This patch adds an output directory field into the plot dialog in

pcbnew and directs gerber/hpgl etc. output into that directory.
There's a browse button that opens a dialog for browsing. If the
directory does not exist, it is created. Tested in linux, not in
windows. Wxwidgets methods are used for file (name) manipulations, so
things are probably ok in windows, too.

marco

pcbnew/dialog_plot_base.h

-///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-// C++ code generated with wxFormBuilder (version Apr 16 2008)
-// http://www.wxformbuilder.org/
-//
-// PLEASE DO "NOT" EDIT THIS FILE!
-///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-
-#ifndef __dialog_plot_base__
-#define __dialog_plot_base__
-
-#include <wx/intl.h>
-
-#include <wx/string.h>
-#include <wx/sizer.h>
-#include <wx/statbox.h>
-#include <wx/gdicmn.h>
-#include <wx/checkbox.h>
-#include <wx/font.h>
-#include <wx/colour.h>
-#include <wx/settings.h>
-#include <wx/radiobox.h>
-#include <wx/stattext.h>
-#include <wx/textctrl.h>
-#include <wx/button.h>
-#include <wx/dialog.h>
-
-///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-
-///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-/// Class DIALOG_PLOT_BASE
-///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-class DIALOG_PLOT_BASE : public wxDialog 
-{
-	private:
-	
-	protected:
-		enum
-		{
-			ID_USE_GERBER_EXTENSIONS = 1000,
-			ID_ALLOW_PRINT_PAD_ON_SILKSCREEN,
-			ID_PRINT_VALUE,
-			ID_PRINT_REF,
-			ID_PRINT_MODULE_TEXTS,
-			ID_FORCE_PRINT_INVISIBLE_TEXT,
-			ID_DRILL_SHAPE_OPT,
-			ID_MIROR_OPT,
-			ID_MASKVIA_OPT,
-			ID_EXEC_PLOT,
-			ID_SAVE_OPT_PLOT,
-			ID_CREATE_DRILL_FILE,
-		};
-		
-		wxStaticBoxSizer* m_CopperLayersBoxSizer;
-		wxStaticBoxSizer* m_TechnicalLayersBoxSizer;
-		wxCheckBox* m_Use_Gerber_Extensions;
-		wxCheckBox* m_Exclude_Edges_Pcb;
-		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Sheet_Ref;
-		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Pads_on_Silkscreen;
-		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Text_Value;
-		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Text_Ref;
-		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Text_Div;
-		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Invisible_Text;
-		wxRadioBox* m_Drill_Shape_Opt;
-		wxRadioBox* m_Scale_Opt;
-		wxRadioBox* m_PlotModeOpt;
-		wxRadioBox* m_Choice_Plot_Offset;
-		wxRadioBox* m_PlotFormatOpt;
-		wxStaticText* m_textPenSize;
-		wxTextCtrl* m_HPGLPenSizeOpt;
-		wxStaticText* m_staticText3;
-		wxTextCtrl* m_HPGLPenSpeedOpt;
-		wxStaticText* m_textPenOvr;
-		wxTextCtrl* m_HPGLPenOverlayOpt;
-		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_PS_Negative;
-		wxCheckBox* m_PlotMirorOpt;
-		wxCheckBox* m_PlotNoViaOnMaskOpt;
-		wxStaticText* m_staticText6;
-		wxTextCtrl* m_LinesWidth;
-		
-		wxStaticText* m_staticText7;
-		wxTextCtrl* m_FineAdjustXscaleOpt;
-		wxStaticText* m_staticText8;
-		wxTextCtrl* m_FineAdjustYscaleOpt;
-		
-		wxButton* m_PlotButton;
-		wxButton* m_buttonSaveOpt;
-		wxButton* m_buttonDrill;
-		wxButton* m_buttonQuit;
-		wxStaticText* m_staticText2;
-		wxTextCtrl* m_MessagesBox;
-		
-		// Virtual event handlers, overide them in your derived class
-		virtual void OnCloseWindow( wxCloseEvent& event ){ event.Skip(); }
-		virtual void OnInitDialog( wxInitDialogEvent& event ){ event.Skip(); }
-		virtual void SetPlotFormat( wxCommandEvent& event ){ event.Skip(); }
-		virtual void Plot( wxCommandEvent& event ){ event.Skip(); }
-		virtual void SaveOptPlot( wxCommandEvent& event ){ event.Skip(); }
-		virtual void CreateDrillFile( wxCommandEvent& event ){ event.Skip(); }
-		virtual void OnQuit( wxCommandEvent& event ){ event.Skip(); }
-		
-	
-	public:
-		DIALOG_PLOT_BASE( wxWindow* parent, wxWindowID id = wxID_ANY, const wxString& title = _("Plot"), const wxPoint& pos = wxDefaultPosition, const wxSize& size = wxSize( 575,590 ), long style = wxDEFAULT_DIALOG_STYLE|wxRESIZE_BORDER );
-		~DIALOG_PLOT_BASE();
-	
-};
-
