PrintablePlates Collection [Publisher 2003 VBA Language Reference]

AdvancedPrintOptions PrintablePlates PrintablePlate

A collection of the PrintablePlate objects in a publication.

Using the PrintablePlates collection

Use the PrintablePlates property of the AdvancedPrintOptions object to return the PrintablePlates collection. The following example returns a list of the printable plates currently in the collection for the active document. The example assumes that separations have been specified as the active publication's print mode.

Sub ListPrintablePlates()
    Dim pplTemp As PrintablePlates
    Dim pplLoop As PrintablePlate
    

    Set pplTemp = ActiveDocument.AdvancedPrintOptions.PrintablePlates
    Debug.Print "There are " & pplTemp.Count & " printable plates in this publication."
    
    For Each pplLoop In pplTemp
        With pplLoop
            Debug.Print "Printable Plate Name: " & .Name
            Debug.Print "Index: " & .Index
            Debug.Print "Ink Name: " & .InkName
            Debug.Print "Plate Angle: " & .Angle
            Debug.Print "Plate Frequency: " & .Frequency
            Debug.Print "Print Plate?: " & .PrintPlate
        End With
    Next pplLoop
End Sub

Use the FindPlateByInkName method to return a specific plate by referencing its ink name. Process colors are assigned different index numbers in the Plates collection than in the PrintablePlates collection. Use the FindPlateByInkName method to insure the desired Plate or PrintablePlate object is accessed.

The following example returns a spot color plate and sets several of its properties. The example assumes that separations have been specified as the active publication's print mode.

Sub SetPlatePropertiesByInkName()

Dim pplPlate As PrintablePlate
ActiveDocument.AdvancedPrintOptions.UseCustomHalftone = True

    Set pplPlate = ActiveDocument.AdvancedPrintOptions.PrintablePlates.FindPlateByInkName(pbInkNameSpot3)
    
    With pplPlate
        .Angle = 75
        .Frequency = 133
        .PrintPlate = True
    End With

End Sub

Remarks

The PrintablePlates collection is generated when a publication's print mode is set to separations. Returns "Permission Denied" when any other print mode is specified.

The PrintablePlates collection represents the plates that will actually be printed for the publication, based on:

• The plates (if any) you have defined for the publication
• The advanced print options specified

You cannot programmatically create a printable plates collection, or add a printable plate to the collection.

Use the following properties of the AdvancedPrintOptions object to specify which plates are included in the PrintablePlates collection:

• Use the PrintMode property to set the publication to print as separations.
• Use the InksToPrint property to select which types of plates to print.
• Use the PrintPlate property to select individual plates to print.
• Use the PrintBlankPlates to determine whether to print plates for any pages where an ink is not used.

This collection corresponds to the plates listed on the Separations tab of the Advanced Print Settings dialog box.

Properties | Application Property | Count Property | Item Property | Parent Property

Methods | FindPlateByInkName Method

Parent Objects | AdvancedPrintOptions

Child Objects | PrintablePlate Object