JTB Batch Plot vs Hurricane: AutoCAD Batch Automation Compared

Published June 2026  |  74mph Solutions

JTB Batch Plot and Hurricane both handle batch operations in AutoCAD, but they approach the problem from very different angles. If you are evaluating tools for your CAD team, understanding exactly what each one does will save you from paying for something that does not cover your full workflow.

What JTB Batch Plot Does

JTB Batch Plot is a focused publishing tool. It extends AutoCAD's built-in PUBLISH command, making it easier to manage sheet sets and output drawing packages to DWF and PDF. Its strengths are:

• Publishing large drawing sets to PDF or DWF in a single batch operation
• Managing page setups across multiple sheets
• Integrating with AutoCAD sheet sets
• Working within AutoCAD as a plugin via the Autodesk App Store

JTB Batch Plot requires full AutoCAD. It relies on AutoCAD's PUBLISH infrastructure, which is not present in AutoCAD LT.

What Hurricane Does

Hurricane is a batch script generator and automation platform. It covers the full range of repetitive AutoCAD tasks, not just plotting. Hurricane runs as a standalone application alongside AutoCAD and drives it through AutoCAD's command-line scripting interface. Its capabilities include:

• Batch plot and batch PDF export (including AutoCAD LT)
• Batch purge and audit across hundreds of drawings
• Title block attribute updates across an entire drawing set (full AutoCAD, LISP required)
• Search and replace text across drawings (full AutoCAD, LISP required)
• DWG file renaming with sequential numbering, prefix, suffix, and text substitution
• Custom script automation using any AutoCAD command sequence
• Page setup management across drawing sets
• Night Run for scheduled, unattended batch jobs

Head-to-Head Comparison

Which Tool Is Right for You

Choose JTB Batch Plot if:

• Your only requirement is publishing drawing packages to PDF or DWF
• You use AutoCAD sheet sets and want tight integration with the PUBLISH command
• You only need to cover full AutoCAD, not LT or BricsCAD

Choose Hurricane if:

• You need to automate anything beyond plotting: purge, edit, rename, title block updates, or custom scripts
• Your team uses AutoCAD LT and needs batch processing capability
• You work in BricsCAD, IntelliCAD, or DraftSight alongside AutoCAD
• You want to run batch jobs unattended overnight with Night Run
• You want a one-time purchase rather than a recurring subscription
• You need to process files using custom AutoCAD command sequences, not just plot

Can You Use Both

Yes. Some teams use JTB Batch Plot for their formal drawing issue workflow (which involves sheet set management and DWF transmittals) and Hurricane for everything else: project-wide purge before archive, bulk title block updates at design milestones, and DWG file renaming when project numbers change. The tools do not conflict.

Related: ScriptPro Alternative  |  MultiBatch Alternative  |  How to Batch Plot AutoCAD  |  All Hurricane Features