-#endif //__dialog_plot_base__
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// C++ code generated with wxFormBuilder (version Dec 21 2009)
+// http://www.wxformbuilder.org/
+//
+// PLEASE DO "NOT" EDIT THIS FILE!
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+#ifndef __dialog_plot_base__
+#define __dialog_plot_base__
+
+#include <wx/intl.h>
+
+#include <wx/string.h>
+#include <wx/sizer.h>
+#include <wx/statbox.h>
+#include <wx/gdicmn.h>
+#include <wx/checkbox.h>
+#include <wx/font.h>
+#include <wx/colour.h>
+#include <wx/settings.h>
+#include <wx/radiobox.h>
+#include <wx/stattext.h>
+#include <wx/textctrl.h>
+#include <wx/button.h>
+#include <wx/dialog.h>
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+/// Class DIALOG_PLOT_BASE
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+class DIALOG_PLOT_BASE : public wxDialog 
+{
+	private:
+	
+	protected:
+		enum
+		{
+			ID_USE_GERBER_EXTENSIONS = 1000,
+			ID_ALLOW_PRINT_PAD_ON_SILKSCREEN,
+			ID_PRINT_VALUE,
+			ID_PRINT_REF,
+			ID_PRINT_MODULE_TEXTS,
+			ID_FORCE_PRINT_INVISIBLE_TEXT,
+			ID_DRILL_SHAPE_OPT,
+			ID_BROWSE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY,
+			ID_MIROR_OPT,
+			ID_MASKVIA_OPT,
+			ID_EXEC_PLOT,
+			ID_SAVE_OPT_PLOT,
+			ID_CREATE_DRILL_FILE,
+		};
+		
+		wxStaticBoxSizer* m_CopperLayersBoxSizer;
+		wxStaticBoxSizer* m_TechnicalLayersBoxSizer;
+		wxCheckBox* m_Use_Gerber_Extensions;
+		wxCheckBox* m_Exclude_Edges_Pcb;
+		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Sheet_Ref;
+		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Pads_on_Silkscreen;
+		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Text_Value;
+		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Text_Ref;
+		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Text_Div;
+		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_Invisible_Text;
+		wxRadioBox* m_Drill_Shape_Opt;
+		wxRadioBox* m_Scale_Opt;
+		wxRadioBox* m_PlotModeOpt;
+		wxRadioBox* m_Choice_Plot_Offset;
+		wxRadioBox* m_PlotFormatOpt;
+		wxStaticText* m_textPenSize;
+		wxTextCtrl* m_HPGLPenSizeOpt;
+		wxStaticText* m_staticText3;
+		wxTextCtrl* m_HPGLPenSpeedOpt;
+		wxStaticText* m_textPenOvr;
+		wxTextCtrl* m_HPGLPenOverlayOpt;
+		wxCheckBox* m_Plot_PS_Negative;
+		wxTextCtrl* m_OutputDirectory;
+		wxButton* m_BrowseButton;
+		wxCheckBox* m_PlotMirorOpt;
+		wxCheckBox* m_PlotNoViaOnMaskOpt;
+		wxStaticText* m_staticText6;
+		wxTextCtrl* m_LinesWidth;
+		
+		wxStaticText* m_staticText7;
+		wxTextCtrl* m_FineAdjustXscaleOpt;
+		wxStaticText* m_staticText8;
+		wxTextCtrl* m_FineAdjustYscaleOpt;
+		
+		wxButton* m_PlotButton;
+		wxButton* m_buttonSaveOpt;
+		wxButton* m_buttonDrill;
+		wxButton* m_buttonQuit;
+		wxStaticText* m_staticText2;
+		wxTextCtrl* m_MessagesBox;
+		
+		// Virtual event handlers, overide them in your derived class
+		virtual void OnCloseWindow( wxCloseEvent& event ) { event.Skip(); }
+		virtual void OnInitDialog( wxInitDialogEvent& event ) { event.Skip(); }
+		virtual void SetPlotFormat( wxCommandEvent& event ) { event.Skip(); }
+		virtual void OnOutputDirectoryBrowseClicked( wxCommandEvent& event ) { event.Skip(); }
+		virtual void Plot( wxCommandEvent& event ) { event.Skip(); }
+		virtual void SaveOptPlot( wxCommandEvent& event ) { event.Skip(); }
+		virtual void CreateDrillFile( wxCommandEvent& event ) { event.Skip(); }
+		virtual void OnQuit( wxCommandEvent& event ) { event.Skip(); }
+		
+	
+	public:
+		
+		DIALOG_PLOT_BASE( wxWindow* parent, wxWindowID id = wxID_ANY, const wxString& title = _("Plot"), const wxPoint& pos = wxDefaultPosition, const wxSize& size = wxSize( 575,590 ), long style = wxDEFAULT_DIALOG_STYLE|wxRESIZE_BORDER );
+		~DIALOG_PLOT_BASE();
+	
+};
+
+#endif //__dialog_plot_base__

pcbnew/pcbplot.cpp

@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ PCB_Plot_Options::PCB_Plot_Options()
     ScaleAdjX    = 1.0;
     ScaleAdjY    = 1.0;
     PlotScaleOpt = 1;
+    outputDirectory = wxT( "" );
 }
 
