BricsCAD Page Setup: Create Reusable Plot Settings
A BricsCAD Page Setup saves the settings that make a sheet repeatable: output device, paper, plot area, scale, plot style, orientation, offset and other plot options.
Beginner takeaway: Build one correct Page Setup once, then apply it to Layouts instead of rebuilding the Print dialog for every sheet.
What you need to understand first
Page Setup is the bridge between a correct one-off print and a dependable office standard. It is especially useful when many Layouts share the same output rules.
- PAGESETUP creates and edits reusable plotting definitions.
- Print settings are saved with individual Model/Layout tabs.
- A Page Setup can be selected in the Print dialog and then overridden only when necessary.
Related guides: BricsCAD Print Dialog for Beginners: What Every Setting Does, AutoCAD Page Setup Manager Explained, and BricsCAD Custom Paper Sizes, Margins and Printable Area.
Step-by-step workflow
Step 1 — Open Page Setup
Where: Type PAGESETUP or open the Page Setup manager
Do this: Create a new setup or edit a clearly named existing one.
Check: You know which Layout/standard the setup serves.
Step 2 — Select the output path
Where: Printer / Plotter configuration
Do this: Choose the approved system printer/PC3 or Print As PDF configuration for the platform.
Check: The target device is available without warning.
Step 3 — Define paper and orientation
Where: Paper size and Drawing orientation
Do this: Choose the exact sheet size and portrait/landscape orientation.
Check: The sheet preview matches the title block.
Step 4 — Define area, scale and style
Where: Plot area, Plot scale, Plot style table
Do this: For Layout output, use the Layout and 1:1 workflow; choose the required CTB/STB if applicable.
Check: Scale and lineweight policy match the office standard.
Step 5 — Save and test
Where: Save Page Setup > apply to test Layout > Preview
Do this: Use the setup on one representative sheet and create a PDF or test hardcopy.
Check: A second use of the Page Setup produces the same result without manual repair.
What usually goes wrong
| What you see | Likely layer | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Setup exists but another Layout prints differently | Layout has another setup/override | Apply the named setup deliberately. |
| Paper disappears after device change | Different device media list | Re-select paper for the target device. |
| Plot style is unavailable | CTB/STB path or mode | Check Plot Styles Manager and drawing type. |
| Setup works on one PC only | Driver/PC3 environment | Compare platform and installed printer configuration. |
Practical example
An office issues A1 sheets to PDF and occasionally to a 36-inch plotter. Instead of users changing ten options each time, create `A1-PDF` and `A1-PLOTTER` Page Setups. The Layout remains the same; only the named output standard changes.
What not to do
- Do not use one generic Page Setup for incompatible paper/device combinations.
- Do not overwrite a proven office setup while experimenting with a new driver.
- Do not confuse viewport scale with Page Setup plot scale.
Good office standard
Name Page Setups by purpose, for example `A1-PDF`, `ARCH-D-HP`, or `A3-ISSUE`. Keep the number of approved setups small and test them after printer-driver changes.
Quick verification before you move on
- Use one representative drawing or sheet, not a production batch.
- Verify page size, orientation and a known dimension.
- Compare Preview/PDF with the physical output when a printer is involved.
- Save the setting or set only after the result is repeatable.
Official references
Frequently asked questions
Does every Layout need its own unique Page Setup?
No. Multiple Layouts can use the same named setup when their output requirements match.
Can I override a Page Setup in the Print dialog?
Yes, but repeated overrides are a sign that you probably need a better named setup.
Is Page Setup available on macOS and Linux?
Yes. Bricsys specifically notes a relevant PAGESETUP command on those platforms even though physical system-printer output is PDF-first.
Explore more in BricsCAD Printing & Plotting Guide.