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Software Vault: The Gold Collection
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MANUAL.DOC
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J E W E L L T E C H N O L O G I E S , I N C O R P O R A T E D
P I X E L P L O T User Manual
Version 1.1
Contents:
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 RUNNING PIXELPLOT
3.0 SUMMARY OF KEYSTROKES
PIXELPLOT(tm) User Manual and Program:
Copyright 1992 Jewell Technologies, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
The PixelPlot(tm) software program lets you print any HP
Plotter Language (HPGL or HPGL/2) file directly to your printer,
eliminating the need for a pen plotter. Output is fast and clear,
utilizing the maximum resolution available on your printer. Color
output is available on color printers.
Be sure to view the "READ.ME" file before using PixelPlot. To
view the "READ.ME" file on your screen, type the command
"README" with the PixelPlot diskette contents in the default
disk drive and directory.
1.1 Description
PixelPlot will produce fast, high quality output of your
HPGL and HPGL/2 graphics files on virtually any dot
matrix, inkjet, or laser printer with bit-mapped graphics
capability.
The printed output may be sized, positioned, and
oriented (landscape or portrait) however you wish , and
may be sized to fit the maximum size of paper available
to your printer. You may also View your output on
the screen to see exactly how it will appear on the
paper, saving both time and resources.
1.2 System Requirements
PixelPlot runs on the IBM Personal Computer, IBM
PCjr, IBM Model 3270, IBM AT, IBM PS/2, or any
IBM-compatible computer, and will read any file
created in the HPGL or HPGL/2 plotter language.
1.3 Manual Conventions
This manual uses the following conventions:
CAPITAL LETTERS Indicate what you should type.
--> This symbol indicates a special note.
<...> Angle Brackets in bold indicate keys on your
keyboard, for example <Enter> means press
the Enter key.
1.4 Technical Support
You may write to us at:
Jewell Technologies, Inc.
2200 Sunset Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116
Or call our BBS at:
(206) 937-0788
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2.0 RUNNING PIXELPLOT
PixelPlot may be run in two different manners: through
its menu program, or through a command line. Use of the
menu program is described in sections 2.1-2 of the
manual, while command line execution is described in
detail in section 2.3.
2.1 The Menu Program
To execute PixelPlot, simply change directories to the
PixelPlot directory and type:
PP<Enter>
If you have a black and white monitor, you may specify
so by typing:
PP /B<Enter>
The Plot button will currently be highlited. If the file
selected is correct and you wish to begin printing
at this point, press <Enter> and PixelPlot
will output the selected file.
If you wish to change from input field to input field,
you may do so by typing <Tab> key to move forwards and
<Alt><Tab> to move backwards. You may also use the left
and right arrow keys. Optionally, you may type the upper
case letter of the title of the field you wish to select
for example to select a file, you will find the heading Files.
Typing <F>, then, will highlite this field.
As you move from field to field, the currently selected
field will be signified by a double lined box
surrounding it in a highlited white. Instructions will
appear in the box at the bottom of the screen,
explaining the operation and purpose of the field. The
fields are individualy described below.
2.2 Individual Descriptions of Input Fields
Files: Files will list all files in the current drive and directory
with their extension corresponding to the current
Extension field selection. To select a file, highlite the
name you wish to select by using the <Up> and
<Down> arrow keys. When the correct file name is
highlited, press <Enter>. You will notice that the file
selection above will be updated. This shows that the
new file is selected.
Directory: Dir will list all directories and subdirectories available
on you current drive. To select a new directory,
highlite the new entry by using the <Up> and <Down>
arrow keys. When the correct directory name is
highlited, press <Enter>. The Files list will be
updated as will the Path and File selections above. As
with DOS, moving backwards through directory levels
is achieved by using the [..] option. To move back,
select this option (if listed) and press <Enter>.
Extension: Extension lists several popular HPGL file extensions.
Also, the DOS wildcard (*.*) is supplied to allow you
to view all files in your directory. The current
selection is specified by a X in the box to its left. To
select a new extension, use the <Up> and <Down>
arrow keys. As you do this, the X will move from box
to box. Also, you will notice that different files are
listed in the Files field as you change this selection.
Drive: drIves will list all drives available to your computer.
To select a new drive, highlite the new entry by using
the <Up> and <Down> arrow keys. When the correct
drive letter is highlited, press <Enter>. The Files list
will be updated as will the Directory, path and file
fields.
Printer: priNter will list all available printer drivers. To select
a printer driver, highlite the new entry by using the
<Up> and <Down> arrow keys. <End> will move you to the end
of the list, <Home> will move you to the beginning. <PgUp>
and <PgDn> scroll the field by four lines.
-->Note: If your printer is not listed, please view the JTIPRINT.DOC
file for a more complete list of printer types supported.
Size: The Size field contains three sub-fields: Aspect ratio,
X, and Y.
Aspect: By checking the Aspect ratio box, you are telling
PixelPlot to maintain the x to y ratio of you original file
as it prints it to the printer (i.e. circles will appear as
circles--otherwise they will most likely appear as
ellipses). To select or deselect this field, press
<Enter>. When the box contains an X it is selected.
X: The X field contains the maximum size in inches the
image will cover across the sheet of paper. (On an 8.5"
x 11" piece of paper, X specifies the 8.5" direction.) If
Aspect ratio is not checked, the output will be exactly
this size, otherwise, this is the maximum size. To
change the image size in the x-direction, simply enter
the new value and press <Enter>, <Tab>, or
<Shift><Tab>. Maximum values are defined by the
current Media size.
