Copyright: PPW Help, version 0.5 -- Copyright © 1997, Insight Development Corporation.
Citation: PrintAPlot for Windows Help, Copyright © 1997, Insight Development Corporation


PrintAPlot basics

PrintAPlot for Windows lets you use your laser, ink jet, or dot-matrix graphics printer to produce images on paper from plotter files created by a graphics or modeling program. There are a number of advantages to rendering drawings on a desktop printer instead of a traditional plotter. Although well suited to the task of producing precise, high-quality graphics output, traditional plotters are often large, expensive, and relatively slow. The printer provides a fast, efficient alternative when you do not need a full-scale, one-piece plot, when the office plotter is tied up with another job, or when you need to produce many copies of a drawing. Graphic artists working at home may often find it convenient to print out plotter files without having to take them to a service bureau or wait until they return to the office.

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Printing vs. plotting

How PrintAPlot works

Starting PrintAPlot


Printing vs. plotting

Most computer users are familiar with the various types of printer used with personal computers in homes and offices, from older daisy-wheel devices, through the dot-matrix types, to the now standard ink-jet and laser printers. Except for the very oldest, most of these are capable of producing not only text, but also graphics, at resolutions from 150 to 720 dpi (dots per inch) and even higher. Color printers, once the domain of high-end documentation departments and printing-service bureaus, have also become less expensive and more available.

The world of computer-assisted design and drafting, on the other hand, developed a specialized type of output device: the plotter, more suited to the specific needs of architectural and engineering graphics work. Originally, plotters put lines on paper using a set of pens of various widths and colors. They were vector devices, which understood a line in mathematical terms: starting from a given point and extending in a given direction for a specified distance. Standard graphics printers, in contrast, are raster devices, rendering all images, including lines, as a collection of individual points, each with its own position, color, size, and density.

Today, technology has changed so that in many fundamental ways the distinction between plotters and printers no longer exists. Both devices now use the same ink-jet technology, and a number of models can read both vector and raster data. CAD drawing programs, however, continue to use the earlier terminology and refer to line style, thickness, and color as if they were being drawn by actual “pens.” Other differences continue to be meaningful; for instance, plotters are often quite large, holding rolls of paper (or other media such as polyester film) four feet wide or more. They can print to the edge of the paper, as most printers cannot, and usually print in landscape mode (with the long edges of the paper at the top and bottom).

Starting PrintAPlot

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How PrintAPlot works

Most specialized CAD and drawing programs are designed to send the drawings they create to a plotter, either as a series of instructions specific to a particular plotter model, or now more commonly in a standard vector-graphics language called HP-GL/2, an updated and more capable version of the original HP-GL (Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language). The graphic artist saves each drawing to an HP-GL/2 file—conventionally with the extension .PLT—which can then be printed to any plotter that can interpret the HP-GL/2 instruction set.

Few printers, however, can interpret HP-GL or HP-GL/2 commands, so they cannot print directly from the .PLT files that drawing programs create. PrintAPlot reads these files and translates the vector commands into a raster format recognized by virtually all modern graphics printers. On printers that can accept HP-GL/2, PrintAPlot provides an added measure of flexibility and control over the printed output.

Starting PrintAPlot

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Starting PrintAPlot

You can start PrintAPlot from the Windows Start menu, the desktop, or Windows Explorer.  To start PrintAPlot now, click here:

Related topic:

Quitting PrintAPlot


Starting from the Windows Start menu
Starting PrintAPlot from the Windows Start menu

The PrintAPlot installation program adds a new program group, PrintAPlot for Windows, to your Windows Start menu. To run PrintAPlot from the Start menu, choose Programs : PrintAPlot for Windows : PrintAPlot.


Starting from the desktop
Starting PrintAPlot from the desktop

Create a desktop shortcut for PrintAPlot. You can then run PrintAPlot by either double-clicking the shortcut icon or dragging plot files to it from Windows Explorer or My Computer.


Starting from Windows Explorer
Starting PrintAPlot from Windows Explorer

To start PrintAPlot directly from Windows Explorer, first select one or more plot files. (Plot files must have the extension .PLT.) Then do either of the following:

•	Double-click on a selected plot file. PrintAPlot starts and adds the files you selected to the Plot List.

–or–

•	Right-click on a selected plot file. Then from the right-click menu, choose:

Open to display the main PrintAPlot window and add the file to the Plot List,

Preview to see the selected files in PPW Preview, or

Print to begin printing the selected plot files immediately.

Note: To enable PrintAPlot to run when you double-click a plot file, the extension .PLT must be associated with PrintAPlot in the Windows Registry. If you instructed PrintAPlot’s installation program not to register itself with Windows, you can do it manually by choosing Options : File Types from the View menu in Windows Explorer or My Computer.


Could not locate program: PPW.EXE.


Creating a desktop shortcut

1.	In Windows Explorer or My Computer, select the program you want to create a shortcut to, for example, C:\PROGRAMFILES\PPW\\PPW.EXE.

2.	On the File menu, click Create Shortcut. Windows places a new “shortcut” icon in the folder.

3.	Drag the shortcut icon onto the desktop.


Quitting PrintAPlot

To exit PrintAPlot, do any of the following:

•	From the menu, choose File : Exit.

•	Click the Close button at the upper right corner of the PrintAPlot window.

•	Press <Alt-F4> on the keyboard.


Managing plot files

The main PrintAPlot window contains a menu bar, a toolbar, the PPW Explorer pane, and the Plot List.

•	The menu bar gives mouse and keyboard access to all PPW commands.

•	The toolbar provides one-click buttons for the most-used functions.

•	The PPW Explorer provides access to the plot files on your computer.

•	The Plot List is where you organize your work and select files for printing or previewing.


PPW Explorer

The PPW Explorer is a view of your computer’s directory structure. It provides a tree view much like that of Windows Explorer, with one important difference: whereas the Windows Explorer tree shows only folders, the PPW Explorer displays folders and files. You can navigate through the tree and double-click, right-click, or drag and drop individual files from PPW Explorer to add them to the Plot List, where they become available for printing and previewing.

Showing all files

By default, PPW Explorer shows only files with the extension .PLT. To display all files (*.*), choose View : Show all files from the menu.

Note: Displaying all files does not make additional file types available for printing; PrintAPlot always prints only plot files. The Show all files option is useful as a navigational aid, by making it easier to identify what other files a given folder contains.

Refreshing the display

If you make changes to the files on your drives outside of PrintAPlot—for example by adding, deleting, or renaming files using Windows Explorer or another application—you may need to refresh the PPW Explorer display. To update the files list, choose View : Refresh from the menu.

Note: You cannot delete, copy, move, or rename files using PPW Explorer.


The Plot List

The Plot List, in the right-hand pane of the main PrintAPlot window, is a workspace where you create a list of the plot files you want to work with during the current session. From here, you can select a subset of these files for further action—previewing, printing, or changing settings.

Adding files to the Plot List

Removing files from the Plot List

Sorting the Plot List

Selecting files in the Plot List


Adding files to the Plot List

Once the PrintAPlot main window is open and the Plot List is visible, you can add more plot files to it from PPW Explorer. To add a file from PPW Explorer to the Plot List, do any of the following:

•	Double-click on the file name in PPW Explorer

•	Drag a file from PPW Explorer to the Plot List

•	Right-click on a file and choose Add to Plot List from the right-click menu

•	Select a file and choose Plot List : Add to List from the PPW menu (or click the Add button on the PPW toolbar)

The status bar at the bottom of the PPW window reports the total number of files in the Plot List and how many of them are selected.

PPW Explorer only allows you to select one file at a time. You can, however, select an entire folder to add all the .PLT files in that folder (but not its subfolders) to the list. You can also add multiple files to the Plot List by selecting them in a Windows Explorer window and dragging them onto the open PrintAPlot window.

 Tip: If you want to move all but one or two plot files from a folder to the Plot List, drag and drop the folder icon to add all the .PLT files, then select and remove the ones you don’t want.

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Removing files from the Plot List

1.	In the Plot List, select the files you want to remove.

2.	Right-click on any of the selected files.

3.	Choose Remove from List from the right-click menu.

(Or choose Remove from List from the Plot List menu, or click Remove on the toolbar.)

Note: Removing a file only takes it off the Plot List; it does not delete it from your disk. If you want to physically delete a file from disk, use Windows Explorer or another file management program.

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Sorting the Plot List

The Plot List always displays the full path and name of each plot file. In addition, you can expand the display to show three more columns of information for each file: its last-modified date, the name of its associated settings sheet, and its current print status. To show full Plot List information, choose View : Details from the menu.

You can change the order of files in the Plot List by changing its sort order. To sort the list on any of the four columns, click once on the header at the top of the column. To reverse the sort order, click again.

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Selecting files in the Plot List

In order to print, preview, or change settings for a file in the Plot List, you must select it—most functions are disabled until you select one or more files.

The PrintAPlot toolbar provides buttons for frequently used selection criteria:

•	Select All highlights all files on the list.

•	Select Printed highlights all files that you have sent to the printer during this session, whether or not printing was successful.

•	Select Unprinted highlights only those files that have a reported print status of “Unprinted.” To reset all files on the list to “Unprinted,” click the button for Clear All Print Status on the toolbar (or choose Plot List : Clear All Print Status from the menu).

The status bar at the bottom of the PPW window reports the total number of files in the Plot List and how many of them are selected.

Note: There is an important exception to the rule that you must select files in the Plot List before you can perform any action on them: The Print All command immediately sends all Plot List files to the printer, selected or not.

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To select files in Windows lists and dialogs:

To select a single file, click on it with the mouse or highlight it with the spacebar. To select multiple files, press <Control> while clicking each item. If all the items you want to select come together in the list, click on the first item to select it, then hold the <Shift> key while clicking the last item.


The PrintAPlot menu

The PrintAPlot main window menus provide mouse and keyboard access to all program functions. Click an item on the graphic below for details.

Help on the Plot List

Help on settings sheets


The PrintAPlot File menu
PPW File menu


Print Selected

Sends the selected files from the Plot List to the printer.


Print All

Sends all the files in the Plot List to the printer, ignoring selections.


Preview

Opens the PPW Preview window to view the selected plot files.

Help on PPW Preview


Preferences

Accesses the Preferences dialog for setting program options.


Exit

Closes the PrintAPlot main window and exits.


The PrintAPlot View menu
PPW View menu


Hiding and displaying the toolbar

To toggle the toolbar display on and off, choose View : Toolbar from the menu.


