home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Software Vault: The Gold Collection
/
Software Vault - The Gold Collection (American Databankers) (1993).ISO
/
cdr21
/
calprogs.zip
/
NETWORK.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-04-17
|
18KB
|
444 lines
NETWORK.DOC
Page 1 of 8
PROTECTED MODE ADI - NETWORK PLOT SPOOLING
The CalComp protected mode ADI driver follows AutoCAD conventions
and provides the same network plot spooling support as an Autodesk
in-line driver. There are basically two methods which can be used
on Novell networks: plot to file with I/O redirection and plot to
file with AUTOSPOOL. Since most network system software has
similar utilities, similar methods can be used on other networks.
These methods, including setup information, are described in the
following sections.
Before proceeding, verify the following:
The CalComp protected mode ADI driver is installed and has
been tested with a CalComp plotter in a local configuration.
A workstation is connected and logged into the network.
Print servers and print queues are setup and operational.
THE NOVELL CAPTURE UTILITY
The Novell CAPTURE utility can be used to redirect the output of a
logical DOS LPT device, such as LPT1, to a network print queue and
on to the plotter.
Setup:
1. Start the CAPTURE utility before starting AutoCAD. This can
be done at the DOS prompt or, for regular use, it can be
included in a login script or batch file.
2. Start AutoCAD and configure for plot to file from the
configure plotter menu. To make this the default, answer YES
when you see the following question during configuration:
Write the plot to a file?
Plot to file is also an option which can be setup at plot
time. Since the ADI driver ignores the handshaking selection
when plotting to a file, no other changes need to be made from
the plotter configuration menu.
3. Configure the plot file name for LPT1 (assuming that CAPTURE
is redirecting the output of LPT1). From the operating
parameter menu, select option 3, default plot file name. When
prompted, enter the following:
LPT1
For occasional use, you can also enter LPT1 as the file name
at plot time.
NETWORK.DOC
Page 2 of 8
4. Make sure that the plotter is connected to the print server.
Check the plotter setup and, if the connection is serial,
ensure that the baud rate, character framing and handshaking
(xon/xoff or hardware) match the Novell printer configuration
in PCONSOLE.
This completes the setup for plot spooling using the CAPTURE
utility.
NOTES ON USING CAPTURE
If the Autoendcap option is enabled (default), captured plots will
be queued when AutoCAD completes the plot job. This is useful if
you want to send single plot jobs to individual print queue files
and plot without exiting AutoCAD. A new capture session starts
automatically with each plot job.
If the Auotendcap option is disabled, captured plots will be
queued when you exit AutoCAD and type ENDCAP at the DOS prompt.
This is useful if you want to append multiple plot jobs in a
single print queue file. ENDCAP also terminates the capture of an
LPT device.
The Timeout option should be disabled (default) since it can cause
unpredictable results.
Typical captured plots appear as "LPT1 Catch" in the print queue
job description.
The following CAPTURE options should be used to prevent any
extraneous data from being sent to the plotter. Instead of
including these in the command line, they can be set up as
defaults in PRINTCON.
NoTabs NoBanner NoFormFeed
For additional information please refer to the Novell Print Server
Manual and the AutoCAD Installation and Performance Guide.
THE AUTOCAD AUTOSPOOL FEATURE AND THE NOVELL NPRINT UTILITY
The AutoCAD AUTOSPOOL feature can be used to output plots to
unique files in a user defined plot spooler directory. Once the
plot files are in the spooler directory, it is the responsibility
of a spooler program, such as the Novell NPRINT utility, to move
the files to a network print queue and on to the plotter. AutoCAD
provides a hook with which to automate spooler execution in the
form of an environment variable, ACADPLCMD. Once AutoCAD finishes
writing the plot file, it generates a command using the string
defined in ACADPLCMD, substituting a unique file name for the "%s"
in the string, and sends it to DOS for execution. AutoCAD then
returns to the drawing editor or main menu, depending on where the
plot job was started.
NETWORK.DOC
Page 3 of 8
Setup:
1. Make a directory or identify an existing directory for plot
spooling. This directory can be on a local or network drive.
Both AutoCAD and NPRINT will need read/write access to this
directory. For this example we will use Z:\PLOTS.
2. Define the environment variable, ACADPLCMD, for the spooler
program (NPRINT) using the SET command.
SET ACADPLCMD=NPRINT %s
Note that the "s" is lower case and there are no spaces around
the equal (=) sign and no trailing space at the end of the
line.
