The AutoCAD Sheet Set Manager is a beautiful thing.  When everything goes right, it works like a dream and increases productivity exponentially.  I think that the complexity that exists within the AutoCAD SSM is either unknown or taken for granted, because as simple a concept that the SSM can be, it is also a beast that must be tamed and respected.
One of the first and most common issues people have had with the Sheet Set Manager and, specifically, publishing, is the system variable PUBLISHCOLLATE.  The PUBLISHCOLLATE system variable was discussed earlier …

I think there is a need for this quick post about publishing before taking a few days away for the holiday weekend.  Before that, though, let me say U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!  I’m just in the Independence Day spirit I guess.
PUBLISHCOLLATE is an important system variable to consider when plotting.  It can affect not only your PLT files and PDF files,  but the order and interleafing of plots coming off the machine.
With PUBLISHCOLLATE set to “0″, a sheet set is processed one layout at a time with separate PLT files being …