 
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ private:
     void Plot( wxCommandEvent& event );
     void OnQuit( wxCommandEvent& event );
     void OnClose( wxCloseEvent& event );
+    void OnOutputDirectoryBrowseClicked( wxCommandEvent& event );
     void SetPlotFormat( wxCommandEvent& event );
     void OnSetScaleOpt( wxCommandEvent& event );
     void SaveOptPlot( wxCommandEvent& event );
@@ -138,6 +140,7 @@ DIALOG_PLOT::DIALOG_PLOT( WinEDA_PcbFrame* parent ) :
 void DIALOG_PLOT::Init_Dialog()
 {
     wxString msg;
+    wxFileName fileName;
 
     BOARD*   board = m_Parent->GetBoard();
 
@@ -283,6 +286,17 @@ void DIALOG_PLOT::Init_Dialog()
     // Put vias on mask layer
     m_PlotNoViaOnMaskOpt->SetValue( g_pcb_plot_options.DrawViaOnMaskLayer );
 
+    // Output directory
+    if( g_pcb_plot_options.GetOutputDirectory().IsEmpty() )
+    {
+        fileName = m_Parent->GetScreen()->m_FileName;
+        m_OutputDirectory->SetValue( fileName.GetPath() );
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        m_OutputDirectory->SetValue( g_pcb_plot_options.GetOutputDirectory() );
+    }
+
     // Update options values:
     wxCommandEvent cmd_event;
     SetPlotFormat( cmd_event );
@@ -322,6 +336,15 @@ void DIALOG_PLOT::OnSetScaleOpt( wxCommandEvent& event )
         m_Plot_Sheet_Ref->SetValue( false );
 }
 
+void DIALOG_PLOT::OnOutputDirectoryBrowseClicked( wxCommandEvent& event )
+{
+    wxString currentDir;
+    currentDir = m_OutputDirectory->GetValue();
+    wxDirDialog dirDialog( this, _( "Select Output Directory" ), currentDir );
+    if( dirDialog.ShowModal() == wxID_CANCEL )
+        return;
+    m_OutputDirectory->SetValue( dirDialog.GetPath() );
+}
 
 void DIALOG_PLOT::SetPlotFormat( wxCommandEvent& event )
 {
@@ -487,6 +510,8 @@ void DIALOG_PLOT::SaveOptPlot( wxCommandEvent& event )
     }
 
     g_pcb_plot_options.Plot_PS_Negative = m_Plot_PS_Negative->GetValue();
+
+    g_pcb_plot_options.SetOutputDirectory( m_OutputDirectory->GetValue() );
 }
 
 
@@ -500,6 +525,22 @@ void DIALOG_PLOT::Plot( wxCommandEvent& event )
 
     SaveOptPlot( event );
 
+    // Create output directory if it does not exist
+    if( !wxFileName::DirExists( m_OutputDirectory->GetValue() ) )
+    {
+        if( wxMkdir( m_OutputDirectory->GetValue() ) )
+        {
+            wxString msg;
+            msg.Printf( _( "Directory %s created.\n" ), GetChars( m_OutputDirectory->GetValue() ) );
+            m_MessagesBox->AppendText( msg );
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            wxMessageBox( _( "Cannot create output directory!" ), _( "Plot" ), wxICON_INFORMATION );
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+
     switch( g_pcb_plot_options.PlotScaleOpt )
     {
     default:
@@ -574,6 +615,7 @@ void DIALOG_PLOT::Plot( wxCommandEvent& event )
             s_SelectedLayers |= mask;
 
             fn = m_Parent->GetScreen()->m_FileName;
+            fn.SetPath( m_OutputDirectory->GetValue() );
 
             // Create file name.
             wxString layername = board->GetLayerName( layer );

pcbnew/pcbplot.h

@@ -64,8 +64,12 @@ public:
     double         ScaleAdjX;
     double         ScaleAdjY;
 
+    wxString       outputDirectory;
+
 public:
     PCB_Plot_Options();
+    void SetOutputDirectory( wxString aDir ) { outputDirectory = aDir; };
+    wxString GetOutputDirectory() { return outputDirectory; };
 };
 
 extern PCB_Plot_Options g_pcb_plot_options;