Print plot file
This function allows you to create a plotter specific file which can then be directed out to a plot device using a system utility such as lpr or cat. You will be able to plot direct to the windows printer driver or alternatively spool the HP-GL/2 file to a windows printer queue.
To run this function: Choose File > Print plot file, or Plotting > Print plot file, or...
- In the Function Chooser, type PLOT DRIVER, and press ENTER.
After a plot file has been successfully created and previewed to confirm that the desired effect has been achieved, the next step in producing a hardcopy plot is to use the plot driver function. This function converts the device independent plotting commands in the plot file into commands which are appropriate for a specific type of plotter. The plotter specific commands are written to a file for the local plotter. This file can be sent directly to the plotter or it may be saved for plotting at a later time. If you are using the Windows NT/95 driver then the plot is sent direct to the windows printer driver and no file is produced.
Please note the difference between the Windows Plot Driver and spooling a HP-GL2 file onto a Windows print queue. With the spooling option you must produce a HP-GL/2 file for one of the supported plotters and then have the system spool it onto a print queue. With the Windows Plot Driver no file is produced as the software instructs the Windows printing subsystem to convert the plot file into the appropriate local printer/plotter commands. By using the Window Plot Driver you will have access to plot to any printer/plotter that has a Windows driver and is capable of graphics.
Fields on the Send plot file(s) to plotter form.
Plot file name
Enter the name of the plot file which is to be converted into plotter commands for a specific plot device. The file must exist and it must be a valid plot file for processing to continue.
Another form is displayed to allow you to select the type of plotter for which a file will be produced. The plotters are defined in a system file known as plotter.chrplotter.chr. This file contains the characteristics for each of the plotters which have been defined.
Complete the Plotting form and choose Apply to display the Plotter Drivers form.
Plotter drivers form
Plot device
Select the plot device which is required. The default plot device is defined by the entry 'default plotter=name' in the defaults.ssi file.
Plot now
Check this box if the HP-GL/2 file is to be sent directly to the plotter. If you check the box, the HP-GL/2 file is saved as well as being sent to the plotter. Leave the box unchecked if you do not want to send the HP-GL/2 file to the plotter. The HP-GL/2 file will be saved for later use.
Use Windows Spooler
If you wish to use the windows spooler to plot, check this box and you will prompted for the printer name to send the HP-GL/2 file to. Leave the box unchecked to enter a system command.
System command
This field is only displayed if you elect to Plot Now, and not use the windows spooler. Enter the system command which is required to send the HP-GL/2 file to the plot device. The default command is defined in the defaults.ssi file by the `plot command=system command' parameter. The special characters '!AS' are replaced for you with the name of the HP-GL/2 file which is to be plotted.
The HP-GL/2 file is sent to the plotter if requested. The HP-GL/2 file is saved and may be re-plotted later by using a system command to send the HP-GL/2 file to the plot device.
Windows Printer
This field is only displayed if you specified the system command as windows. You select the windows printer queue to spool the plot on here. A list of available printer queues found on your computer is provided in the set browser.
HP-GL/2 Driver Specifics
The following options only have effect if you are using the HP-GL/2 driver. Please note that pen colours are now taken from the pen file specified in the defaults.ssi file as plotting.pen_file. These can be changed with the Pen File Editor.
Note: All the options can be left blank if you do not wish to override the defaults of the plotter.
Media
Select the media that you will be plotting on. This only has an effect if your plotter has media switching capability.
Quality %
You can specify the plot quality between 0 to 100 which is draft through to high quality. Your plotter will plot at the quality closest to the value that you specify that the plotter supports. Plotting in draft modes can save on plotter consumables. Note that if quality is reduced significantly, the resolution and appearance of text in the plot may be reduced, especially for small text < 2mm in height.
Sorting
Specify the type of sorting that the plotter is to use. This only works on electrostatic plotters.
Rotate Plot
You can rotate the plot on the output media by 90o, 180o, 270o, or 0o.
Image Compression
Raster image data in a plot file can be compressed into a more compact form to create smaller plot files, and speed up transmission of the data to the plotter. Image compression should always be enabled, unless your device does not support HPGL2/RTL compression. Try disabling compression if you get strange results when plotting text using HPGL2. Note that without compression, the raster data may be up to 10 times larger in size, potentially creating multi megabyte plot files.
Windows Driver Specifics
The following options only have effect if you are using the Windows driver. Please note that pen colours are now taken from the pen file specified in the defaults.ssi file as plotting.pen_file. These can be changed with the Pen File Editor.
Printer
Select the windows printer name that you wish to queue the plot on. A list of available printer queues found on your computer is provided in the set browser.