Toggles the toolbar display on and off.


Show all files

To show all files in the PPW Explorer tree, choose View : Show All Files from the PPW menu.

To show .PLT files only, choose View : Show .PLT Only.


Show All Files and Show .PLT Only determine whether the PPW Explorer displays all files or only those with the extension .PLT.


List and Details toggle the Plot List display between path + file name only and the full four-column display, including settings sheet name, last-modified date, and print status.


Refreshing the files list
Refresh files list

To update the PPW Explorer files list, choose View : Refresh from the menu.


Updates the PPW Explorer view to reflect the current files on your computer.


The PrintAPlot Plot List menu
PPW Plot List menu


Select All

Highlights all files in the Plot List.


Select Printed

Highlights all files in the Plot List that have been sent to the printer during the current session.


Select Unprinted

Highlights all files in the Plot List that have not been sent to the printer during the current session.


Clear All Print Status

To reset the Print Status field to Unprinted for all entries, click Clear All Print Status on the PPW main window toolbar (or choose Plot List : Clear All Print Status from the menu).


Clear All Print Status

Resets the Print Status field to Unprinted for all entries.


Add to List

Adds a selected file to the Plot List from PPW Explorer.


Remove from List

Removes selected files from the Plot List.


The PrintAPlot Settings sheets menu
PPW Settings sheets menu


Sheet List

Opens the Settings Sheet Manager dialog box, which you use to create a new settings sheet, edit an existing settings sheet, or assign a different settings sheet to selected plot files.


Listing settings sheets

To display a list of available settings sheets, choose Settings Sheets : Sheet List from the PrintAPlot menu.


Assign sheet

Displays a list of available settings sheets. Click on one of these to associate it with all the selected files.


Edit selected

Loads the settings for the selected files in the PPW Settings window. If all the selected files do not share the same settings sheet, this item is disabled.


New sheet

Opens the PPW Settings window with all values set to the PrintAPlot defaults, to allow you to create a new named settings sheet. If you have selected files in the Plot List, PrintAPlot automatically assigns the new sheet to those files.


PrintAPlot Help menu
PPW Help menu

Contains commands for accessing the online Help system and program information.


The PrintAPlot toolbar

The PrintAPlot main window toolbar contains buttons for the most-used functions. Click a button on the graphic for details.

Hiding and moving the toolbar:

To toggle the toolbar on and off, choose View : Toolbar from the menu.

You can move the toolbar anywhere within the PrintAPlot window, by pointing to a blank space (between icons) on the toolbar and dragging it to where you want it. It will become a “floating” toolbar, with a small title bar and a Close button. If you drag it to the left, right, or bottom edge of the PrintAPlot window, the toolbar will “dock” along the edge of the window.


Preview

Activates the PPW Preview window to view selected files from the Plot List or PPW Explorer.


Edit settings sheet

Loads the settings for the selected files in the PPW Settings window. If all the selected files do not share the same settings sheet, this button is disabled.


Previewing plot files

PPW Preview provides a print preview of plot files you select, showing how they will look using the current settings. Each file you select for previewing appears in a separate, resizable child window with the file’s name and the name of its associated settings sheet in the title bar.

Starting PPW Preview

Adding files to the Preview window

Printing from PPW Preview

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Starting PPW Preview

Automatic start and stop

PPW Preview normally starts along with the main PrintAPlot program window whenever you run PrintAPlot. (You can disable this feature in the PrintAPlot Preferences dialog.) It runs minimized as an icon on the Windows taskbar, until you select one or more files in the Plot List and then do one of the following:

•	Right-click on one of the selected files and choose Preview from the right-click menu.

•	Click the Preview button on the PPW main toolbar.

•	Choose Preview from the PPW File menu.

Because PPW Preview is actually a separate executable program, you can also start it directly from the Windows Start menu, the desktop, or Windows Explorer.

To run PPW Preview directly from Windows, do any of the following:

•	From the Windows Start menu, choose Programs : PrintAPlot for Windows : PPW Preview.

•	Create a desktop shortcut icon for PPW Preview, and run the program by either double-clicking the icon or dragging plot files to it from Windows Explorer.

•	Select one or more plot (.PLT) files in Windows Explorer, then right-click on any of the selected files and choose PPW Preview from the right-click menu.

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Adding files to the Preview window

Once the PPW Preview window is open, you can add files to it from either the PPW Plot List or Windows Explorer.

To add files from the PPW Plot List:

1.	In the Plot List, select the files you want to add to the Preview window.

2.	Click Preview.

To add files from Windows Explorer:

1.	Select one or more plot (.PLT) files in Windows Explorer.

2.	Choose Preview from the right-click menu, as above,

–or–

Drag the files to the open PPW Preview window.

PPW Preview adds more child windows for the new files without removing the existing ones. You can organize and select the individual windows using the commands on PPW Preview’s Windows menu.

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Printing from PPW Preview

1.	In PPW Preview, click on the window displaying the drawing you want to print.

2.	From the menu, choose File : Print (or click Print on the toolbar).

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Preview resolution and resizing

If you resize a PPW Preview child window, the image in it grows or shrinks so that the whole image is always in view. How fast the images load and how much detail they retain depend on the initial display size you select.

To change the initial display size of preview images:

1.	From the PPW Preview menu, choose File : Preferences.

2.	In the Preferences dialog, click Preview resolution.

3.	Select a value of “Small,” “Medium,” or “Large.”

Choosing “Small” allows images to load faster, but they will lose some detail if you enlarge them. A value of “Large” lets you enlarge images without losing so much detail, but slows down loading and resizing.

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Viewing a drawing with different settings

You can select a different settings sheet to see what a drawing will look like if you print it with alternate settings.

To preview a drawing with different settings:

1.	From the PPW Preview menu, choose View : Different settings.

2.	Select a named settings sheet from the list and click OK.

PPW Preview opens a new window for the plot, so that you can see it alongside the first one. If you click Add to Plot List while this new window is active, PrintAPlot adds a new instance of the file to the Plot List, with the new settings sheet attached.

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Adding files to the Plot List from PPW Preview

1.	Make sure the file you want to add to the Plot List is in the active PPW Preview window.

2.	From the PPW Preview menu, choose File : Add to Plot List (or click Add on the toolbar).

If it was not already running, PrintAPlot now appears on the Windows taskbar, and the file you are viewing appears in the Plot List.

Note: If the file is already in the Plot List, clicking Add adds it to the Plot List again.

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PPW Preview menu
The PPW Preview menu

The menu bar provides mouse and keyboard access to all PPW Preview functions. Click on an item in the graphic for details.

{Insert graphic of top-level menus}

File	View	Window	Help
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PPW Preview File menu

{graphic of File menu}

Open

Print

Add to Plot List

Run PrintAPlot

Preferences

Exit


Displays a browse dialog to let you search for plot files to open in PPW Preview.


Prints the file in the active PPW Preview child window.


Opens the PrintAPlot main window and adds the file in the active window to the Plot List.


Opens the main PrintAPlot window, if it is not already open.


Opens the PPW Preview Preferences dialog, for setting program options.


Closes PPW Preview.


PPW Preview View menu
The PPW Preview View menu

{graphic of View menu}

Toolbar

Different Settings


Toolbar

Toggles display of the PPW Preview toolbar on and off.


Different Settings

Opens another view of the same plot file with a different named settings sheet.


PPW Preview Window menu
The PPW Preview Window menu

Provides standard Windows commands to cascade, tile, or close all the PPW Preview child windows.


PPW Preview Help menu
The PPW Preview Help menu

Provides access to the online Help system and program information.


PPW Preview toolbar
The PPW Preview toolbar

The PPW Preview window toolbar contains buttons for the most-used functions. Click on the graphic for details.

{insert graphic of PPV toolbar to replace the following text}

•	Print

•	Add to Plot List

•	Run PrintAPlot

Hiding and moving the toolbar:

To toggle the toolbar display on and off, choose View : Toolbar from the menu.

You can move the toolbar anywhere within the PPW Preview window, by pointing to a blank space (between icons) on the toolbar and dragging it to where you want it. It will become a “floating” toolbar, with a small title bar and a close button. If you drag it to the left, right, or bottom edge, the toolbar will “dock” along the edge of the window.

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Printing plot files

You can send plot files to your printer from the PrintAPlot Plot List, the PPW Preview window, or directly from Windows.

Choose a topic:

Printing selected files from the Plot List

Printing all the files in the Plot List

Printing from a PPW Preview window

Printing from Windows Explorer

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Printing selected files
Printing selected files from the Plot List

1.	In the Plot List, Select the files you want to print.

2.	Right-click on any of the selected files.

3.	Choose Print from the right-click menu.

(Or choose File : Print Selected from the menu, or click Print Selected on the toolbar.)

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Printing all files in the Plot List
Printing all the files in the Plot List

1.	From the PPW menu, choose File : Print All (or click Print All on the toolbar).

PrintAPlot sends all the files on the Plot List to the printer, disregarding any selections.

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Printing from Windows Explorer

To print plot files from Windows Explorer or My Computer:

1.	In Windows Explorer or My Computer, select the .PLT files you want to print.

2.	Right-click on any of the selected files.

3.	Choose Print from the right-click menu.

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Understanding the Print Queue Manager

When you send a command to print a plot file—whether from the Plot List, a PPW Preview window, Windows Explorer, or from within AutoCAD—PrintAPlot handles the request through its Print Queue Manager.

Print Queue Manager presents a list of all the plot files which are waiting to be printed from PrintAPlot. As you add more files to the print queue, Print Queue Manager appends them to the list.  As PrintAPlot converts each file to raster format for sending to the Windows print spooler, Print Queue Manager displays the name of the file it is processing and a progress meter.  A Status column next to the file’s name displays its current print status. (The status message is also echoed in the Plot List, in the main PrintAPlot window.)

Once it has started, Print Queue Manager stays running until all files in the queue have been sent to the printer, even if you close the PPW main and Preview windows. Closing the Print Queue Manager window minimizes the program to an icon in the Windows system tray, but does not stop it or cancel the pending print jobs.

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Pausing printing

To suspend processing of current print jobs:

1.	If the Print Queue Manager window is not open, click the icon on the Windows taskbar to open it.

2.	Click Pause.

Print Queue Manager finishes rasterizing the current job, then halts further processing until you click Resume.

Note: Pausing jobs in Print Queue Manager applies only to PrintAPlot jobs. It will not affect any jobs that other applications may have sent to the Windows print spooler.


