Track your plots: Plot logging tools

1 Feb, 2000 By: Michael Lennox

Do you know how often you plot? Do you know how much paper you use? Would you like to track that information, create reports, and bills for your materials? Each of the following five packages lets you do just that. Most are designed to work directly with AutoCAD and behave similarly when you issue the Plot command. Their differences lie in how they collect and store the log data and how usefully they present it.

Each time you plot, all of the packages capture information such as paper size, paper type, job information, and the date and time. Some of the utilities produce reports or communicate this data directly to other applications. Others produce ASCII text files in a comma-delimited format that you can import into a spreadsheet or database.

These programs require a little more effort on your part if you want to produce reports and invoices. All of the utilities reviewed work with at least one version of AutoCAD. AutoCAD LT, MicroStation, and other applications are also supported by some of the reviewed packages. Some utilities also have companion applications for tracking time or stamping plots as they are created.

I installed and tested all the packages with AutoCAD 2000, or AutoCAD Release 14 for those without AutoCAD 2000 support. For those that support LT, I used AutoCAD LT 98. For packages that create Excel or Access files, I used Office 97 to import, view, and manipulate the data.

Reviewer's Report Card

	Functionality	Customization/ reporting	Price*	Install/setup	Star rating
Importance factor	x3	x2	x1	x1
CDV Systems, Plot Tracker	B	B	B	B-	4 stars
Infinity Squared Services, Plot Suite	A	A-	A-	A	5 stars
Microsol Resources, PlotLog	A	B+	A-	A	5 stars
Technesis, Smart Plot	A+	A+	B-	A+	5 stars
XAct, XPlot Logger	A-	B+	A+	A	5 stars
*See chart below for pricing details; grade based on 5-user pricing.

Plot tracking price details

	Three users	Five users	Ten users	Fifty users
CDV Systems, Plot Tracker	$297	$495	$990	$2,500*
Infinity Squared Services, Plot Suite	$237	$375.25	$711	$3,160
Microsol Resources, PlotLog	$395	$395	$495	$1,135
Technesis, Smart Plot	$1,050	$1,050	$1,370	$3,450
XAct, XPlot Logger	$74.99	$225	$600	$1,275
* Plot Tracker has a price cap of $2,500.

About the Author: Michael Lennox

AutoCAD Tips!

Lynn Allen

Autodesk Technical Evangelist Lynn Allen guides you through a different AutoCAD feature in every edition of her popular "Circles and Lines" tutorial series. For even more AutoCAD how-to, check out Lynn's quick tips in the Cadalyst Video Gallery. Subscribe to Cadalyst's Tips & Tricks Tuesdays free e-newsletter and we'll notify you every time a new video tip is available. All exclusively from Cadalyst!
Follow Lynn on Twitter

Latest News from Cadalyst Partners

Feed
The Infinite Resource: the case for GMO instead of organic farming 22 May, 2013

I have no desire to eat pesticides. I really don't. Actually when I was a child growing up in New Orleans, a "fog truck" used to come down our...More>>Read more It's Alive in the Lab blog posts>>

Feed
TERA Semicon Drives Its Own Destiny with CAD and PDM 22 May, 2013

When you read the history of TERA Semicon, you can see right away that the company has had a strong vision and direction from Day 1. The South Korean...More>>Read more PTC Creo blog posts>>

Feed
Excel Hyperlinks & Document Management Tricks 22 May, 2013

Do you have to keep track of a lot of different folders and files? Do you wish you peers could open the correct Revit file? Are you tired of having...More>>Read more BIMbuilder blog posts>>

Feed
SolidWorks Simulation Tips: Parameters and Design Studies 22 May, 2013

In my opinion, one of the most underutilized tools in SolidWorks Simulation is the Design Study. Design studies allow you to easily set up a...More>>Read more SolidWorks Blog posts>>

Feed
Is This the All-in-One Bike Helmet of the Future? 22 May, 2013

For those used to cycling on busy city streets (NYC comes to mind), the need for swift reaction times could be compared to that of catching a fly...More>>Read more SolidSmack blog posts>>

Poll

What type of input device (besides the keyboard) do you use at your primary CAD workstation?

	Standard mouse
	Trackball mouse
	Programmable mouse
	3D navigation device
	Pen/tablet
	Multiple devices

Considering Wide Format Printing Solutions?
Four FREE White Papers Available: