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1987-10-14
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PLOTMATE (V1.0)
An ACAD Plotting Utility Program
By
Jim McMillan and Bernie Goldberg
October 1987
Documentation for PLOTMATE
Version 1.0 October 1987.
At last, a program that offers a solution to the bottleneck
of batch plotting Autocad Drawing files.
PLOTMATE now allows the user to perform MULTIPLE PLOTS from either
a stand alone Plotstation, or ACAD workstation.
Installation
------------
The following steps will lead you through the setup and
installation procedure so that you may start using the
program as quickly as possible.
Requirements.
-------------
1> A Hard Disk. (Referred to as C: in this DOC file.)
2> A directory where the main executable ACAD files
reside, called "C:\ACAD".
3> A directory where PLOTMATE will look for the Drawing
files to process, called "C:\ACAD\PROJECTS".
4> A Plotter that is capable of automatically feeding
a new sheet of paper after each plot.
(This is discussed later.)
Now, lets look at each requirement individually.
1> The Hard disk.
This is more or less the only fixed requirement, since
PLOTMATE addresses several sub-directories including ACAD.
2> "C:\ACAD:"
If you do not have your main ACAD.EXE in a directory
called ACAD, then you should make that directory by using the
DOS command "MKDIR" or "MD". The syntax is:
MD C:\ACAD
This sets up a new directory where you can now load in your
main ACAD files. PLOTMATE works in part by changing into this
directory, then calling ACAD. PLOTMATE will not function
properly unless you address this setup.
You may however, utilize the DOS "SET" command to overcome this
by inserting an environmental spec in your "Autoexec.bat" file.
You might have something like:
SET ACAD = C:\CAD\MAIN
or wherever you keep your main exucutable files.
You must have the ACAD directory, even if it just acts as a dummy.
1
3> "C:\ACAD\PROJECTS"
Make a directory called "C:\ACAD\PROJECTS". After you
have created your ACAD directory as described above, then copy
or work from this directory with your drawing files.
PLOTMATE will look at this directory for your files, and again ,
if you do not follow this outline PLOTMATE will not operate
properly. You may however, use the DOS "SET" command and/or
the "PATH" command so that DOS can use the search path
environment. Refer to your DOS manual under "PATH" for more details.
Also refer to the section on "DLIST.EXE", this document.
4> The Plotter.
Of course, the best way to run PLOTMATE is with an autofeed
plotter such as the HP7550A (or compatible). I have used this
plotter with the "B-Size" sheet feed option for several
years. I also realize that there are as many plotters out
there as printers, and to address all of them would be
outside the scope of this document. If your plotter does not
have a sheet feed option, a work-around may be to take the
plotter off-line (Local) after each plot, then loading in a
fresh sheet of paper. You will have to experiment yourself to
see how your application works best with PLOTMATE.
Running PLOTMATE
At this point , you should have the following:
a> A directory called C:\ACAD, where the main
executable ACAD files reside.
b) A directory called "C:\ACAD\PROJECTS", where PLOTMATE
will look for the drawing files.
c) A auto-sheet feed plotter (optional).
The ARCed PLOTMCL.ARC is the Color version of the program.
There is also a black and white version called PLOTMBW.ARC
Now lets look to the ARCed file.
Contained within PLOTMCL.ARC should be the following:
READTHIS.DOC
PLOTMATE.DOC
PLOTMATE.EXE
MAKEFILE.EXE
START.BAT
DLIST.EXE
TMC.EXE
TC.DAT
* WARMBOOT.COM
(* Denotes a PD by others.)
You will require all of these files in order to get the
maximum from PLOTMATE.
2
Unpack the archive ,(use PKARC?), and copy all of the above
files into the root directory "C:\".
It is from the ROOT directory that you will execute the
program.
You will notice that there are (3) files that have filenames
beginning with "BW". These are black and white versions of
the program. If you want to use these, then you will have to
copy the normal (colour) versions to another disk or
directory, then rename the BW versions, as in
RENAME BWFILE.EXE MAKEFILE.EXE
Just repeat the procedure for the rest of the BW files.
First, make a list of drawings that you want to plot.
This is easily accomplished by using the "MAKEFILE" program.
Type "MAKEFILE" when in the ROOT directory,and press the return key.
The program will snap into action and begin to search through
the C:\ACAD\PROJECTS directory for your drawing files.
(Note: that if you have no drawing files in this directory,
then you will end up with and empty list.)
The count, sort message will appear on the screen and the
counting will be of every entry in the directory.
Next the file is sorted and cleaned of any unwanted
information. You are then left with a list of drawing files
only.
