File format drivers send data to files and do not print on paper.
The system printer driver, plsys.dll, acts as a gateway to any previously installed Windows system printers. The printers or plotters can be locally connected or networked. The plsys.dll file sends raster information to a raster-capable Windows system printer.
Nonsystem drivers plot directly to many types of printers and plotters. The printers or plotters can be locally connected or networked.
During the configuration of nonsystem drivers, you are prompted to specify the kind of port to which the device is connected: serial (local), parallel (local), or network.
If the device has only one type of port, you are offered only two choices, the relevant local port (serial or parallel) or a network connection.
If the device is connected to a local port, you are prompted for the port to which it is connected. For parallel ports, the default is LPT1. For serial ports, the default is COM1. Change the port name if your device is connected to a different port. You can specify the port by name or by hexadecimal address.
If you specify that the device is connected to a network port, AutoCAD LT displays the Browse for Printer dialog box, in which you can specify a network printer. This usually involves browsing for the computer to which the device is connected and then browsing for the particular remote plotter.
If you choose a network printer connected to a computer that is running a different version of Windows, you might see a one-time prompt to install the Windows system driver for the remote device on your system. To use a remote plotter on the network, you must install a Windows system printer driver for the plotter on the remote computer and set permissions so that the plotter is shared. If the device is connected to the remote system using a serial port, you use Windows Control Panel to set the serial port parameters correctly to match the devices communication parameters and cabling. This involves setting the serial ports baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits, and handshaking. All of these must be properly configured before the device can be used. Verify that you can plot or print with the device by using the Windows system printer.
You can then use a nonsystem driver to plot to the device across the network. The Windows system printer driver is not involved in this, except to make the device browsable. The ADI nonsystem driver must be configured for the specific make and model of the device in use.
Table: Nonsystem Printers and Plotters Supported by AutoCAD LT