If you want the plot files deleted from the spooler directory
once they're in the queue, use the Delete option with NPRINT.
For example:
SET ACADPLCMD=NPRINT %s D
For regular use, you can add the appropriate SET statement to
the AUTOEXEC batch file. If you do, be sure to use two
percent (%) signs, since DOS batch files use the percent sign
to indicate parameters passed to the program. For example:
SET ACADPLCMD=NPRINT %%s
Set ACADPLCMD=NPRINT %%s D
3. Start AutoCAD and configure for plot to file from the
configure plotter menu. To make this the default, answer YES
when you see the following question during configuration:
Write the plot to a file?
Plot to file is also an option which can be setup at plot
time. Since the ADI driver ignores the handshaking selection
when plotting to a file, no other changes need to be made from
the plotter configuration menu.
4. Configure the plot file name for AUTOSPOOL. From the
operating parameter menu, select option 3, default plot file
name. When prompted, enter the following:
AUTOSPOOL
For occasional use, you can also enter AUTOSPOOL as the file
name at plot time.
NETWORK.DOC
Page 4 of 8
5. Configure the plot spooler directory. From the operating
parameter menu, select option 4, plot spooler directory. When
prompted, enter the path and name of the directory created in
step 1, including a trailing backslash. For example:
Z:\PLOTS\
6. Make sure that the plotter is connected to the print server.
Check the plotter setup and, if the connection is serial,
ensure that the baud rate, character framing and handshaking
(xon/xoff or hardware) match the Novell printer configuration
in PCONSOLE.
This completes the setup for plot spooling using AUTOSPOOL and the
NPRINT utility.
NOTES ON USING AUTOSPOOL AND NPRINT
Spooled plot files appear in the spooler directory and print queue
job description with unique file names. Spooled plot files are
given unique names by AutoCAD in the format VXXXXXXX.YYY, where V
indicates a vector plot file, XXXXXXX is based on the current
time, and YYY is the network node name. For example:
V1234567.RAY. The default network node name is AC$ and can be
changed from the operating parameter menu, option 6.
The following NPRINT options should be used to prevent any
extraneous data from being sent to the plotter. These should be
set up as defaults in PRINTCON.
NoTabs NoBanner NoFormFeed
If the spooler program doesn't delete the old plot files from the
spooler directory, you will need to do this manually to prevent
filling up the hard disk.
Besides NPRINT, you can also use your favorite spooler program.
Just define it in ACADPLCMD. ACADPLCMD can also be used to start
a batch file, which in turn can perform some setup before starting
the spooler. Or, instead of using ACADPLCMD, you can have a
spooler program running on a remote node, queueing up plot files
from the spooler directory.
For additional information please refer to the Novell Print Server
Manual and the AutoCAD Installation and Performance Guide.
NETWORK.DOC
Page 5 of 8
REAL MODE ADI - NETWORK PLOT SPOOLING
The CalComp real mode ADI driver provides network plot spooling
support using plot to file with I/O redirection. There is
basically one method which can be used on Novell networks. Since
most network system software has similar utilities, a similar
method can be used on other networks. This method, including
setup information, is described in the following sections.
Before proceeding, verify the following:
The CalComp real mode ADI driver is installed and has been
tested with a CalComp plotter in a local configuration.
A workstation is connected and logged into the network.
Print servers and print queues are setup and operational.
Plot to file with AUTOSPOOL is not supported.
THE NOVELL CAPTURE UTILITY
The Novell CAPTURE utility can be used to redirect the output of a
logical DOS LPT device, such as LPT1, to a network print queue and
on to the plotter.
Setup:
1. Configure the ADI driver for plot to file. Run the
configuration program, CCPCFG. From the communications menu,
select the File option, save the settings and exit. There is
no need to reload the driver, since it always reads its
configuration file before plotting begins.
2. Start the CAPTURE utility before starting AutoCAD. This can
be done at the DOS prompt or, for regular use, it can be
included in a login script or batch file.
3. Make sure that the plotter is connected to the print server.
Check the plotter setup and, if the connection is serial,
ensure that the baud rate, character framing and handshaking
(xon/xoff or hardware) match the Novell printer configuration
in PCONSOLE.
4. Start AutoCAD and select a drawing to plot. Configuring the
plot file name for LPT1 (assuming that CAPTURE is redirecting
the output of LPT1) is done at plot time. Enter LPT1 when the
final prompt appears:
Enter output file name <CCPADI.PLT> ==>
CCPADI.PLT is the initial default plot file name. Subsequent
default plot file names will be the last file name used, in
this case LPT1.