Secondly, the Plot option prompt is presented, and here you
may select to plot <A>ll of your files, or a <S>elected
group . For now press the "A" key on you keyboard, (you do
not have to press the RETURN key), you will see a list of
filenames appear on the left hand side of your screen. These
are the names that will be written out to the file "PLOT.LST".
PLOT.LST, becomes the working file for PLOTMATE.
IF you had selected the <S>elect option, you would have been
prompted by another set of options that allowed you to choose
from either a <S>elect group or <P>ick files.
The select group allows you to enter a search filespec to
allow more flexiblilty.
Note that your entry is case-sensitive, so that if you wanted
to plot all the files that begin with SECOND-FL then enter
that and PLOTMATE will write any filename beginning with that
string out to you plot list.
Picking files on the other hand, shows one by one the files
in the "C:\ACAD\PROJECTS" directory and prompts you for a
"Yes / No " response. By selecting either "Y" or "N" here
determines which files will be written out to disk.
Note: You also have the option of having your files plotted
as plot files. (Files with the extension of ".PLT".
You should then before running the main program, set up
from the ACAD configuration menu the "Plot to file" option.
Here again, you have flexiblilty and power.
Once you are comfortable with this section operates, we
can then address the main program.
3
The batch file "START.BAT" activates PLOTMATE, and then the plot
list is read into the program for processing.
To begin plotting then, simply type "START" and you are on
your way. (Assuming that your plotter is on etc.)
The first thing you will see is the Copyright message at
the top of the screen, then the following will be presented.
a) The number of drawings contained in the list.
b) The number and name of the current drawing.
c) The number of drawings remaining to plot.
d) The Plot time remaining.
With this information, you can determine how much time the
plot procedure will take, and if you wish, you can let the
program run overnight unattended.
Once PLOTMATE comes to the end of the plot list, the system
automatically reboots, bringing you back to the startup
state, (or activates your Autoexec.bat file to bring ACAD
back up again.) Are-boot is a MUST, in order to terminate the
program.
The Utilities
Apart from the utility program called "MAKFILE", I also
realized that users just might be set on NOT using the
"C:\ACAD\PROJECTS" directory, so the creation of DLIST.EXE.
DLIST.EXE
You should see at the top of the screen the following options.
<C>reate <A>ppend
You will select the <C>reate option by typing in the
letter "C" or" c". The rest of the program is menu driven and
most of the instructions on how to use are there. But for
the sake of example we will create a plot list.
The next screen that is presented to you, is the Create
file screen and it should look like this:
IN CREATE FILE MODE
You will be prompted for a Pathname, you only have to
enter it once.
Pathnames should be of the following format...
\ACAD\PROJECTS\
(This is used as the standard default directory)
OR for example:
A:2600- ANY OF THESE WILL WORK!
Enter pathname for Drawings >> ?
4
Here you are prompted for a Pathname. This is the
directory where the drawings you wish to plot reside as
shown in the example above. You may also add part of the
drawing number to the Pathname to make entry a little
easier. This is also shown above. We will enter imaginary
drawings for the sake of example.
So enter the following for the Pathname:
\ACAD\TEMP\1920-
The next screen to appear is the Data Entry Screen. And
it looks like this:
Enter Pathname for Drawings >> ? \ACAD\TEMP\1920-
>PRESS THE RETURN KEY WHEN COMPLETE<
Enter name of Drawing # 1 ?
As you can see, the top of the screen shows the Pathname
that we typed in, and this is there to remind you of
where you are plotting from. Next we will enter the name
of our first drawing, that is : 101
As you can see, it is now very easy to add drawings. All
you are doing is adding the last three digits of the
drawing name. The pathname supplies the rest.
Next add 102 AND FINALLY 103.
We have added Three imaginary numbers and we wish to end
now. So press the Enter or the Return key.
You will now see how many files are added to the list and
the DONE! flag. You are then returned to the C: prompt.
Examining the List.
To see the list that you have just created type the
following at the C: prompt.
TYPE PLOT.LST (Press Return or Enter)
The contents of the Plot list are displayed on the
screen, and should look like the following.
\ACAD\TEMP\1920-101
\ACAD\TEMP\1920-102
\ACAD\TEMP\1920-103
ENDIT
Don't worry about the ENDIT at the end of the list,
that is added to all lists as an <EOF> marker.
5
You may also add drawings to your existing list by
selection the <A>ppend option , you are then
presented with the Pathname screen and next the Data
entry screen. The other feature is, the drawing number
you are prompted for, is the next available number on the
list. That means if you were to add to our list above,
the prompt would look like this:
\ACAD\TEMP\1920-101
\ACAD\TEMP\1920-102
\ACAD\TEMP\1920-103
Enter name of Drawing # 4 ?