Canceling print jobs

To remove one or more files from the print queue:

1.	If the Print Queue Manager window is not open, click the icon on the Windows taskbar to open it.

2.	Select the file(s) you want to remove.

3.	Click Remove.

You can remove a print job from Print Queue Manager at any time until the rasterization process has finished; after that you must use the Windows Print Manager to stop a job.


Windows Print Manager

To cancel a print job using the Windows Print Manager:

1.	In Windows Control Panel, click Printers.

2.	Double-click the icon for the printer you are using.

3.	In the list, click the document you want to cancel.

4.	On the Document menu, click Cancel Printing.


Print status messages

The Print Queue Manager and the PPW Plot List report the following statuses for files in the print queue:

Unprinted

Pending

Rasterizing

Rasterization error

Deleted from queue

Spooled to <printer name> on <port>

Printing on <printer name> on <port>

Printing stalled on <printer name> on <port>

Printing paused on <printer name> on <port>

Printing error on <printer name> on <port>

Printed (with date and time)

To reset all files on the list to “Unprinted,” click the button for Clear all print status on the toolbar (or choose Plot List : Clear all print status from the menu).

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Setting program preferences

Both the PrintAPlot main window and PPW Preview let you set a number of options that control how PrintAPlot starts and behaves. To access the Preferences dialog in either PPW or PPW Preview, choose File : Preferences from the menu. You will see different options depending on whether you open Preferences from the PrintAPlot main window or PPW Preview.

PrintAPlot main window Preferences:

Keep Files on Plot List After Successful Printing

Remember Plot List

Start and Stop Preview with PrintAPlot

Settings Sheet Location

PPW Preview Preferences:

Preview Resolution

Start and Stop Printaplot with Preview


Keep files on Plot List after successful printing

By default, PrintAPlot removes each file from the Plot List when the Print Queue Manager returns a successful print status message. To keep files on the Plot List after they are printed:

1.	From the PrintAPlot menu, choose File : Preferences.

2.	In the Preferences dialog, check the box labeled Keep Files on Plot List After Successful Printing.

 Tip: If you usually work with the same group of plot files every time you run PrintAPlot, check both Keep Files on Plot List and Remember Plot List so that PrintAPlot will start with the same list every time.


Remember Plot List

Normally, PrintAPlot discards the Plot List when you exit. To have PrintAPlot remember and restore your Plot List the next time it starts:

1.	From the PrintAPlot menu, choose File : Preferences.

2.	In the Preferences dialog, check the box labeled Remember Plot List Between Sessions.

If you have “Remember Plot List” turned on, PrintAPlot appends any files you add (by double-clicking, right-clicking, or dragging from Windows Explorer) to the remembered Plot List.

Note: PrintAPlot remembers the Plot List as it was when you last exited. If, in the meantime, you have deleted a file from disk, renamed it, or moved it to another folder, PrintAPlot will not be aware that the file is missing until you try to print or view it, and will produce an error message.


Start and stop Preview with PPW

Normally, when you start the PrintAPlot main window, the PPW Preview window also runs, as a minimized icon on the Windows taskbar. When you close the main window, the viewer also closes. To change this behavior so that you can run PrintAPlot without starting PPW Preview:

1.	From the PrintAPlot menu, choose File : Preferences.

2.	In the Preferences dialog, clear the check mark from the box labeled Start and Stop Preview with PPW.

Note: If you turn off the automatic start and stop option, you can still start PPW Preview at any time from the PrintAPlot main window.


Settings sheet location

By default, PrintAPlot keeps any named settings sheets you create in a folder named SETTINGS within the main program folder (C:\PROGRAMFILES\PPW\\). To change this location:

1.	From the PrintAPlot menu, choose File : Preferences.

2.	In the Preferences dialog, under Settings Sheet Location, enter the path and name of the folder where you want to store your settings sheets, or locate it with the Browse button.

Note: The PrintAPlot default settings sheet, named DEFAULT.SS, always resides in the main program directory, and is not affected by changes in Settings Sheet Location.


Preview resolution

When you open a plot file in PPW Preview, PrintAPlot selects a size and resolution that should provide an efficient compromise between speed and detail. You may want to change the default initial preview size, for example if you have an exceptionally fast or slow computer or don’t need to resize the preview images.

To change the default initial preview size:

1.	From the PrintAPlot menu, choose File : Preferences.

2.	In the Preferences dialog, check the box labeled Preview Resolution.

3.	Select a value of Small, Medium, or Large.

“Small” images will load faster, but they will lose detail if you make them larger by resizing the preview window. Setting the preview resolution to “Large” lets you resize the images without losing detail, but increases the time each image takes to load.


Start and stop PrintAPlot with Preview

Normally, when you start the PPW Preview window, the PrintAPlot main window also runs, minimized on the Windows taskbar. When you close the viewer, the main window also shuts down. To change this behavior so that the PrintAPlot main window does not start and stop automatically along with PPW Preview:

1.	From the PPW Preview menu, choose File : Preferences.

2.	In the Preferences dialog, clear the check mark from the box labeled Start and Stop PPW with Preview.

Note: If you turn off the automatic start and stop option, you can still start the PrintAPlot main window at any time from PPW Preview by clicking the PrintAPlot button on the toolbar (or choosing File : Run PrintAPlot from the menu).


Keyboard shortcuts

You can use the following keyboard shortcuts to access PrintAPlot for Windows functions:

In the PrintAPlot main window:

<Insert>	Add to Plot List

<Delete>	Remove from Plot List

<Control-N>	Create new settings sheet

<Control-P>	Print selected files

<Control-S>	Select all files in Plot List

<Control-V>	Preview

<F5>	Refresh files list

In PPW Preview:

<Control-O>	Open a file


Understanding settings sheets

PrintAPlot for Windows associates every file in the Plot List with a settings sheet, which keeps track of the plot, pen, and printer settings that PrintAPlot will use when printing that file. For any combination of settings you want to use regularly, you can create a new settings sheet, give it a descriptive name, and assign it to whatever files you want to print with those settings—for example “LaserJet” for plots that you want to print on a specific printer, “Full Size” for drawings you want to render at 100% scaling, or “Acme” for drawings to be sent to a customer with specific requirements.

Choose a topic:

• Creating a new settings sheet	• Plot Settings
• Editing an existing settings sheet	• Pen Settings
• Assigning a named settings sheet to a file	• Printer Settings
• Renaming a settings sheet
• Deleting a settings sheet
  Related topics


Default sheet and named sheets

As long as a file remains on the Plot List, PrintAPlot remembers which settings sheet is assigned to it, and prints or previews it using those settings. Until you assign a specific named settings sheet to a file, PrintAPlot uses the Default settings. You can edit and save the values in the default settings sheet from the Settings window.

PrintAPlot stores settings sheets you create in a folder named SETTINGS, in its main program folder (C:\PROGRAMFILES\PPW\\). You can change the location, if you wish, through the PrintAPlot Preferences dialog. The name of the default settings sheet is DEFAULT.SS; it always resides in the PrintAPlot program folder.

Note: If you have AutoCAD installed on your system, PrintAPlot provides a settings sheet called AUTOCAD.SS, which it uses for all printing direct from AutoCAD. You can edit and save the AUTOCAD.SS settings just as you would any others.

  Related topics


Creating a new settings sheet

1.	From the PrintAPlot menu, choose Settings Sheets : New Sheet.

2.	In the Settings window, enter a name for the new settings sheet in the Settings Sheet Name box.

3.	Enter the settings you want in the Plot Settings, Pen Settings, and Printer Settings tabs.

  Related topics


Assigning a settings sheet

1.	In the Plot List, select one or more files to which you want to assign a named settings sheet.

2.	Right-click on any of the selected files (or choose Settings Sheets : Assign Settings Sheet from the menu).

3.	In the list, click on the name of the sheet you want to assign to the selected files. PrintAPlot updates the Plot List to indicate the association.

  Related topics


The Settings Sheet Manager

The Settings Sheet Manager presents a list of existing settings sheets, and buttons for the following functions:

•	New—to create a new settings sheet.

•	Edit—to edit the values in an existing settings sheet.

•	Delete—to delete a settings sheet.

•	Set as default—to copy the values in a named settings sheet to the default sheet.

The Settings Sheet Manager appears automatically when you select Sheet List from the PrintAPlot Settings Sheets menu.

  Related topics


Editing an existing settings sheet

1.	From the PrintAPlot menu, choose Settings Sheets : Sheet List.

2.	In the Settings Sheet Manager, select the name of the sheet you want to edit.

3.	Click Edit to open the Settings Sheet editing window.

If the settings sheet you want to edit is currently assigned to one or more files in the Plot List, you can edit it quickly by doing either of the following:

•	Right-click on a file that is attached to the settings you want to edit and choose Edit Settings from the right-click menu.

•	Select a file that is attached to the settings you want to edit and click Edit Settings Sheet on the toolbar.

  Related topics


Deleting a settings sheet

1.	From the PrintAPlot menu, choose Settings Sheets : Sheet List.

2.	In the Settings Sheet Manager, select the name of the sheet you want to delete.

3.	Click Delete.

Note: Use caution when deleting settings sheets: unlike removing a file from the Plot List, this action actually deletes the settings sheet file from your hard disk.

  Related topics


Renaming a settings sheet

To change the name of a settings sheet:

1.	From the PPW menu, choose Settings Sheets : Sheet List.

2.	In the Settings Sheet Manager, select the sheet you want to rename.

3.	Click Edit.

4.	In the Plot Settings tab of the Settings window, enter the new name in the Settings Sheet Name box.

  Related topics


Changing the default settings

The default settings sheet is the one PrintAPlot will use to print your drawings if you don’t specify a named settings sheet, so it should contain the settings you use most often. You can select the default settings sheet in the Settings Sheet Manager and edit and save it just as you would any other sheet. Alternatively, you can copy all the settings from any of your named settings sheets to the default sheet.

To edit the default settings sheet:

1.	From the PrintAPlot menu, choose Settings Sheets : Sheet List.

2.	In the Settings Sheet Manager, select “Default.SS.”

3.	Click Edit to open the Settings window.

To copy the settings from a named settings sheet to the default sheet:

1.	From the PrintAPlot menu, choose Settings Sheets : Sheet List.

2.	In the Settings Sheet Manager, select the name of the sheet you want to copy.

3.	Click Set as default.

Note: if you are an AutoCAD user, PrintAPlot installs a second “default” settings sheet, named AUTOCAD.SS, which it uses for all printing you do direct from AutoCAD with the “PrintAPlot ADI direct” driver.

