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-
- AutoCAD 12 - Pre-release CalComp Plotter Driver
-
- PLPCC.EXP v2.7 is a pre-release version of the CalComp plotter driver
- for AutoCAD 12. It fixes all known problems which existed in previous
- versions. This version is considered pre-release, pending official
- release by Autodesk.
-
- PLPCC.EXP v2.7 and this readme file are available on the CalComp BBS
- (714-821-2359) in the file PLPCC.ZIP which is located in the Drivers
- & Utilities - AutoCAD Drivers download area.
-
- This driver has several new features which take advantage of the
- capabilities of the DrawingMaster & Electrostatic plotters, such as
- downloading pen & color definitions and using area fill commands.
- The driver's pen & color definitions are fixed and can't be changed
- by the user. These features can be disabled, allowing the driver
- to work like previous AutoCAD in-line drivers, using user defined pens
- for lines, polylines, and polygons. Or, area fills can be enabled to
- take advantage of user defined colors for polylines and polygons. For
- additional information about defining your own pen & color tables,
- please refer to your CalComp plotter user's guide.
-
- Setup:
-
- Copy the driver to the AutoCAD driver directory, for example:
-
- COPY X:\PLPCC.EXP C:\ACAD\DRV\PLPCC.EXP
- (X = CD drive letter)
-
- Start AutoCAD and go to the Configuration Menu. Select "Configure
- plotter" (5). From the Plotter Configuration Menu, delete all
- existing CalComp plotter configurations (2). Select "Add a plotter
- configuration" (1) and proceed to configure the desired plotter(s).
- For additional configuration information, see the sample plotter
- configuration dialog included in this document. Complete and save the
- plotter configuration in the normal manner and return to the drawing
- editor.
-
- Please note the following operational characteristic which is within
- AutoCAD and not within the CalComp driver:
-
- There is a 30 second time-out when using serial xon/xoff, serial
- hardware, or Centronics parallel communication protocols.
- Time-outs are most likely to occur during serial operation with a
- pen plotter, especially if the plotter is taken offline. If this
- is a problem, use serial ack/nak instead.
-
- Supported Models:
-
- ColorMaster Plotters:
-
- 1. ColorMaster Plus 6613VRC
- 2. ColorMaster Plus 6603VRC
- 3. ColorView 5913
- 4. ColorView 5912
- 5. PlotMaster 5902A
-
- DrawingMaster Plotters:
-
- 1. DrawingMaster Plus 52436
- 2. DrawingMaster Plus 52236
- 3. DrawingMaster Plus 52424
- 4. DrawingMaster Plus 52224
-
- Electrostatic Plotters:
-
- 1. 68444 Color EPP
- 2. 68436 Color EPP
- 3. 58444 Color EPP
- 4. 58436 Color EPP
- 5. 58424 Color EPP
- 6. 67436 Monochrome
- 7. 57444 Monochrome
- 8. 57436 Monochrome
- 9. 57424 Monochrome
-
- Pen Plotters:
-
- 1. DesignMate 3024
- 2. Pacesetter 2036
- 3. Pacesetter 2024
- 4. Artisan 1026
- 5. Artisan 1025
- 6. Artisan 1023
- 7. 1044
- 8. 1043
- 9. 1077
- 10. Pacesetter Classic 4036
-
- Sample Plotter Configuration Dialog:
-
- Enter the number of pens in use on this plotter, 1 to 255:
-
- AutoCAD supports up to 255 pens. Most pen plotters support 8 pens,
- while all others support 255.
-
- Enter the number of plotter steps per inch, 200 to 2032:
-
- Valid stepsizes are 200, 300, 400, 508, 1016, & 2032.
-
- Will this plot data be transfered to an EBCDIC computer?
- |
- | This determines the radix or base numbering system which is used
- | for certain plotter commands.
- |
- |__<N>o: Radix is 95 - plot data is more efficient, but is difficult
- | to translate to EBCDIC.
