Applies to ZWCAD 2008i, ZWCAD 2009i, ZWCAD 2010, ZWCAD 2011, ZWCAD 2012, ZWCAD+ 2012, ZWCAD+ 2014, ZWCAD+ 2015, ZWCAD Classic.


Plot styles are used to change the appearance of the printed drawing without modifying the actual objects in the drawing. Assigning plot styles allows users to customize the Color, GrayScale, Screening, and Lineweight that are used to print the drawing.


A plot style table is a collection of plot styles. A drawing can use one type of plot style table at a time, and there are two types of plot style tables:

1) Color-dependent plot style table (CTB) contain a collection of plot styles based on each of the 255 index colors available in a drawing.

2) Named plot style tables (STB) contain a collection of plot styles that you define. They can vary regardless of color.


To assign plot style tables:

1) If necessary, click the desired Layout tab, or click the Model tab;

2) Choose File > Plot from the main menu;

3) Under Plot Style Table, select a plot style table in one of the following:

   ● None —— Applies no plot style table. Objects plot according to their own properties.

   ● Monochrome —— Plots all colors as black.

   ● New —— Creates a new plot style table.

4) Select Save Changes to Layout, and then click Apply to Layout.


Changing a drawing 's plot style table type

When your drawing was created, it is set up to use CTB or STB. A drawing can use one type of plot style at a time. If necessary, after a drawing is created you can convert the drawing to use the other type of plot style table. If you can't remember what type of plot style table is assigned to your drawing, use the PSTYLEMODE system variable to determine the plot style table type.

●To change a drawing to use STB:

   1) Open the  drawing that uses CTB;

   2) Type CONVERTPSTYLES, and then press Enter;

   3) If you have already converted your individual CTB to STB, click OK in the prompt that displays;

   4) In the Select File dialog box, select a STB that your want to use with the drawing;

   5) Click Open and a message is displayed to confirm that the drawing is converted.

●To change a drawing to use CTB:

   1) Open the drawing that uses STB;

   2) Type CONVERTPSTYLES, and then press Enter;

   3) If you are sure you want to convert the drawing and lose all plot style assignments, click OK in the prompt that displays.


NOTE: Converting a drawing to use CTB will remove all of the STB information from objects and layers. However, the STB are not deleted from your computer.


Converting plot style tables

You can convert a CTB to STB, but not the opposite because CTB contain only plot styles that are named after the 255 colors to which they map.

To convert a CTB to STB

1) Type CONVERTCTB, and then press Enter;

2) In the Select File dialog box, select the CTB that you want to convert;

3) Click Open;

4) Enter a name for the new STB;

5) Click Save.