This completes the setup for plot spooling using the CAPTURE
utility.
NETWORK.DOC
Page 6 of 8
NOTES ON USING CAPTURE
If the Autoendcap option is enabled (default), captured plots will
be queued when AutoCAD completes the plot job. This is useful if
you want to send single plot jobs to individual print queue files
and plot without exiting AutoCAD. A new capture session starts
automatically with each plot job.
If the Auotendcap option is disabled, captured plots will be
queued when you exit AutoCAD and type ENDCAP at the DOS prompt.
This is useful if you want to append multiple plot jobs in a
single print queue file. ENDCAP also terminates the capture of an
LPT device.
The Timeout option should be disabled (default) since it can cause
unpredictable results.
Typical captured plots appear as "LPT1 Catch" in the print queue
job description.
The following CAPTURE options should be used to prevent any
extraneous data from being sent to the plotter. Instead of
including these in the command line, they can be set up as
defaults in PRINTCON.
NoTabs NoBanner NoFormFeed
For additional information please refer to the Novell Print Server
Manual and the AutoCAD Installation and Performance Guide.
NETWORK.DOC
Page 7 of 8
BATCHPLOT - NETWORK PLOT SPOOLING
Batchplot doesn't directly support network plot spooling.
However, Batchplot can output plots to files in a user defined
plot spooler directory. Once the plot files are in the spooler
directory, it is the responsibility of a spooler program to move
the files to a network print queue and on to the plotter.
When the ADI driver is setup for plot to file, Batchplot forces
the driver to write its files to the AutoCAD plot spooler
directory. Since Batchplot also generates the plot file names,
plot to file with I/O redirection and plot to file with AUTOSPOOL
are not supported.
Before proceeding, verify the following:
The CalComp protected mode or real mode ADI driver and
Batchplot are installed and have been tested with a CalComp
plotter in a local configuration.
A workstation is connected and logged into the network.
Print servers, print queues and a spooler program are setup
and operational.
Setup:
1. Make a directory or identify an existing directory for plot
spooling. This directory can be on a local or network drive.
Both AutoCAD and the spooler program will need read/write
access to this directory. For this example we will use
Z:\PLOTS.
2. Configure the ADI driver for plot to file.
A. Protected mode ADI driver:
Start AutoCAD and configure for plot to file from the
configure plotter menu. Answer YES when you see the
following question during configuration:
Write the plot to a file?
Since the ADI driver ignores the handshaking selection
when plotting to a file, no other changes need to be made
from the plotter configuration menu.
B. Real mode ADI driver:
Run the configuration program, CCPCFG. From the
communications menu, select the File option, save the
settings and exit. There is no need to reload the driver,
since it always reads its configuration file before
plotting begins.
Start AutoCAD.
NETWORK.DOC
Page 8 of 8
3. Configure the plot spooler directory. From the operating
parameter menu, select option 4, plot spooler directory. When
prompted, enter the path and name of the directory created in
step 1, including a trailing backslash. For example:
Z:\PLOTS\
Save the settings and exit.
4. Make sure that the plotter is connected to the print server.
Check the plotter setup and, if the connection is serial,
ensure that the baud rate, character framing and handshaking
(xon/xoff or hardware) match the network spooler printer
configuration.
This completes the setup for plot spooling using Batchplot.
NOTES ON USING BATCHPLOT
Batchplot file naming conventions:
Normal plots: Drawing file name with .P00 extension. For
example:
COLUMBIA.P00
Normal plots (multiple copies): Drawing file name with .PXX
extension, where XX is the copy number starting with 00. For
example:
COLUMBIA.P00 (first copy)
COLUMBIA.P01 (second copy)
Nested plots: BATCHPLT with .YYY extension, where YYY is the
sequence number starting with 001. For example:
BATCHPLT.001 (first nested plot)
BATCHPLT.002 (second nested plot)
AutoCAD default plot file names such as LPT1 and AUTOSPOOL are
ignored.
The AutoCAD spooler automation hook, ACADPLCMD, is not supported.
The spooler program should be transparent to the plot data, i. e.,
it shouldn't send any extraneous data to the plotter.
If the spooler program doesn't delete the old plot files from the
spooler directory, you will need to do this manually to prevent
filling up the hard disk.
For additional information please refer to your spooler program
documentation and the AutoCAD Installation and Performance Guide.