settings).
      
      
   7. 
      
      Plot Area - The user has the options of plotting:
      
      a) Display
      
      b) Extents
      
      c) Limits
      
      d) View - When the user picks on View, they will be alerted
      that the view they want to plot needs to be in every drawing selected.
      The user can then enter a view name in the "View to plot" entry box.
      
      e) Window - The user enters the start and ending coordinates
      of a plot window for all drawings to be plotted.
      
   8. 
      
      Plot Scale:
      a) Pick a plot scale from the popup list
      or enter in a custom plot scale.
      b) Plot using DIMSCALE - Allows the user to plot drawings to scale using
      the DIMSCALE variable in each selected drawing.
      c) Scale lineweights with plot scale- Scales drawings
      lineweights with the current plot scale.
      
   9. 
      
      Plot Offset - The user has the options of:
      
      a) Center the plot - Automatically calculates the X and
      Y offset values to center the plot on the paper.
      
      b) X - Specifies the plot origin in the X direction.
      
      Y - Specifies the plot origin
      in the Y direction.
      
   10. 
       
       Plot options:
       
       a) Plot objects Lineweights - Uses the drawing's line weights.
       
       b) Plot paper space last - Plots model space geometry first.
       Paper space geometry is usually plotted before model space geometry.
       
       c) Hide objects - Plots layouts with hidden lines removed
       for objects in the layout environment (paper space).
       
   
   


2. 
   
   Copies - The user enters the number of copies desired.
   
3. 
   
   Plot Styles - The user can pick from a popup list of available plot
   styles. Note: This option is only available when
   using "Plot using Layout settings w/ Plot Style" and "Manual
   Settings".
   
   
4. 
   
   Preplot Commands - The user has the option of applying commands to
   a drawing prior to it being plotted. The function is similar to the
   [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] option from the main dialog.
   
5. 
   
   Where to send plotter output:
   
   a) Printer/Plotter - Plot output is sent directly to printer/plotter.
   
   
   b) Drawing folder - Plot output is written to a plot file in the same
   location as the drawing file.
   
   c) Plot file folder - Plot output is written to a plot file in the folder designated
   in the Config dialog box.
   
   d) User picked folder - Plot output is written to a plot file in the folder
   that the user picks when selecting this radio button.
   
6. 
   
   Save Plot Settings to Drawings - When this toggle is
   checked drawings will be saved after plotting.
   
7. 
   
   Import Plot Settings - Imports and sets the plot settings
   in this dialog box.
   
8. 
   
   Export Plot Settings - Exports the current plot settings
   for re-use. Import and Export will help standardize network usage of PlotM8.
   
9. OK - When the user picks OK, they will then be prompted to Select
   Files.
   

The Preplot Commands dialog box allows the user to enter AutoCAD commands that
they would like to have applied to drawings. Once entered, these
commands appear in a displayed list. Once displayed, the user has
a choice of 5 options:

1. 
   
   Clear - Pick the Clear button to erase all entered commands
   appearing in the command list.
   
2. 
   
   Delete - Select a command then pick the Delete button to remove
   the command from the command list.
   
3. 
   
   Modify - Select a command then pick the Modify button to either
   change or correct an entry in the command list.
   
4. 
   
   Import - Pick the Import button to select a script file to read
   into the command list.
   
5. 
   
   Export - Pick the Export option to write out the command list out
   to a user named script file.
   
6. 
   
   OK - When the user picks OK, they will then be prompted to Select
   Files.
   
   
   Note: Once each drawing file has had the changes applied to
   it, it will NOT be saved.
   

1. 
   
   Drawing file type - Sets the type of drawing file you
   want to select:
   a) Drawing Files (*.dwg).
   b) Drawing Standards Files (*.dws).
   c) Drawing Template Files (*.dwt).
   d) Drawing Exchange Files (*.dxf).
   
2. 
   
   File Selection Method - Sets the
   mode for file selection.
   a) Manual
   File Selection.
   b) Import
   File Listing.
   c) [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].
   d) [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].
   
3. 
   
   Select Files - Select files via the current file selection method.
   
4. 
   
   Sort Files - Once files are selected, this option will
   sort the list, numerically first then alphabetically.
   
5. 
   
   Reverse - Reveres the order of files in the selected files
   list.
   
6. 
   
   Clear Files - Clears the selected files list.
   
7. 
   
   Move Up - Select a file in the list and move it up one
   place in the listing.
   
8. 
   
   Move Down - Select a file in the list and move it down one
   place in the listing.
   
9. 
   
   Remove Item - Select a file in the list and remove it from
   the listing.
   

1. 
   
   The Manual File Selection dialog box lets the user
   select multiple files within a folder. It will open at a preset path
   that is user configurable. You can also step through drives,
   directories and even network shares. (Note: Only current
   display of files can be selected.)
   