  Related topics


The Settings window

Every named settings sheet you create can store a different combination of plot, pen, and printer settings. The place where you make changes to settings sheets is PrintAPlot’s Settings window. The Settings window appears when you:

•	Choose Edit Selected or New Sheet from PrintAPlot’s Settings Sheets menu.

•	Choose Edit or New in the Settings Sheet Manager.

Settings is a Windows dialog box containing three tabs: Plot Settings, Pen Settings, and Printer Settings. At the bottom of the window are three buttons that apply to all changes you make in the Settings window:

•	OK makes the changes, closes Settings, and returns to the previous window.

•	Cancel returns to the previous window without saving any pending changes.

•	Apply accepts the changes and remains in the Settings dialog.

Choose a topic:

Plot settings

Pen settings

Printer settings

  Related topics


Plot settings

The Plot settings tab of the Settings window lets you set a number of options to tell PrintAPlot how your plot file was created and how to print it. You can set the following options:

Settings sheet name	Scaling calculate
Plotter type	Origin
Incoming plot size	Tiling
Scaling-point model	Tile overlap
Rotation	Blank page suppress
Fit to page
  Related topics


Contains the name of the current settings sheet. Use this field to enter the name of a new sheet you are creating, or to change the name of an existing sheet.

Note: When entering a settings sheet name, you must include the extension .SS.


Setting Plotter type

To print each drawing correctly, PrintAPlot must know the type of plotter it was created for. This setting determines such features as the number of available pens, the maximum plot size, and how PrintAPlot interprets the commands in the plot file.

To set the plotter type:

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Plot Settings tab, select the correct plotter type from the drop-down list.

  More . . .


Set to match the type of plotter your drawing was created for. Usually, this will be HP-GL/2.

  Details . . .


Selecting a plotter emulation

When selecting a plotter type in PrintAPlot's Plot Settings dialog, you have several options. You may select:

•	HP-GL/2, if you have set your application to produce files in HP-GL/2 format. This will be the usual setting, and the most flexible.

•	generic HP-GL, if the plot file is an HP-GL file, or if you want to specify a larger incoming plot size or use more pens than are available with the directly emulated plotter types (and your drawing application supports these features).
Note: If you select the generic HP-GL plotter type, you must also specify the correct Scaling-point model.

•	a direct plotter emulation, if the drawing was originally created for one of the standard types represented by the Hewlett Packard 7470A, 7475A, or ColorPro.

Click here for a table listing the number of available pens and the maximum input plot size for each of PrintAPlot's supported plotter emulations.

Related topic:

Setting plotter type


Number of pens and maximum incoming plot size by plotter type:

Plotter type	Number of pens	Maximum input plot size
7470A	2	A
7475A	6	B
ColorPro	8	A
Generic HP-GL	255	E
HP-GL/2	255	B


Setting incoming plot size

For your drawings to print correctly, PrintAPlot needs to know the original size of the plot you are printing.

To set the incoming plot size:

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Plot Settings tab, select the correct Incoming Plot Size from the drop-down list.


Set to match the original size of the plot you are printing.


Setting the scaling-point model

If you elect to print a drawing using a Plotter type of generic HP-GL, you need to give PrintAPlot information about the reference points the drawing uses for scaling and rotation. Do this by selecting a scaling-point model that matches what was used to create the drawing.

To set the scaling-point model:

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Plot Settings tab, select the correct value from the drop-down list.

Related topic:

Setting plotter type


When printing using a Plotter type of Generic HP-GL, provides PrintAPlot with information on the scaling reference points that were used when creating the plot. Choose from the drop-down list: 7470A/ColorPro, 7475A, 7550, or 7580/7585/7586.


Setting rotation

To rotate the plot from its original orientation:

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Plot Settings tab, select a value of 0 (none), 90, 180, or 270 degrees (clockwise) from the Rotation drop-down list.

Related topic:

Origin point and rotation


Rotates the plot by 90, 180, or 270 degrees (clockwise).


Fit to page

By default, PrintAPlot automatically scales your drawing so that it fits on a single page, calculating the correct scaling value based on the selected paper size and orientation and the selected printer's unprintable region. If you want to choose a different scaling value, in order to print the drawing in a larger or smaller size or tile it over multiple pages, or you must first turn off the automatic Fit to page feature.

To turn off Fit to page:

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Plot Settings tab, uncheck the box labeled Fit to Page.


Automatically fits each drawing on a single sheet of paper. PrintAPlot calculates a scaling value based on the selected paper size, orientation, and the selected printer's unprintable region. Turn this option off to enable the Scaling, Origin, and Tiling features.


Scaling calculate

Normally, when the Fit to Page feature is turned on, PrintAPlot automatically calculates the correct scaling value to print each drawing on a single page. You can override PrintAPlot's calculation and manually enter a percentage scaling value or a fixed standard output size.

To set a plot scaling value:

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	Uncheck the Fit to Page box.

3.	Select the correct value for Incoming Plot Size.

4.	In the Scaling Calculate list box, select an available standard output size (A through E)

–or–

In the X and Y boxes, enter percentage values for horizontal and vertical scaling.

Note: Use care when setting scaling values. If you choose an output size that is larger than your printer's unprintable region, the plot will be too large to fit on the page, so that the edges will be cut off. In this case you’ll need to reduce the scaling value, choose a larger paper size, or use PrintAPlot's Tiling option.

Table of Standard paper sizes


Sets the size of the output plot manually, overriding PrintAPlot's automatic Fit to Page calculation. Scaling Calculate is disabled when Fit to Page is turned on.

  Details . . .


Changing the origin point

Plotted drawings are based on a coordinate system which conventionally has an origin (0, 0) point at either the lower left corner or the center of the drawing. PrintAPlot chooses the appropriate origin point based on the plotter type you select, and then applies an offset to allow for the specified printer’s unprintable region. If you need to change the position where the drawing appears on the page, you can further shift the origin point left, right, up, or down by any specified amount.

To change the default origin point:

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Plot Settings tab, uncheck the Fit to page box.

3.	Be sure that the Scaling-point Model and Incoming Plot Size are set correctly.

4.	In the Origin box, enter the amount by which you want to shift the origin point in the horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) dimensions. Positive numbers shift the plot area to the right and up on the page; negative numbers shift it to the left and down.

Related topic:

Origin point and rotation


Shifts the drawing's origin point left, right, up, or down by a specified amount.


Origin point and rotation

You can rotate a drawing by 90, 180, or 270 degrees clockwise from its original position using the Rotation control in PrintAPlot's Plot settings dialog. You may need to do this if a drawing is inverted, or if it was created in landscape mode and you want to fit it on a portrait-oriented page.

A drawing rotates around its origin point, so that the results of rotating a drawing are different depending on where that point is. For drawings with a center origin point (the scaling-point model used by the HP 7580, 7585, and 7586), the effect of rotation is straightforward:

For drawings with a (0, 0) point at the lower left (HP 7470A, 7475A, ColorPro, 7550), the effect of rotation is more complex, because the lower left corner of a horizontally oriented page corresponds to the upper left corner of a vertical page. Thus, rotating a drawing based on the lower-left scaling-point model gives results as shown here:

As these figures show, rotating a drawing will often move parts of the plot off the page, or out of the printable area, so you may have to choose a different scaling value or turn on the Tiling feature.


Tiling

If your drawing is larger than a single sheet of paper and you don’t want to scale it down, you can turn on Tiling to print it across multiple pages.

To turn on tiling:

1.	In the Plot Settings tab of the Settings window, uncheck the Fit to Page box.

2.	Check the Tile box.

To see how the tiled plot will look, click OK to save the current settings and close the Settings window, then click Preview on the main window toolbar.

When tiling is turned on, two further options become available:

 Tile Overlap prints each page with a one-half inch overlap with the adjoining pages.

 Blank Page Suppress tells the printer to skip any blank pages in the tiled plot.


Prints a drawing across multiple pages, if it is larger than a single sheet of paper.


When tiling is on, tells PrintAPlot to print each page with a one-half inch overlap with the adjoining pages.


When tiling is on, tells the printer to skip any blank pages in the tiled plot.


Pen settings

Although plotters no longer use actual, individual pens to draw the lines in a plotted graphic, drawing programs still commonly use the term “pen” to refer to a specific combination of line style (i.e., width or pattern) and color. In a typical drawing, the artist assigns one or more different “pens” to each layer, so that the lines on each layer will be distinguishable when the drawing is plotted to paper.

Plotters vary in the number of pens they can support. For example, the HP 7470A supports 2 pens, the 7475A 6, and the ColorPro 8. Using Generic HP-GL format lets you specify color and width values for up to 255 pens. Plot files in HP-GL/2 format can contain built-in commands to specify pen size, color, and intensity settings for all 255 pens; you can override these settings on a pen-by-pen basis from within PrintAPlot.

The Pen Settings tab of the Settings window lets you adjust the individual Color and Width settings for each of the pens that are available in the plotter emulation you have chosen.

Setting pen color

Setting pen width

  Related topics


Setting pen color

To change the color setting for one or more pens:

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	Click the Pen Settings tab.

3.	Select the pens you want to change. (To set the same color value for all pens, click Select All.)

4.	In the Set Pen box, click Color.

5.	Click on the color you want to assign to the selected pen(s). To create a custom color, click Define Custom Colors.

6.	Click OK to return to the Settings window.

PrintAPlot shows the color you have assigned to each selected pen, and displays its RGB color value.


Setting pen width

To change the width setting for one or more pens:

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	Click the Pen Settings tab.

3.	Select the pens you want to change. (To set the same width for all pens, click Select All.)

4.	In the Set pen box, click Width.

5.	In the Pen Width box, type in the width you want to assign to the selected pens and click OK.


Printer settings

For each settings sheet, the Printer settings tab of the Settings window lets you specify values for the following:

•	Printer selection

•	Orientation

•	Print resolution

•	Paper size

•	Number of copies

Changes you make to these values affect only the printing you do from PrintAPlot; they do not alter your global Windows settings.

The Printer settings tab also contains a Setup button, which displays the Windows Printer Properties dialog box.

  Related topics


Instructs PrintAPlot to determine the default Windows printer at run time and send its output there.


Selects an installed printer.

To instruct PrintAPlot to determine the Windows default printer at run time and use that, check the box labeled “Use system printer.”


Selects output in landscape or portrait mode.


Selects the output resolution.


Selects the output paper size.


