AutoCAD(R) Release 12c2 for DOS 386 -- Spooling to Network Devices
The capabilities in AutoCAD Release 12c2 for DOS 386 have been improved to better support plotting in network environments. AutoCAD can now plot directly to network captured or re-directed ports, and automatically spool plots to multiple network plotters or printers. These and other enhancements are documented in the README.DOC file in the AutoCAD directory.
Two examples of using these plotting enhancements are shown below. In the first, AutoCAD is configured to plot directly to printers and plotters via Novell captured ports. In the second, AutoCAD's Autospooling feature is used to send plots automatically to network print queues.
Plotting to Network Captured Ports
1) Determine which network-captured or re-directed ports connect to which network queues. On a Novell network, use the CAPTURE command with the /SHOW option to obtain information about captured ports:
C:> CAPTURE /SHOW
LPT1: Capturing data to server 2MPSPRINT queue HP_LASERJET_PLUS.
User will not be notified after the files are printed.
2) Create a plotter configuration for each output device available on the network.
For example, to plot to the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet III shown in Novell's CAPTURE command above, issue the following steps:
a. Start AutoCAD.
b. Use the CONFIGURE command to add a plotter configuration.
c. Select the driver, "Hewlett-Packard (PCL) Laser Autodesk".
d. Select the supported model, "HP LaserJet III".
e. Select the printer connection type, "Parallel".
f. Select the correct paper tray, resolution, and number of copies.
g. Specify whether or not to delete downloaded fonts and macros.
* h. Select the appropriate communication port, "LPT1:".
i. Enter a description for the plotter, "techps_pcl".
j. Exit the plotter configuration menu and configuration menus.
* Note: AutoCAD displays both the available port names, e.g., LPT1:, and hexadecimal port addresses, e.g., 3BC. Selecting a port name causes AutoCAD to send directly to that network device. To plot to a local device specify the hexadecimal port address.
3) Issue the PLOT command, and select the printer under the "Device and Default Selection..." option.
Plotting with AutoCAD's AUTOSPOOL Feature
1) Add the environment variable ACADPLCMD to your system startup files or the batch file which starts AutoCAD.
SET ACADPLCMD=C:\SPFILES\PLOT.BAT %%s %%c
The percent characters %s and %c pass the plotfile name and plotter description, respectively, to the batch program.
Note: When specifying percent signs in a batch file, use two percent signs. The MS-DOS batch file processor automatically suppresses the first one.
2) Using the Configure Operating Parameters menu under the Configure menu, specify "AUTOSPOOL" as the default plot file name.
3) Using the Configure Operating Parameters menu under the Configure menu, specify a plot spooler directory such as C:\SPFILES to receive the plot files.
Note: AutoCAD will not automatically create the plot spooler directory.
4) Use AutoCAD's CONFIG command to create plotter configurations for each printer or plotter available on the network.
5) Specify that each plotter configuration will plot to a file.
6) Give each plotter configuration a plotter description which matches the network queue name:
0. Exit to plotter configuration menu
1. Hewlett-Packard (PCL) LaserJet ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
Description: HP_LaserJet_III
2. PostScript device ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
Description: TI_Omnilaser
3. Hewlett-Packard (HP-GL/2) ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
Description: DesignJet_600
4. PostScript device ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
Description: Phaser_III
5. Hewlett-Packard (HP-GL/2) ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
Description: HP_Laser_IIIsi_HPGL2
6. PostScript device ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
Description: HP_Laser_IIIsi_PostScript
7. Hewlett-Packard (PCL) LaserJet ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
Description: HP_Laser_IIIsi_PCL
Note: If non-alphanumeric characters are placed in the plotter description, AutoCAD will automatically replace them with underscores when passing them to the plot spooler.
7) Create a batch file in the plot spooler directory that will send the plots to their respective printers and plotters:
Note: In this example, the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIIsi can receive PostScript, HP-GL/2, and PCL files.
Note: Novell networks can use a feature called Jobnames to make plot spooling easier. If Jobnames are available, specify the AutoCAD plotter configuration description (step number 6 above), to have the same name as the Novell Jobname. Pass both the plot name and the Jobname in the plot spooling batch file:
@echo off
if "%2"=="HP_Laser_IIIsi_HPGL2" goto SPECIAL
if "%2"=="HP_Laser_IIIsi_PostScript" goto SPECIAL
if "%2"=="HP_Laser_IIIsi_PCL" goto SPECIAL
nprint %1 jobname=%2 >nul
goto END
:SPECIAL
nprint %1 jobname=techps >nul
goto END
:END
del %1 >nul
8) To plot to a network printer, use the PLOT dialogue and select the appropriate printer configuration under the "Device and Default Selection..." option.
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