2. 
   
   When finished selecting files, pick the Open button, this will take the
   you back to the main [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] dialog box where you can sort, reverse,
   rearrange the processing order of the selected files.
   
3. 
   
   Full UNC paths are supported for either folder
   selection or file selection (eg: \servershare or
   \serversharefilename).
   

1. 
   
   The Import File Listing dialog box allows the user
   to import a text file that has the full path and file names of
   drawings that they want to process. This feature is great for
   processing projects that get processed repeatedly.
   
2. 
   
   Pick Open to import the file locations listed in the
   text file. These files will listed in the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] dialog box
   where they can be sorted, reversed, rearranged for the processing
   order.
   

1. 
   
   The All Files in Folder dialog box lets the user
   select a folder and all drawing files inside that folder.
   
2. 
   
   Picking OK will list these files in the File
   Selection dialog box where you can sort, reverse, rearrange the
   processing order of the selected files.
   

1. 
   
   The All Files in Folder all All Sub-Folders dialog
   box lets the user select a folder and all drawing files inside that
   folder and all drawing files in all sub-folders.
   
2. 
   
   Picking OK will list these files in the File
   Selection dialog box where you can sort, reverse, rearrange the
   processing order of the selected files.
   

Selecting the Info button will bring up a dialog box showing M8Tools.com:
Address, Phone number and Email address along with four options:

1. Web site link - Take the user to M8Tools.com's PlotM8 page.
   
2. License Agreement - Will bring up a window that displays the Licensing
   Agreement.
   
3. Registration - Will bring up the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
   dialog box.
   
4. OK - When the user picks OK, they will go back to the Main PlotM8
   dialog box.
   

Selecting the Config button will bring up a dialog box that the user
can use to setup operating features of PlotM8.

1. 
   
   The Authorization/Registration code entry box - After the user registers
   the software, M8Tools.com will supply the user with an unlock code.
   If an unlock code is not entered, the software will stop working approximately
   30 days after installation.
   
2. 
   
   License Agreement - Will bring up a window that displays the Licensing
   Agreement.
   
3. 
   
   Registration - Will bring up the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
   dialog box.
   
4. 
   
   Delay in seconds - If AutoCAD loses its license from a network server.
   This option will allow you to inserts a delay in the processing of
   drawings. The delay can be between zero (which disables the delay)
   to 59 seconds. This option might sometimes be needed on networks
   that experience heavy traffic (usage).
   
5. 
   
   Where to find project/drawing files - If the user has a default directory
   that all their project/drawing files or directories are kept, then this
   would be the ideal location to have PlotM8 start.
   
6. 
   
   Where to save print/plot files written to disk - Where the user can
   store plot files written to disk.
   
7. 
   
   OK - When the user picks OK, they will go back to the Main [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
   dialog box.
   

1. 
   
   Pick the Type of registration they need, the choices are:
   1a) Send the above Registration Info along with User Info and payment in U.S. Funds via regular postal mail.
   1b) I have paid the registration fee and I just need to send the above Registration Info and User Info via email.
   1c) Send the above Registration Info via a live Internet connection and pay with a credit card.
   1d) I just need to add the above Registration Info to the
   PlotM8-Registration.txt file to be mailed later.
   
2. 
   
   If the user picks the first or second option then they need to fill out
   User Info fields.
   If the user wishes to register online, then they can pick the third
   option.
   If a registration form has already been filled out, the user can append
   PlotM8's Serial
   and ID Numbers from other computers to the end of
   the registration file "PLOTM8-REGISTRATION.TXT".
   
3. 
   
   Pick the number of seats you wish to register by picking the popup
   "Number of Seats", the total amount due will be displayed below the "Numbers
   of Seats" popup.
   
4. 
   
   To register, pick the "Register" button.
   If your are using the Internet to register, you will be directed to the
   PayPal web site for payment, then you will be directed to our online web
   registration page to complete the registration process.
   If you filled out the User Info form you will be asked to either accept the default
   file name or save the
   file "PLOTM8-REGISTRATION.TXT" to a desired location. Once this file
   is saved, it can be printed, emailed, mailed or have other Serial and ID numbers
   appended to it.
   
5. 
   
   When the user picks OPEN button from the save file dialog box,
   the registration file will be saved and the user is taken back to the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
   or [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] dialog box.
   
6. 
   
   Once the registration info has been filled in and the number of seats
   to register selected, and all the Serial and ID numbers appended
   to it, it can be sent either postal mail or email.
   For email send the "PLOTM8-REGISTRATION.TXT" text file to
   [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] .
   For postal mail send a printed copy along with payment (in U.S. funds, drawn on a U.S.
   Bank) to:
   
   M8Tools.com
   
   240 Boone Avenue
   
   Winchester, KY 40391
   
7. 
   
