What Pen Tables Do

Links

• MicroStation Help: Contents>Printing Guide>Print Resymbolization and Pen Tables
• Our library

They Resymbolize

How: Pen Tables are a list of criteria.  Every object in a .dgn file is processed against the criteria and something generally happens.

Why that's bad

With no Pen Table, what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG), subject to the limitations of the printer or plotter.  With a pen table selected generally what you get is in some way different than what you see in the CAD file (the Preview tends to be more accurate, though).

Why that's good

Provides an easy way to get predictable plots (takes the user's flakiness out of the equation).

Let's assume you have a very specific standard for deliverable plots.  You would not want to hold the user responsible for making the cadd file look right in all the little details.  If the graphics are on the right levels, in theory, simply selecting the right Pen Table will ensure that everything plots properly (color, dropout, weight, etc.).

What kinds of pen tables do we need?

Minimal (WYSIWYG)

If we want the Plot to look like the CADD view, we can select "Detach" from the Pen Table menu on the Plot dialog box.  Alternatively we can create a pen table that does nothing other than substitute the CADD file name or date for a special string ("$$$$$$FILE$$$$$$$" or  "#####DATE######").

No Yellow

Tired of yellow graphics plotting out yellow.  A pen table can look for yellow and make it chartreuse.

Scale-Related

Half-scale Pen Tables generally map the thickness of elements of a given lineweight to half of that defined in a Full Size plot.

Client-Specific

If we have specific ways of plotting, there should be a pen table for it.  The CalTrans dropout is a good example.

QC or Custom

Got any particular types of plots that make QC easier, but never go to clients?  These typically emphasize a particular theme and/or drop out or completely eliminate less relevant information (without messing with the files themselves).  If it's frequently repeated, maybe it should be a Pen Table.

I/Plot Pen Tables vs MicroStation pen tables

CalTrans v8 Pen tables are I/Plot pen tables, not MicroStation Print/Plot (M/Plot) pen tables.  They use different syntax and commands.

Stuff We need to Work On (To Do list)

CalTrans deliverables

• v7
• v7+, with v7's referenced
• KHA Enhanced Productivity Superset (CalTrans deliverable w/ no required graphic translation).

Exhibits

WYSIWYG