advantages and disadvantages of .ctb print file

[gil]

many professionals with whom I compare them set layer thicknesses on .ctb files.
the result is that when it exchanges files, with passages also of people not rashes, the ctb file never comes, or if it comes is the wrong one.
I personally prefer to set thicknesses from layers.

from ctb you can set the print so that the printed color is different from that to monitor. but perhaps the main advantage is in centralization of useful configurations in large studies where there are herds of designers engaged in similar works. but for so many people I do not see the utility. Am I wrong?

Why use .ctb? How are you doing?

 

[thelittlesniper]

I in the studies in which I worked I always used the ctb although they were offices of few people.
you could also set up a dwt model with a layer list that is ready for anything you need: thicknesses and types line, color etc; and each project start from that file. is not a rule the use of a system rather than another but a convenience of use if you draw everything from scratch.
if you need to work on export drawings made by other programs and to save time you do not want to change the layer settings, then in the latter case the ctb (or stb) is, I dare say, mandatory.

 

[ragnol]

I give you my experience.

I receive from one to many dxf/dwg files for each job, even from different technicians, obviously each with their own color preferences etc.

Well, "close the tide" if there's one who sends the ctb/stb file along with the cad file. every time I have to request it or try to reconstruct colors and thicknesses to set to not have unreadable prints.

 

[thelittlesniper]

I give you my experience.

I receive from one to many dxf/dwg files for each job, even from different technicians, obviously each with their own color preferences etc.

Well, "close the tide" if there's one who sends the ctb/stb file along with the cad file. every time I have to request it or try to reconstruct colors and thicknesses to set to not have unreadable prints.

that is the disadvantage for when files enter or exit between different studies.

 

[gil]

Well, "close the tide" if there's one who sends the ctb/stb file along with the cad file

And if they send it, it's the wrong one.

you could also set up a dwt model with a layer list that is ready for anything you need: thicknesses and types line, color etc; and each project start from that file.

I prefer this solution.

if you need to work on export drawings made by other programs

What's the advantage? I do not have other programs so I lack direct experience, but if I take out from other programs I would do so. for example if I design a blender, in the starting program imposed the layers with names that will be the same for each blender that design.

then from autocad I open a suitable model for drawings of blenders, in which there are layers with the same names of the main cad already configured. I cover the original design in here and I'm fine.

Couldn't that work?

want even ask, but ctb files, are guals for all autocad versions? if one uses autocad 2021, can take his ctb and stick it in autocad 2000 and it works? or you have to convert, how does it happen with dwg files? How do you convert a ctb?

 

[thelittlesniper]

What's the advantage? I do not have other programs so I lack direct experience, but if I take out from other programs I would do so. for example if I design a blender, in the starting program imposed the layers with names that will be the same for each blender that design.

then from autocad I open a suitable model for drawings of blenders, in which there are layers with the same names of the main cad already configured. I cover the original design in here and I'm fine.

Couldn't that work?

want even ask, but ctb files, are guals for all autocad versions? if one uses autocad 2021, can take his ctb and stick it in autocad 2000 and it works? or you have to convert, how does it happen with dwg files? How do you convert a ctb?

we start from simple: ctb format is valid for all versions of autocad.

As for export from other programs, I was speaking in general. Obviously, if you have a program where you can preset the layer format for the final autocad, the ctb may not make sense, provided that the layer utility is minimally taxable and standardizable. . not that every time I have to set 200 different layers to make export.
other programs maybe throw you out of base a combination of lines or elements with layers not set from the principle and then the ctb or stb comes back useful to attribute particular options for printing.

here some clarifications about what are ctb and stb in an old discussion: link cad3d.it

 

[x11start]

our friend. dieva solved by incorporating the ctb into the dwg

https://www.domenicoieva.com/ctbin.htm

 

[GP.]

...when it exchanges files, with passages also of people not rashes, the ctb file never comes, or if it comes is the wrong one.

demand the sending of a zip etransmit.

 

[GP.]

our friend. dieva solved by incorporating the ctb into the dwg

https://www.domenicoieva.com/ctbin.htm

That is a good solution, but at the internal level of the office.
It would also be desirable for the exchange of dwg, but if they are wrong to send you the ctb, do you think they can perform the procedure to incorporate it?

 

[gil]

Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowing.

 

[x11start]

That is a good solution, but at the internal level of the office.
It would also be desirable for the exchange of dwg, but if they are wrong to send you the ctb, do you think they can perform the procedure to incorporate it?

in the distant 2002 (!) I made a lisp called "colori.lsp": the intention was to take a design in which certain colors were adopted for the various entities... and transform it so you can print it with the ctb we used.
the lisp read the text file color.txt (in attachment I put coloriok.txt, but it is only to keep the original version: you can copy and rename).
in color.txt, with notes block, I went to replace the n. of the colors I wanted to vary and then I threw the lisp.
as explained in detail in colors_readmi.txt, they were also inserted - eploded - modified and recreated the blocks contained in the dwg.

try it... (but I don't take responsibility: I haven't used it for a long time!)