   Upon receipt of registration information and payment, M8Tools.com will generate the required unlock codes
   and forward them to you either via email or mail.
   

The License Agreement reads as follows:
U.S. and international copyright laws
protect PlotM8.
Its use is subject to the terms of the license agreement listed below.
© 2007 M8Tools.com
All rights reserved.

1. 
   
   Usage
   By using, copying, transmitting, distributing or installing this software (PlotM8), you
   (the user) agree to all of the terms of this License. If you do not agree to any of the
   terms of this License, then do not use, copy, transmit, distribute, or install
   PlotM8.
   
2. 
   
   Disclaimer
   M8Tools.com provides this program (PlotM8) on an "AS IS" basis with
   all faults.M8Tools.com specifically disclaims any expressed or implied
   warranty of
   merchantability or fitness for a particular use of this program.
   M8Tools.com does not
   warrant that the operation of this program will be uninterrupted or
   error free.
   
3. 
   
   Copies
   PlotM8 is copyrighted and may only be copied in machine-readable form onto a backup or
   working disk. Use of the original diskette and said copies is strictly limited to a single
   computer system on which one or more users run PlotM8.Copies of PlotM8
   may be
   shared with others as defined in the "Shareware - Software Sharing Method"
   described below, as long as all the source code and support files remain unmodified.
   
4. 
   
   Alteration
   No part of the program, documentation or support files may be reproduced in any manner
   without the express written consent of either the software author or an authorized
   representative of M8Tools.com.
   
5. 
   
   Free Upgrade to the latest version
   M8Tools.com will provide one free upgrade of PlotM8, for all new registered users, when
   and if one becomes available.
   
6. 
   
   Authorization Code
   This Software requires an Authorization/Registration code. You must register this software
   product with M8Tools.com before an authorization code can be issued to you. Each installed
   copy is branded with a serial number that is unique only to the computer it is installed
   on. The serial number needs to be included with the registration of the software, so the
   author or a representative of M8Tools.com can supply an authorization code. The purpose of
   the authorization code is to protect the authors copyright and enforce the license
   agreement. If an authorization code is not obtained the software will stop working
   approximately 30 days after installation.
   
   Site Licenses don't require the use of
   Authorization codes.
   
   (See Site
   Licensing)
   
   
7. 
   
   Transfer
   Should the need ever arise to transfer PlotM8 to another computer,
   a new authorization code will be needed. There will be one free
   transfer per year per seat license after an initial period of 90 days
   from the registration date. Should more than one transfer per year be
   required (per seat) a fee of U.S.$5.00 will be required for the
   generation of new authorization codes. By transferring licenses, the old
   serial number will become retired and thus inactive. If a user wishes
   to reinstall
   PlotM8 on that computer they will need acquire a new license or
   retire another licensed copy of
   PlotM8. If registered users wish to acquire new licenses, they can
   be purchased for the price entry point they last purchased the
   software.
   
   
   Please contact
   [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
   for transfer information.
   
   Site Licenses have unlimited transfers.
   
   (See Site
   Licensing)
   
   
8. 
   
   Registration
   You are free to distribute the shareware version to others to try as long as all the
   source code and support files remain unmodified. This excludes the registration file
   (PLOTM8-REGISTRATION.TXT), which you are free to edit, so you may mail along with your
   registration fee, if you choose.
   
   
   You are free to try PlotM8 for a period of ten (10) days.
   
   
   If you like PlotM8 and find it useful,
   
   
   THEN YOU SHOULD REGISTER IT.
   
   
   By doing so you will allow the author to spend the time upgrading and making enhancements
   to this and other utilities in the future.
   
   
   If you don't find it useful then remove PlotM8 and all related support files from your
   system.
   
   
   Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
   
   
   BY REGISTERING YOU WON'T FEEL GUILTY AND YOU'LL BE SUPPORTING ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
   
9. 
   
   Shareware
   Shareware is a method of software distribution. M8Tools.com hopes you find shareware to be
   an effective method of obtaining computer programs. The term Shareware describes a
   marketing method in which copyrighted programs circulate freely among users for the
   purpose of evaluation. This gives you the option to "Try Before You Buy". The
   author of a shareware program typically allows you to use the program for a number of
   specified days before payment is required. The exact terms of evaluation vary from author
   to author. So be sure to always check the documentation of the programs you evaluate. By
   making payment to the author, you obtain the legal right to use the software, and
   encourage the continued development of quality software within the shareware channel. The
   process of paying for Shareware is termed "Registration". The exact benefits of
   registration vary from author to author, but many authors will offer one or more of the
   following: a current version, technical support, a printed manual, free or discounted
   upgrades, bonus utilities, and/or special offers. So always consult the registration
   information included with each shareware program.
   
10. 
    
    OK - When the user picks OK, they will go back to the Main [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
    dialog box.