Y: The Y field contains the maximum size in inches the
image will cover down the sheet of paper. (On an 8.5"
x 11" piece of paper, Y specifies the 11" direction.) If
Aspect ratio is not checked, the output will be exactly
this size, otherwise, this is the maximum size. To
change the image size in the x-direction, simply enter
the new value and press <Enter>, <Tab>, or
<Shift><Tab>. Maximum values are defined by the
current Media size.
Offset: Offset contains two fields indicating the Left, and Upper
printer margins.
L: The L field contains the offset in inches from the left
side of the page.
U: The U field contains the offset in inches from the upper
margin of the page.
-->Note: Margin size plus output size cannot be greater than
the media size. PixelPlot will subtract the margin
size from the media size to arrive at a new output
size, if the values are too great.
Media: Media lists available paper sizes. You may select any
size, so long as your printer is able to handle the size of
paper. Again, select a new paper size by using the
<Up> and <Down> arrow keys. Sizes are as follows:
A-size (8.5"x11")
B-size (11"x17")
C-size (17"x21")
D-size (22"x34")
Port: porT lists available output ports. Highlite the port
name that your current printer is hooked up to by using
the <Up> and <Down> arrow keys.
Orientation: Orientation lists two options, portrait and landscape.
The current selection is specified by an X in the box to
its left. To change selections, use the <Up> and
<Down> arrow keys. Portrait mode specifies that the
sheet of paper is viewed with the width being the short
direction and the length being the long direction (as in a
business letter). Landscape mode turnes everything
ninety degrees often allowing for larger graphical
output than portrait mode.
BUTTONS:
To use a button, highlite the button using the <Tab> or
<Shift><Tab> keys, or type the upper-case letter in its
title. When it is highlited, press <Enter> to activate it.
Info: Selecting Info will display Information about Jewell
Technologies and its products.
View: Selecting View will cause PixelPlot to display your
output on the screen. The screen will display a
rectangle of white, representing the sheet of paper.
Output will appear on this page, showing you how your
picture will appear on paper.
-->Note: Viewing may be aborted at any time by
pressing the <Esc> key.
Plot: Selecting Plot will cause PixelPlot to begin output to
your printer. A percentage bar will appear at the
bottom of the screen telling you first how much of the
image has been built, and then how much has been
printed.
-->Note: Printing may be aborted at any time by
pressing the <Esc> key.
Quit: Selecting Quit will exit PixelPlot. As it exits,
PixelPlot will save the fields to a file called
PIXPLOT.INI. When you run PixelPlot again, it will
default to your current settings.
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2.3 Running PixelPlot through a command line.
You are able to run PixelPlot from a command line and
bypass the use of the menu program. Also, from this
mode you are able to print multiple files from a single
command.
The format of the PixelPlot command line is:
PP [commands...] FILENAME [filename...]
Commands are all preceeded by a forward-slash "/". If
this is not present, then PixelPlot assumes that you are
specifying a file name. Available Commands are:
/H Lists command line help options.
/B Tells PixelPlot to work in Monochrome mode.
/X#.# Specifies x-direction output size. (/X8.25
specifies 8.25" output in the x-direction).
/Y#.# Specifies y-direction output size. (/Y10.5
specifies 10.5" output in the y-direction).
/OX#.# Specifies offset from left of paper (/OX1.5
specifies a 1.5" left-hand margin).
/OY#.# Specifies offset from top of paper (/OY.75
specifies a .75" top margin).
/L Specifies landscape printing mode.
/P Specifies portrait printing mode.
/LPT# Specifies LPT port. (/LPT1 specifies lpt1
for output port).
/COM# Specifies COM port (/COM2 specifies com2
for output port).
/V Views the file on the screen rather than
printing it out.
/A Tells PixelPlot to maintain the Aspect ratio
of the original file.
/NA Tells PixelPlot to ignore Aspect ratio.
/Mx Specifies paper size A-D. (/MD specifies
22"x34" paper).
For the filename, you may enter any number of valid HPGL or HPGL/2
format files, separated by spaces. Files in other directories may
be used by including their path, as in: (c:/pictures/drawing.plt).
Example:
PP /P /X8.0 /Y10.0 /A dwg1.plt dwg2.plt
This will instruct PixelPlot to print files dwg1.plt
and dwg2.plt to your printer in portrait mode (/P),
with a maximum width of 8.0" (/X8.0) and a
maximum height of 10.0" (/Y10.0), while
maintaining the aspect ratio of the original image (/A).
All other fields, including output port, printer driver,
etc. will default to whatever values were saved by the
last execution of the PixelPlot menu program.
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3.0 Summary of Menu Program Keys
<F> Select the Files list box
<D> Select the Directories list box
<E> Select the Extensions list box
<I> Select the drIves list box
<S> Select the Size box
<A> Select the Aspect Ratio field
<X> Select the output width dimension box
<Y> Select the output height dimension box
<O> Select the Offset box
<L> Select the Left margin box
<U> Select the Upper margin box
<M> Select the Media size list box
<T> Select the porT list box
<O> Select the Orientation list box
<N> Select the priNter list box
<I> Select the Info button
<V> Select the View button
<P> Select the Plot button
<Q> Select the Quit button
<Right Arrow> Move Forward one field
<Left Arrow> Move Back one field
<Tab> Same as <Right Arrow>
<Shift-Tab> Same as <Left Arrow>
<Down Arrow> Scroll down through list box items
<Up Arrow> Scroll up through list box items
<PgDn> Scroll down one screen through list box items
<PgUp> Scroll up one screen through list box items
<End> Move to End of list box items
<Home> Move to beginning of list box items
<Esc> Abort printing or viewing of files
-End of File-
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