This reminds you of how many Drawings you have in your
plot list so as not to exceed the Maximum recommended
number of drawings, as described next.
Limitations and ERROR Messages.
Sometimes a great number of Drawings are required to plot
and in these cases the maximum number of names to a list
is set at 50. This is because the pen in the plotter will
usually dry out after plotting this many.
( Note that this average was calculated using the Hewlett
Packard HP755A plotter, with a drawing file average size
of 28,000 bytes. )
If the drawings are of a heavy concentration, you should
limit your plot list to a maximum of 30 or 35.
You will receive a prompt after you have entered Drawing
number 50, and this reminds you that you have reached the
maximum recommended amount, and offers you the option of
ending the list or continuing with the list.
Once you exceed the recommended 50, you will be prompted
again PER DRAWING to stop or continue. This checking
feature is also activated in the APPEND mode.
The alarm feature is not persistant when using "MAKEFILE".
Once makefile senses that you have reached 50 drawings, you
are alerted to this and the program then proceeds as normal.
If you have to remove a name from the list, then you have
to use either a word processor, or a line editor.
Refer to your DOS manual under "EDLIN" for a simple line
editor.
NOTE: DO NOT ADD THE ".DWG" EXTENSION TO THE FILENAMES. That
is NOT required for program execution.
With this information behind you, you should be well on your
way to a happy and contented plotting life. I have of course
spent a great deal of time in the construction of this
program , utilities and documentation. There will be problems
that are not foreseen, and no doubt bugs to be found. I hope
that you find the programs as usefull as I have, and that
this offers a practical solution for your plotting
bottleneck.
6
Errors- and how to deal with them.
If while the plot program is running, a power failure
occurs, or for some reason you have to terminate the
procedure, then you should do the following:
One of the files that PLOTMATE creates, is called "CURRENT".
This file resides in the root directory. You should erase it
by using the command, "ERASE C:\CURRENT", before you restart
your plots again. If wish to run the MAKEFILE program, then
that program will automatically when called up, delete the
file for you.
If when starting to plot, you notice that that the current
drawing number does not reflect the actual drawing that
should be plotting, then again the culprit is probably
the "CURRENT" file. Delete it and start your plot again.
The Time constant "T" and how to modify.
Another feature of PLOTMATE, is that you can modify the time constant
"TC". This value represent the time taken (as an average) to plot
one drawing.
The program "TMC.EXE", allows the user to change the value
in the file called "TC.DAT", and therefore customizing this variable
to suit the needs. You may use EDLIN.COM, or a word processor to
modify this file, in that case you might prefer to delete the basic
program "TMC.EXE" from your disk. In anycase the variable is at your
command.
Disclaimer:
In no event will the authors of these programs
be liable for any loss or damage arising from the use or
misuse of this program, even if the author has been advised of
the possibility of such damages.
7
The Public Domain Concept
As stated earlier, a great deal of time and effort has been
put into this program so as to overcome the plotting
difficulty. Many Companies have had to hire part-time
students just to type the names of the plot files into the
computer after each plot, so as to get drawings out.
We had a certain amount of difficulty in deciding how to deal
with the problen of distributing PLOTMATE. We have not put any
reminders of payment onto the executable files, since I find
this an annoyance. But we do ask that if you find these
program of use to you then a donation of $50.00 Canadian is
asked. Although we could have distributed the program
commercially, we trust that a great deal of ACAD users will
find themselves better of for the use of this program. We
encourage you to distribute the program smong your friends.
but at no time should you sell it to another user.
If you find that the $50.00 is a burden, then send what you
feel you can, what your pocketbook can afford. We are sure
that you will see a return on your investment in the first
day or so of running PLOTMATE.
Thank you for using the program and please address your
contributions to the address below.
Make out your check or moneyorder to the following:
ATT: JIM MCMILLAN,
C/O MOORE INSTRUMENTS,
P.O. BOX #370,
BRAMPTON,ONTARIO,
CANADA
L6V 2L3
Time permitting, you may contact me through either Compuserve
at ID#72067-2076, or in CANADA through the PCanada BBS
where my ID# is PC1806.
Other Considerations.
I also realize that customization of PLOTMATE in certain
cases might prove to be even more effective. If this is the
case, and you feel that a custom PLOTMATE is required,
arrangements might be considered, time permitting.
To discuss the matter further, leave a message at either of
the above numbers with your requirement.
END