- |
- |__<Y>es: Radix is 59 - plot data is easily translated to EBCDIC, but
- is slightly less efficient.
-
- Include pen definitions in the plot data?
- |
- | This prompt does not appear for pen plotters.
- |
- |__<Y>es: The driver will download pen & color definitions to the
- | | plotter. These will override user defined pens & colors.
- | | Area fill commands will be used.
- | |
- | |__Use monochrome definitions?
- | |
- | |__<N>o: Color definitions will will be downloded.
- | |
- | |__<Y>es: Monochrome definitions will be downloaded.
- |
- |__<N>o: Pen & color definitions will not be downloaded. User defined
- | pens & colors will be used.
- |
- |__Allow area fills?
- |
- |__<Y>es: Area fill commands will be used. Polylines and
- | polygons will be filled with user defined colors.
- |
- |__<N>o: Area fill commands will not be used. Polylines and
- polygons will be stroked with user defined pens.
-
- Do you want to include CDCL commands in the plot data?
- |
- | The driver can include CDCL (CalComp Device Control Language)
- | commands with the plot data. CDCL commands allow certain plotter
- | parameters to be defined or changed "on the fly". This prompt
- | does not appear for ColorMaster plotters.
- |
- |__<Y>es: The following CDCL commands will be included:
- |
- | USER_PIN(0)
- | REPORT_ERR(PRINT)
- | 907(sync,num_syncs,cs,eob,resolution,protocol)
- | JOB_NAME(drawing_name)
- |
- | The protocol parameter of the 907 command is not included
- | when plotting to a file or parallel port.
- |
- |__<N>o: CDCL commands will not be included.
-
- Enter the number of copies per plot, 1 to 63:
-
- The driver can include a multiple copy command, enabling the plotter
- to produce multiple copies of a drawing. This prompt does not appear
- for pen plotters.
-
- Would you like to change Sync, EOB, and Checksum?
- |
- |__<N>o: Use the current values. The default values are:
- |
- | Sync code = 22 (16 hex)
- | Number of sync codes = 2
- | EOB = 13 (0D hex)
- | Checksum is enabled
- |
- |__<Y>es: Change the current values. Additional self-explanatory
- prompts will appear.
-
- Is your plotter connected to a <S>erial, or <P>arallel port?
- |
- | This prompt does not appear for serial only models.
- |
- |__<P>arallel: Plot data will be output to a parallel port.
- |
- |__<S>erial: Plot data will be output to a serial port using the
- selected protocol, baud rate, and character framing.
-
- Enter protocol number, 0 to 2:
-
- Available serial protocols are: 0 = ACKNAK
- 1 = XON/XOFF
- 2 = HARDWARE
-
- This setting is ignored when plotting to a file. This prompt
- does not appear if a parallel port is selected.
-
- Enter the serial baud rate, 9600 to 19200:
-
- Available baud rates are 9600 and 19200. This prompt does not
- appear if a parallel port is selected.
-
- Enter character framing number, 0 or 1:
-
- Available character framing: 0 = 7 bits, even parity, 1 stop bit
- 1 = 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit
-
- This prompt does not appear if a parallel port is selected.
-
- Enter port name, or address in hexadecimal:
-
- Enter the name or address of the port that the plotter is
- connected to.
-
- The following AutoCAD specific plot configuration can be changed
- during configuration or at plot time. Please refer to the AutoCAD
- Interface, Installation, and Performance Guide, and chapter 13 of the
- AutoCAD Reference Manual for additional information.
-
- Plot optimization level = 0
- Plot will NOT be written to a selected file
- Sizes are in Inches and the style is landscape
- Plot origin is at (0.00,0.00)
- Plotting area is 43.00 wide by 33.00 high (E size)
- Plot is NOT rotated
- Area fill will NOT be adjusted for pen width
- Hidden lines will NOT be removed
- Plot will be scaled to fit available area
-
- Please note that the driver automatically sets the AutoCAD optimization
- level to 0. This is the recommended setting for all CalComp plotters.
-