Selects the number of copies to print.


Opens the Windows Printer Properties dialog, for access to printer settings that are not available from PrintAPlot.


Selecting a printer

To select a printer:

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Printer Settings tab, select an installed printer from the Printer list box.

If the printer you want to use doesn’t appear on the list, you will need to install it from the Printers dialog in the Windows Control Panel.

To use the current Windows system printer:

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Printer Settings tab, check Use System Printer.

When you issue a Print command using this settings sheet, PrintAPlot will determine the current Windows default printer and send its output there.


Setting print resolution

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Printer Settings tab, select a value for Resolution in dpi (dots per inch).

  More on Print resolution . . .


Available resolution values depend on the printer you have selected. Higher values (300, 600 and 1200 dpi) give more detail, but increase printing time and require more printer memory on laser printers. Lower values (75 and 150 dpi) let you print faster, but at the cost of fine detail.


Setting print orientation

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Printer Settings tab, click on the radio button for Landscape or Portrait orientation.


Setting paper size

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Printer Settings tab, select the desired Paper size from the list box.


Setting number of copies

1.	Open the PrintAPlot Settings window.

2.	In the Printer SETTINGS tab, enter the number of Copies you want to print.


Other printer settings

To change printer configuration settings that are not accessible from the Printer Settings dialog—such as paper feed options or port settings—click the Setup button to access the Windows Properties dialog for the selected printer. Changes you make from the Properties dialog affect all Windows programs that use that printer.


Troubleshooting

If you encounter problems when printing with PrintAPlot, you may have overlooked some basic setting, or entered settings that are not what you intended. This troubleshooting guide contains hints on some of the more common problems that can occur. If the information here doesn’t help you resolve the difficulty, contact Insight Technical Support for further assistance.

•	Plots don't print

•	Plots print, but are cut off

•	Plots are the wrong size or out of position

•	Problems with garbled shapes or characters

•	Problems with color printing

•	Problems with tiling

•	Problems printing from AutoCAD

•	Error messages

  How to reach Insight Technical Support


Plots don't print

•	No output from printer

•	Printer produces only blank pages

•	No print from AutoCAD ADI driver


No output from printer.

Things to check:

•	Make sure the printer is turned on, all cable connections are secure, and paper is loaded.

•	Check Printer settings to be sure the correct printer is selected.

•	In the Windows Control Panel's Printer Properties sheet, make sure the port settings for the printer are correct.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Printer produces only blank pages

Possible causes:

•	Pen width is set to 0.

•	Pens are set to same color as background.

•	Printer is out of ink or toner, or ribbon is malfunctioning.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


No output from AutoCAD ADI driver

Things to check:

•	Check Printer settings to be sure the correct printer is selected.

•	In the Windows Control Panel's Printer Properties sheet, make sure the port settings for the printer are correct.

•	Make sure the plot file was created correctly. Try printing the samples that shipped with PrintAPlot.

See also:

Problems printing from AutoCAD

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Partial plots

•	Only part of a plot is printed

•	Plot is cut off on a laser printer


Only part of a plot is printed

Possible causes:

•	Plot runs into the printer's unprintable region. PrintAPlot presets unprintable region values for each printer model, but individual printers may vary slightly. If your printer supports manual adjustment of the unprintable region, you can change it in the Windows Printer Properties sheet.
Note: PrintAPlot's unprintable region values for dot matrix and ink jet printers are preset for cut sheet paper. If you are using continuous-feed paper and want to print all the way to the top and bottom of each page, you will need to adjust the top and bottom unprintable regions to 0.
If you change the printer's unprintable region, you will also need to adjust the Origin setting for the plot.

•	Plot runs into the unprintable region for the plotter specified in your graphics program. If the plot is too large for the plotter's unprintable region, PrintAPlot won't make it fit on your printer. Recreate the plot file in your graphics program using a plotter setting that will accommodate the plot.

•	Incoming plot size is too large.
Create an A or B size plot in your graphics program. If you need larger output, use PrintAPlot's Scaling calculate setting. (This may not apply if you have set a Plotter type of Generic HP-GL.)
Specify a large paper size for output and set the Tile option on.

See also:

Settings conflicts

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Plots are cut off on a laser printer

Problem: Laser printer plot is cut off more than .25 inches away from the edges of the page.

Possible cause: Insufficient graphics memory in the printer. Try the following options:

•	Add memory to the printer.

•	Vector mode: The printer must have at least 1 MB of RAM to produce a single page, 300 dpi plot in vector mode. For large or complex plots, try printing in raster mode instead.

•	Raster mode: Reduce the values for Resolution and Scaling.

Related topics:

Vector and raster printing

Laser printers and memory

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Problems with size

•	Plots are the wrong size or out of position

•	Can't print larger than A size


Plots are the wrong size or out of position

Possible cause:

•	Settings conflict. Some PrintAPlot options, when used in combination, can produce unexpected results, such as moving part or all of your graphic out of the printing area. If you have specified changes in Rotation, Origin, or Scaling, you may have set up conditions that plot your graphic off the page.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Can't print larger than A size

Possible cause:

The model of HP-GL/2 that was used in the CAD software only supports A-size printing. Reconfigure the plotter driver, in the CAD application, to an HP-GL model that supports larger plots.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Problems with garbled shapes or characters

•	Plots are completely unrecognizable

•	Plots are correct except for small details or problem areas

•	Solid fill areas are filled with parallel lines

•	Number of pens seems incorrect

•	Plots are superimposed


Plots are completely unrecognizable

Possible causes:

•	The wrong printer is selected.

•	You may have tried to plot a file that does not contain HP-GL or HP-GL/2 commands in an ASCII format. You should be able to view the file using a text editor or word processor.

•	If you’re using your own program to produce HP-GL or HP-GL/2 files, you may have created some nonstandard HP-GL or HP-GL/2 commands. See your PrintAPlot for Windows User's Guide for a list of the HP-GL and HP-GL/2 instructions that PrintAPlot can interpret.

•	If the file was sent over a communications link—from a mainframe to a terminal or over the Internet—it may have been transferred with a protocol that added extra CR or LF characters during transmission. Try resending the file in "Binary" mode.

•	If your printer is connected to your computer’s serial port (COM1 through COM4), an incorrect baud rate setting may have been specified in the printer's Properties.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Plots are correct except for small details

Possible causes:

•	Plotter type setting in PrintAPlot does not match what was used to create the drawing. Make sure that the plotter you select to emulate with the Plotter type setting is the same plotter for which you configured your graphics program.

•	If you’re using your own program to produce HP-GL or HP-GL/2 files, you may have created some nonstandard HP-GL or HP-GL/2 commands. See your PrintAPlot for Windows User's Guide for a list of the HP-GL and HP-GL/2 instructions that PrintAPlot can interpret.

•	If the file was sent over a communications link—from a mainframe to a terminal or over the Internet—it may have been transferred with a protocol that added extra CR or LF characters during transmission. Try resending the file in "Binary" mode.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Solid fill areas are filled with parallel lines

Possible cause:

When a plotter creates a fill, it uses precise strokes that are determined, in part, by the width of the pen. If the pen you specify in PrintAPlot is narrower than the one specified for the original plot, you will see white space between strokes.

Solutions:

•	Select a larger Pen size in PrintAPlot.

•	Select a Plotter type of HP-GL/2 in your application and in PrintAPlot.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Number of pens seems incorrect

Problem:

Plot appears to have been drawn with only one or two pens, even though you selected several different pens with varying widths, patterns, or colors.

Possible cause:

This problem can occur when an application program has drawn the plot with fewer pens than you specify in PrintAPlot. PrintAPlot cannot use more pens than your application used to draw the plot.

Solution:

In HP-GL mode, PrintAPlot does not recognize pen colors, widths, or patterns set in your application. It does recognize them, however, in HP-GL/2 mode. Assign pen numbers for the plot in your application. If your application supports HP-GL/2, also set pen colors and widths. Create a new plot file for use with PrintAPlot for Windows. See your graphics application program's manual for more information.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Plots are superimposed

Possible causes:

•	You tried plotting several plots to one file without using the PG (advance page) command in your application. Use the PG command when you plot the files.

•	You used the PG (advance page) command in your application when plotting several different plots to one file but did not set Plotter type to Generic HP-GL in PrintAPlot for Windows. Set Plotter type to Generic HP-GL, then plot the files.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Problems with color printing

•	No color output

•	Colors are incorrect


No color output

Possible causes:

•	The (mono) version of the driver for you printer is selected. Check the Printer setting in PrintAPlot to be sure the (color) version is specified.

•	All pens are set to black. In PrintAPlot's Pen settings dialog, click either Set all to AutoCAD or Set all to RGB.

•	Incorrect HP-GL/2 model. Some models of HPGL/2 only support monochrome printing. Reconfigure the plotter driver, in the CAD application, to an HP-GL model that supports color.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Colors are incorrect

Possible cause:

Incorrect palette selected. PrintAPlot has two color palettes available: the AutoCAD standard set and its own default (RGB) set. Try changing this setting in the Pen settings dialog.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Problems with tiling

Problem: Printer produces nothing or a clipped drawing on a complete set of tiles.

Possible cause: Changes in Rotation, Scaling, or Origin point may have rotated or shifted the plot out of the print area. Check these settings.

Problem: The part of your plot that should appear on the last tile of a row or a column is cut off.

Possible cause: Plot runs into the unprintable region of the emulated plotter. The plot did not fit on the plotter specified in your graphics program. Create a plot file that fits the plotter you want to emulate, by recreating the plot file either using a different plotter selection, or using the same plotter selection and making sure the drawing fits within the printable region of the plotter.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Error messages

•	"Disk full" error

•	Internal error message

•	HP-GL error message


"Disk full" error

To process and print a document, PrintAPlot for Windows creates temporary work files on your hard disk. If you get a "Disk full" error message, check the amount of space available on your hard disk. If the disk is full or almost full, create more space on your current drive, or change the Windows temporary directory setting to a different drive.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Internal PrintAPlot error message

If PrintAPlot displays an internal program error, write down the error number, then contact Insight technical support.

Back to Troubleshooting index.


HP-GL error message

Possible causes:

•	The plot file you are printing is in HP-GL/2 format, but the Plotter type selected in the settings sheet is not generic HP-GL/2. Select a Plotter type of generic HP-GL.

•	The HP-GL or HP-GL/2 file was created incorrectly. In this case, please refer to your CAD application's manual or on-line help for instructions on how to plot to a file. Be sure to choose HP-GL or HP-GL/2 as your output device when plotting to a file.

See also:

List of HP-GL and HP-GL/2 error codes

Back to Troubleshooting index.


Problems printing from AutoCAD

•	Problem printing directly from AutoCAD DOS

•	AutoCAD crashes after printing with PrintAPlot


Problem printing from AutoCAD DOS

[Topic needs to be edited:]

Problem: When printing directly from AutoCAD, nothing happens or you get an error message.

Solution: It is very important to go through all the steps in the "Attention AutoCAD Users" instruction sheet, included with the program documentation. The set up must be done completely and precisely. Go through each instruction for your specific version of AutoCAD carefully. Then open PrintAPlot (c:\ppp\ppp, return) filling in the proper information. In PrintAPlot, select HPGL/2 for the Plotter Type, set Plot Size being created in AutoCAD, printer specific information (paper size and resolution), and other pertinent information. Save all your settings by pressing the F3 button and naming the setting sheet PP.SS. Exit PrintAPlot and try printing from AutoCAD again.

Tip: Instruction #2 in the "Attention AutoCAD Users" document is important. Make sure when setting the path that the command is included in the same batch file that runs AutoCAD. For example, if AutoCAD is being opened by running an ACAD.BAT file, that is where the path command line must appear.]

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AutoCAD crashes after printing with PrintAPlot

Problem: AutoCAD crashes after sending the third or fourth plot to PrintAPlot through the ADI driver.

Cause: This occurs when using a third-party video driver in AutoCAD. Try selecting an Autodesk video driver in the configuration menu.

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HP-GL and HP-GL/2 error codes

The following table lists the HP-GL and HP-GL/2 errors whose numbers might appear as status information as your plots are printed. Most errors are nonfatal and are generated because PrintAPlot is not a plotter. Some of these messages are “out of bounds” type messages; they appear because plotters can print to the edge of the sheet of paper, whereas most printers cannot. Unless you discover problems with your plot printout, you can ignore these messages. For a list of HP-GL and HP-GL/2 commands, see your PrintAPlot for Windows User's Guide.

Note: PrintAPlot only displays the first error it encounters.

Error Number	Definition
1	Command mnemonic not in instruction set of any of the plotters emulated.
2	AA instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
3	AR instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
4	CI instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
5	Illegal character set has been passed as a parameter with a CA or CS instruction.
6	IP instruction passed an out of range parameter for the paper size.
7	LT instruction passed a pattern number > 127 or < –128.
8	EA or RA instruction had only one parameter.
9	SI instruction passed only one parameter.
10	SP instruction passed a pen number that is out of range for the plotter currently emulated.
11	Carriage return was encountered while reading an instruction parameter.
12	Integer parameter is > 32767 or < –32768.
13	EA instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
14	ER instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
15	EW instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
16	FT instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
17	PS instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
18	PT instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
19	RA instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
20	RR instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
21	RO instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
22	WG instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated.
23	ER or RR instruction had only one parameter.
24	EW or WG instruction had the wrong number of parameters.
25	EW or WG instruction had an illegal chord angle.
26	RO instruction passed a rotation angle other than 0 or 90 degrees.
27	FT instruction passed an illegal fill type.
28	DI instruction had only one parameter.
29	SR instruction had only one parameter.
30	DR instruction had only one parameter.
31	CS or CA instruction requested character set 8. This set is not currently supported by the emulator.
32	SM instruction passed an invalid symbol character.
33	CT instruction is not in the instruction set of the plotter currently emulated. The Chord Tolerance is assumed to be in degrees mode. This command affects the CI, AA, AR, WG, and EW commands.
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Insight Technical Support

You can reach Insight Development Corporation Technical Support by telephone, fax, email, or on the World Wide Web. Note: you must complete and return your product registration card in order to receive technical support.

By telephone: 510-244-2000. Technical support hours are from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Pacific time, Monday through Friday.

By fax: 510-244-2020

By email: techspt@insightdev.com

On the World Wide Web: http://www.insightdev.com/

Insight’s Web page offers answers to frequently asked questions and news on product updates and new products.


Unable to launch Web browser.


Technical information

Standard paper sizes

Printer operation notes


Standard paper sizes

		Inches		Metric (mm)
	Size	W	H	W	H
U.S. Sizes	Executive	7.25	10.5	184.15	266.7
	A (Standard Letter)	8.5	11	215.9	279.4
	Legal	8.5	14	215.0	355.6
	B (Ledger/Tabloid)	11	17	279.4	431.8
	C	17	22	431.8	558.8
	D	22	34	558.8	863.6
	E	34	44	863.6	1117.6
Architectural Sizes	Arch A	9	12	228.8	304.8
	Arch B	12	18	304.8	457.2
	Arch C	18	24	457.2	609.6
	Arch D	24	36	609.6	914.4
	Arch E	36	48	914.4	1219.2
Metric Sizes	A4	8.27	11.69	210	297
	A3	11.69	16.54	297	420
	A2	16.54	23.39	420	594
	A1	23.39	33.11	594	841
	A0	33.11	46.81	841	1189


Printer operation notes

•	Vector and raster printing

•	Laser printers and memory

•	Notes on specific printer models


Vector and Raster Printing

There are two basic modes for rendering graphics images. Raster mode renders an image as a pattern of dots. Each individual dot (or pixel on a display screen) must be specifically defined in terms of position, color, and intensity. Vector mode, in contrast, describes an image as a series of lines, each with a defined starting point, shape, and length. PostScript, for example, is a vector-based command language.

Most of the printers that PrintAPlot for Windows supports are raster-based. However, PrintAPlot provides vector graphics support for the following printers:

Canon LBP-8 A2 LBP-8II, LBP-8III, or LBP-4

Epson GQ-3500 or GQ-5000

HP LaserJet IID, IIP, or III in PostScript mode

Any printer that supports generic PostScript

To use one of these printers in vector mode, you must specify that mode in the Printer setting. If you are using a printer with a PostScript option, you must specify the printer with its PostScript option or specify Generic PostScript as your Printer setting. To obtain the widest grayscale range on a black and white PostScript printer, use Generic Color PostScript.

A printer must have at least 1 MB of memory to produce full-page, 300 dpi plots in vector mode. If your printer doesn’t have sufficient memory to use vector mode, try printing your graphic in raster mode.

Also, certain features may be restricted or unavailable in vector mode, for example Tiling, multiple copies, pen size and color selections, and some HP line styles.

Related topics:

Laser printers and memory

Notes on specific printer models


Laser printers and memory

Dot matrix and ink jet printers produce graphics line by line, so they do not require printer memory workspace. A laser printer requires printer memory in which to create a full page of graphics before printing. The amount of memory a laser printer needs to produce any given graphic is a function of the size, density, and complexity of the graphic and the method (vector or raster) of graphics production used. Vector printing is faster than raster printing, but typically requires more printer memory than raster mode.

Besides the complexity and layout of the plot, the actual amount of printer memory required to produce it also depends on the resolution you select. The following table provides a general guide to whether a plot will fit in your printer's memory when printed at various resolutions.

Laser Printer Memory	Plots that can print at each resolution
	75 dpi	150 dpi	300 dpi
Less than 512 KB	ALL	MOST	FEW
512 KB to 1 MB	ALL	ALL	MOST
1 MB or more	ALL	ALL	ALL

Related topics:

Vector and raster printing

Notes on specific printer models


Notes on specific printer models

Because PrintAPlot is software, not hardware, it cannot make your printer physically do things that the printer manufacturer has not already built into the device. For example, many printers that physically appear to be able to print on wider sheets of paper cannot do so: when printing, the print head only prints to a certain width. PrintAPlot prints to the maximum width, but it cannot make your printer print any wider than it was designed to do. Also, the printer specifications are not always accurate. For example, some dot matrix printers list themselves as “C” size printers (17 x 22 inch), when in fact they can only print a maximum width of 14 or 15 inches.

Canon printers	Kodak printers
DEC printers	PostScript printers
Epson printers	QMS printers
HP printers	Toshiba printers
IBM printers


Canon printers

BJ10e and BJ10ex

DIP switches 7 and 10 must be set to ON. If you are using the optional sheet feeder, set DIP switch 1 to ON.

BJ130 and BJ130e

If you are using the Canon BJ130 with the cut sheet feeder:

•	Both the top and bottom 1/2 inch of the paper are unprintable regions when using the cut sheet feeder.

•	For correct positioning of your plot, move the printer’s left paper guide as far to the right as possible and then back to the left until you reach the first click. Insert your paper, and move the printer’s right paper guide up against the right edge of the paper.

•	The printer will not print beyond the right edge of the paper. If the plot is wider than the paper you’re using, the plot will be clipped, and the printer will beep at the right edge of every clipped line.

If you are using the Canon BJ130 with the optional pin feeder:

•	For correct positioning of your plot, move the printer’s left tractor feed as far to the right as possible. Insert the paper, and align the horizontal paper perforation so that it is just visible above the 6-slit metal strip that holds the paper against the platen.

•	The printer will print beyond the right edge of the paper. If your plot is wider than the paper you’re using, ink will be deposited on the platen.

If you are using the Canon BJ130e:

•	DIP switch 2-1 must be turned on for high density graphics.

•	If you’re printing on B-size cut sheet paper and your plot is longer than 12 inches, DIP switch 2-3 must be turned on. This disables the cut sheet feeder, since the BJ130e assumes that the form length is no greater than 12 inches when the cut sheet feeder is enabled. Because you’ve disabled the cut sheet feeder, you’ll have to manually insert your paper. Make sure you’ve selected B-size for PrintAPlot’s Scaling calculate and Paper size command values.
If your plot is longer than 12 inches, select the Canon BJ 130XL capsule as the Printer in the PrintAPlot menu. PrintAPlot will then drive the BJ130e without using the printer’s High Speed Graphics mode (which assumes a 12-inch page length).

BJ330

The Canon BJ330’s DIP switches must be set for IBM Emulation Mode, and DIP switch 3 in bank 2 must be set to the ON position.

LBP-8 A1, LBP-8 A2, LBP-8II, LBP-8III, and LBP-4

These printers are supported in both vector and raster modes. Never use a legal-size paper tray when you print in PrintAPlot’s vector mode.


DEC printers

LJ 250/252

PrintAPlot will force the DEC LJ 250/252 into PCL mode and will leave it there.

LN03 B

Use Pen size 2 or greater when printing at 300 dpi.


Epson printers

EX, FX, DFX, and LX Series

If your printer has an IBM Graphics Printer emulation mode, set the printer DIP switches so that IBM emulation is OFF. PrintAPlot is designed to use the printer in standard “native” Epson mode. See your printer manual for more information.

If you are using cut sheet paper, position the left edge of the paper at index mark “1” on the bail bar. If you are using continuous feed paper, set the perforation at the index mark “1” on the bail bar. The top edge of the paper should be 1/2 inch below the top of the print head.

GQ-3500 and GQ-5000

These printers are supported in both vector and raster modes.

LQ, SQ, TSQ, and TLQ Series

If your printer has an IBM Graphics Printer emulation mode, set the printer DIP switches so that IBM emulation is OFF. PrintAPlot is designed to use your printer in standard “native” Epson mode. See your printer manual for more information.

If you are using cut sheet paper, position the left edge of the paper at index mark “0” on the bail bar. If you are using continuous feed paper, set the perforation at the index mark “0” on the bail bar. The top edge of the paper should be ½ inch below the top of the print head.


HP printers

DeskJet and DeskJet PLUS

The DeskJet has a one-half inch unprintable region across the bottom of the page.

DeskJet 500C

When you specify any of the HP DeskJet 500C settings as your Printer setting, you have access to Graphics depletion and Graphics shingling in the Windows Printer Properties sheet, which you access from the Setup button in PrintAPlot's Printer settings dialog.

DeskJet 550C

Use the Printer selection to specify any of the following cartridges:

Printer Setting	Color output
DeskJet 550C/color (CMY)	color
DeskJet 550C/color (KCMY)	color plus true black
DeskJet 550C/monochrome	black only
Select KCMY to produce most color plots. If you have a problem with black overlapping the colors in your plot, switch to the CMY printer setting.

When you specify any HP DeskJet 550C setting as your Printer setting, you have access to Graphics depletion and Graphics shingling in the Windows Printer Properties sheet, which you access from the Setup button in PrintAPlot's Printer settings dialog.

LaserJet 4

PrintAPlot supports the HP LaserJet 4 at print resolutions from 75 x 75 dpi to 600 x 600 dpi. Paper source setting choices are Manual feed slot, Paper tray, or Optional tray. Do not select Optional tray if you don’t have one installed.

LaserJet IID and IIP

With a PostScript option, this printer is supported in both vector and raster modes.

LaserJet III and IIISi

With a PostScript option, this printer is supported in both vector and raster modes.

PaintJet

For correct positioning of your plot, align the top edge of the paper with the edge of the printer’s metal platen.

PaintJet XL, PaintJet XL 300, and DeskJet 1200C

The PaintJet XL and XL300 printers support Standard, Legal, A3, A4, and B size paper. The DeskJet 1200C supports Standard and Legal paper sizes. For correct positioning of your plot, align the top edge of the paper with the edge of the printer’s metal platen.

PrintAPlot supports the HP PaintJet XL at 90 x 90 dpi and 180 x 180 dpi print resolutions and the HP PaintJet XL 300 and DeskJet 1200C at resolutions from 75 x 75 dpi to 300 x 300 dpi.

QuietJet and QuietJet Plus

For correct positioning of your plot, the tractor feed must be moved as far to the right as possible. Align the top edge of the page with the top of the ink jet cartridge.

ThinkJet

For correct positioning of your plot, take the following restrictions into account:

•	No horizontal paper alignment is possible with this printer. The top edge of the page must be aligned with the top of the ink jet cartridge.

•	Make sure the DIP switches are set correctly for HP mode. Consult your printer manual for specific switch settings.


Graphics depletion

Reduces the amount of ink used when printing a color graphics image. For example, if you are using a printer with a color cartridge, the suggested setting is 25%. If you are using a monochrome cartridge, the suggested setting is None. A smaller graphics depletion percentage produces darker results than a larger percentage. Gamma compensation added to this option adjusts the tone (lightness) of the printed image.


Graphics shingling

Enhances print quality by printing all dots in an interlaced or blended manner. Increase the percentage of shingling when you need to compensate for narrow pen widths in object fill patterns. The suggested setting for a printer with a color cartridge is 50%. The suggested setting for a monochrome cartridge is None.


IBM printers

IBM ExecJet Printer 4072

Set the printer to Epson LQ printer emulation mode with the DIP switches located on the back of the printer. The settings for Epson LQ emulation mode are:

SW 1 #1 set to ON.

SW 2 #2 set to OFF.

Refer to your printer manual for more information.

IBM Personal Printer Series II 2380 and 2381

Set the printer to Epson FX printer emulation mode. Refer to your printer manual for more information.

IBM Personal Printer Series II 2390 and 2391

Set the printer to Epson LQ printer emulation mode. Refer to your printer manual for more information.

IBM 4226 Printer

Set the printer to Epson printer emulation mode. Refer to your printer manual for more information.


Kodak printers

Kodak Diconix 150/150 Plus

These printers have an unprintable region of 1.5 inches on the right edge of the paper. Change the printer DIP switches as follows:

•	DIP switch A9 position must be up for expanded graphics mode.

•	DIP switch A3 must be down for Epson compatibility mode.


QMS printers

Kiss and Big Kiss

If Tile is on and the complete plot includes any blank pages, these printers may not produce them. To print these blank pages so that you can more easily assemble the entire plot, you must have Group 0 Option 7 enabled. Refer to your printer manual for more information.


PostScript printers

If you’re using a printer with a PostScript cartridge or PostScript mode, make sure your printer is in the correct mode to receive PostScript commands before you send your plots. Refer to your printer or PostScript cartridge manual for more information.

The Generic drivers provided with PrintAPlot cannot put the printer into the correct mode. You must do that from your printer’s front panel. The Generic PostScript drivers support many paper sizes. Your printer must be able to support the correct size and you must set that size from your printer’s front panel. For example, to print a PostScript page at A4 paper size, set your printer's front panel to A4 paper size, then set PrintAPlot to A4 paper size.

PostScript printers supported via cartridge mode and a selected PostScript driver, e.g. LaserJet IID PostScript, can set the printer into the correct mode.


Toshiba printers

351C, 321SL, 341SL, and 351SX

For correct positioning of your plot, position the left edge of the paper, or the perforation if you are using continuous feed paper, at index mark “0” on the bail bar. Align the top edge of the paper with the top of the print head.


Glossary


Plot file

A disk file created by a graphics program, containing instructions which tell a plotter how to render the drawing. PrintAPlot for Windows converts the instructions in the plot file to commands that graphics printers can recognize.


Plot List

In the PrintAPlot main window, the list of plot files that you can select for printing or previewing. You can add files to the Plot List from PPW Explorer, PPW Preview, or Windows Explorer.

Help on the Plot List


Preview

To view a plot file before printing it, to see how it will look using the current settings.

Help on Preview


Printing

Sending a plot file to a graphics printer. PrintAPlot handles printing through the Print Queue Manager.

Help on Printing


Rasterizing

Converting a plot file from vector format (HP-GL or HP-GL/2) to a raster format understandable to graphics printers.


Settings sheet

A file that records a particular group of plot, pen, and printer settings. After you create a settings sheet and give it a name, you can assign it to any plot file to print the drawing with those settings.

Help on settings sheets


Tiling

Printing a single drawing across a number of printer pages.


Unprintable region

In some printer types, a narrow area around the edge of the paper that is reserved for paper handling and so cannot be printed.

PrintAPlot for Windows determines the size of the unprintable region depending on the printer you select in Printer settings, and takes it into account when calculating scaling values and origin points. If you turn off PrintAPlot's automatic Fit to page calculation and enter your own settings for scaling values, you will need to be aware that your printer may not be able to print to the edges of the paper.


DEFAULT TOPIC TITLE
This is a context-sensitive Help file that is called from an application.


When using this settings sheet, instructs PrintAPlot to determine the current Windows default printer at run time and send its output there.


Selects an installed printer to use when printing with this settings sheet.

To instruct PrintAPlot to determine the Windows default printer at run time and use that, check the box labeled "Use system printer."


Selects print output in landscape or portrait mode.


Selects print output in landscape or portrait mode.


Selects the output resolution in dots per inch (dpi).


Selects the output paper size.


Selects the number of copies to print.


Opens the Windows Printer Properties dialog, for access to additional printer settings.


Contains the name of the current settings sheet. Use this field to enter the name of a new sheet you are creating, or to change the name of an existing sheet.

Note: You must include the extension .SS.


Set to match the plotter setting that was used to create the drawing you want to print. In most cases, this will be HP-GL/2.

If your plot file is in an older format, choose Generic HP-GL or one of the direct plotter emulations (7470A, 7475A, or ColorPro and compatible).


When printing using a Plotter type of generic HP-GL, this setting provides PrintAPlot with information on the scaling reference points that were used when creating the plot. Choose from the drop-down list: 7470A/ColorPro, 7475A, 7550, or 7580/7585/7586.


Automatically fits each drawing on a single sheet of paper. PrintAPlot calculates a scaling value based on the selected paper size, orientation, and the selected printer's unprintable region. Turn this option off to enable the Scaling, Origin, and Tiling features.


Set to match the original size of the plot you are printing. Choose the correct size from the drop-down list.


Rotates the plot by 90, 180, or 270 degrees (clockwise).


Sets the size of the output plot manually, overriding PrintAPlot's automatic Fit to page calculation.

To specify percentage values for horizontal and vertical scaling, enter them in the X and Y boxes. To specify a standard output size, select a value (A through E) from the drop-down list.


Sets the size of the output plot manually, overriding PrintAPlot's automatic Fit to page calculation.

To specify percentage values for horizontal and vertical scaling, enter them in the X and Y boxes. To specify a standard output size, select a value (A through E) from the drop-down list.


Sets the size of the output plot manually, overriding PrintAPlot's automatic Fit to page calculation.

To specify percentage values for horizontal and vertical scaling, enter them in the X and Y boxes. To specify a standard output size, select a value (A through E) from the drop-down list.


Sets the size of the output plot manually, overriding PrintAPlot's automatic Fit to page calculation.

To specify percentage values for horizontal and vertical scaling, enter them in the X and Y boxes. To specify a standard output size, select a value (A through E) from the drop-down list.


Shifts the drawing's origin (0,0) point left, right, up, or down by a specified amount. Positive X and Y values shift the drawing to the right and up on the page; negative values move it to the left and down.


Shifts the drawing's origin (0,0) point left, right, up, or down by a specified amount. Positive X and Y values shift the drawing to the right and up on the page; negative values move it to the left and down.


Shifts the drawing's origin left, right, up, or down by a specified amount. Positive X and Y values shift the drawing to the right and up on the page; negative values move it to the left and down.


Prints a drawing across multiple pages, if it is larger than a single sheet of paper.

When tiling is turned on, two further options become available:

 Tile overlap prints each page with a one-half inch overlap with the adjoining pages.

 Blank page suppress tells the printer to skip any blank pages in the tiled plot.


When tiling is on, tells PrintAPlot to print each page with a one-half inch overlap with the adjoining pages.


When tiling is on, tells the printer to skip any blank pages in the tiled plot.  Leaving this option off makes it easier to assemble the finished plot.


Sets all pens to AutoCAD's color set.


Sets all pens to the standard RGB color set.


For each pen available to the selected plotter type, shows the currently assigned color and width (in mm).

To change color and width values, select one or more pens from the list and click Color or Width. To set all pens to the same value, first click Select All.


Opens the Color dialog to let you set colors for the selected pens.


Lets you set the width of the selected pens. Enter a value in millimeters.


Selects all pens in the list, for setting all pens to the same values.


Deselects all pens in the list.


Lists the available settings sheets. To create a new sheet, click New. To edit an existing sheet, select its name from the list and click Edit. To delete a settings sheet, select it and click Delete.


Opens the Settings window for you to create a new settings sheet. All values for plot settings, pen settings, and printer settings are initially set to the PrintAPlot for Windows defaults.


Click here to change the values in an existing settings sheet, or to rename a sheet.


Deletes the selected settings sheet from disk.

You cannot delete the default settings sheet, DEFAULT.SS.


Copies the values from the selected sheet to the default sheet.


Closes the Settings Sheet Manager.


Tells PrintAPlot not to remove files from the Plot List after printing.


Tells PrintAPlot to save the Plot List when exiting and restore it at the beginning of the next session.


Tells PrintAPlot to start and stop PPW Preview along with the PrintAPlot main window.


Sets the location where PrintAPlot settings sheets are stored. The default is C:\PPW\Settings\.

Note: The default settings sheets DEFAULT.SS and AUTOCAD.SS reside in the main program folder (C:\PPW); this setting does not affect them.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Click to locate the folder you want to use to store PrintAPlot's settings sheets.


Locate the Windows folder where you want to store your settings sheets. The default is C:\PPW\Settings\.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Enter the desired  width (in millimeters) for the selected pen(s).


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Closes the About box.


Choose an item from the list.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Click this button to make your choice.


Closes the About Print Queue Manager box.


Lists the .PLT files waiting to be sent to the printer.


While PrintAPlot is converting the plot file to raster format for printing, the progress meter shows how much of the current file has been rasterized.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Finishes rasterizing the current file, then suspends further processing of files in the PrintAPlot print queue until you press Resume.

This command has no effect on print jobs that other applications have sent to the Windows print spooler.


Removes the selected file(s) from the PrintAPlot print queue.

You can delete a print job from Print Queue Manager at any time until the rasterization process has finished; after that you must use the Windows Print Manager to stop a job.


Displays the status of the current print job. This message is also echoed in the Print status column in the Plot List.


Closes the About box.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Select your preferred option.


Select your preferred option.


Select your preferred option.


Selects the initial display resolution for images loaded into PPW Preview.


Check your desired options.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Lists the available settings sheets. Choose one to attach to the plot file you are viewing.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Enter your input in this field.


Click this button to make your choice.


Use the arrows to select your preferred value.


Use the arrows to select your preferred value.


Enter your input in this field.


Enter your input in this field.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Select your preferred option.


Select your preferred option.


Select your preferred option.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Shows how much of the current file PrintAPlot has converted to raster format for previewing.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Shows how much of the current file PrintAPlot has converted to raster format for previewing.


DEFAULT TOPIC TITLE
This is a context-sensitive Help file that is called from an application.


When using this settings sheet, instructs PrintAPlot to determine the current Windows default printer at run time and send its output there.


Selects an installed printer to use when printing with this settings sheet.

To instruct PrintAPlot to determine the Windows default printer at run time and use that, check the box labeled "Use system printer."


Selects print output in landscape or portrait mode.


Selects print output in landscape or portrait mode.


Selects the output resolution in dots per inch (dpi).


Selects the output paper size.


Selects the number of copies to print.


Opens the Windows Printer Properties dialog, for access to additional printer settings.


Contains the name of the current settings sheet. Use this field to enter the name of a new sheet you are creating, or to change the name of an existing sheet.

Note: You must include the extension .SS.


Set to match the plotter setting that was used to create the drawing you want to print. In most cases, this will be HP-GL/2.

If your plot file is in an older format, choose Generic HP-GL or one of the direct plotter emulations (7470A, 7475A, or ColorPro and compatible).


When printing using a Plotter type of generic HP-GL, this setting provides PrintAPlot with information on the scaling reference points that were used when creating the plot. Choose from the drop-down list: 7470A/ColorPro, 7475A, 7550, or 7580/7585/7586.


Automatically fits each drawing on a single sheet of paper. PrintAPlot calculates a scaling value based on the selected paper size, orientation, and the selected printer's unprintable region. Turn this option off to enable the Scaling, Origin, and Tiling features.


Set to match the original size of the plot you are printing. Choose the correct size from the drop-down list.


Rotates the plot by 90, 180, or 270 degrees (clockwise).


Sets the size of the output plot manually, overriding PrintAPlot's automatic Fit to page calculation.

To specify percentage values for horizontal and vertical scaling, enter them in the X and Y boxes. To specify a standard output size, select a value (A through E) from the drop-down list.


Sets the size of the output plot manually, overriding PrintAPlot's automatic Fit to page calculation.

To specify percentage values for horizontal and vertical scaling, enter them in the X and Y boxes. To specify a standard output size, select a value (A through E) from the drop-down list.


Sets the size of the output plot manually, overriding PrintAPlot's automatic Fit to page calculation.

To specify percentage values for horizontal and vertical scaling, enter them in the X and Y boxes. To specify a standard output size, select a value (A through E) from the drop-down list.


Sets the size of the output plot manually, overriding PrintAPlot's automatic Fit to page calculation.

To specify percentage values for horizontal and vertical scaling, enter them in the X and Y boxes. To specify a standard output size, select a value (A through E) from the drop-down list.


Shifts the drawing's origin (0,0) point left, right, up, or down by a specified amount. Positive X and Y values shift the drawing to the right and up on the page; negative values move it to the left and down.


Shifts the drawing's origin (0,0) point left, right, up, or down by a specified amount. Positive X and Y values shift the drawing to the right and up on the page; negative values move it to the left and down.


Shifts the drawing's origin left, right, up, or down by a specified amount. Positive X and Y values shift the drawing to the right and up on the page; negative values move it to the left and down.


Prints a drawing across multiple pages, if it is larger than a single sheet of paper.

When tiling is turned on, two further options become available:

 Tile overlap prints each page with a one-half inch overlap with the adjoining pages.

 Blank page suppress tells the printer to skip any blank pages in the tiled plot.


When tiling is on, tells PrintAPlot to print each page with a one-half inch overlap with the adjoining pages.


When tiling is on, tells the printer to skip any blank pages in the tiled plot.  Leaving this option off makes it easier to assemble the finished plot.


Sets all pens to AutoCAD's color set.


Sets all pens to the standard RGB color set.


For each pen available to the selected plotter type, shows the currently assigned color and width (in mm).

To change color and width values, select one or more pens from the list and click Color or Width. To set all pens to the same value, first click Select All.


Opens the Color dialog to let you set colors for the selected pens.


Lets you set the width of the selected pens. Enter a value in millimeters.


Selects all pens in the list, for setting all pens to the same values.


Deselects all pens in the list.


Lists the available settings sheets. To create a new sheet, click New. To edit an existing sheet, select its name from the list and click Edit. To delete a settings sheet, select it and click Delete.


Opens the Settings window for you to create a new settings sheet. All values for plot settings, pen settings, and printer settings are initially set to the PrintAPlot for Windows defaults.


Click here to change the values in an existing settings sheet, or to rename a sheet.


Deletes the selected settings sheet from disk.

You cannot delete the default settings sheet, DEFAULT.SS.


Copies the values from the selected sheet to the default sheet.


Closes the Settings Sheet Manager.


Tells PrintAPlot not to remove files from the Plot List after printing.


Tells PrintAPlot to save the Plot List when exiting and restore it at the beginning of the next session.


Tells PrintAPlot to start and stop PPW Preview along with the PrintAPlot main window.


Sets the location where PrintAPlot settings sheets are stored. The default is C:\PPW\Settings\.

Note: The default settings sheets DEFAULT.SS and AUTOCAD.SS reside in the main program folder (C:\PPW); this setting does not affect them.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Click to locate the folder you want to use to store PrintAPlot's settings sheets.


Locate the Windows folder where you want to store your settings sheets. The default is C:\PPW\Settings\.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Enter the desired  width (in millimeters) for the selected pen(s).


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Closes the About box.


Choose an item from the list.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Click this button to make your choice.


Closes the About Print Queue Manager box.


Lists the .PLT files waiting to be sent to the printer.


While PrintAPlot is converting the plot file to raster format for printing, the progress meter shows how much of the current file has been rasterized.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Finishes rasterizing the current file, then suspends further processing of files in the PrintAPlot print queue until you press Resume.

This command has no effect on print jobs that other applications have sent to the Windows print spooler.


Removes the selected file(s) from the PrintAPlot print queue.

You can delete a print job from Print Queue Manager at any time until the rasterization process has finished; after that you must use the Windows Print Manager to stop a job.


Displays the status of the current print job. This message is also echoed in the Print status column in the Plot List.


Closes the About box.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Select your preferred option.


Select your preferred option.


Select your preferred option.


Selects the initial display resolution for images loaded into PPW Preview.


Check your desired options.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Lists the available settings sheets. Choose one to attach to the plot file you are viewing.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Enter your input in this field.


Click this button to make your choice.


Use the arrows to select your preferred value.


Use the arrows to select your preferred value.


Enter your input in this field.


Enter your input in this field.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Closes this dialog and saves any changes you have made.


Select your preferred option.


Select your preferred option.


Select your preferred option.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Shows how much of the current file PrintAPlot has converted to raster format for previewing.


Closes this dialog without saving any changes you have made.


Shows how much of the current file PrintAPlot has converted to raster format for previewing.