README.TXT March 3, 1994 AutoCAD LT for Windows "Interim" Solution for HPGL Printers and Plotters THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND OF MERCHANTABILITY ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED. Readme Contents: Background 1. Installing the HPGL "Interim" Solution for AutoCAD LT 2. Configuring the System Printer in Windows 3.1 for the HPGL "Interim" Solution 3. Configuring AutoCAD LT for the HPGL "Interim" Solution 4. Configuring your plotter for AutoCAD LT (the plotter cable) 5. Using the HPGL "Interim" Solution to plot a drawing 6. Advanced User Notes Background: The HPGL printer/plotter driver that is shipped with Windows 3.1 does not properly support AutoCAD LT (and other vector-based software products). The shortcomings in this driver have been identified to Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard and efforts are underway to correct and update this driver in the future. Devices that do not properly plot AutoCAD LT drawings include: HP 7220, 7470, 7475, 7550, 7580, 7585, 7586, ColorPro, DraftPro, DraftPro DXL and EXL, and Draftmaster I and other vendor's plotters that emulate one of the above. The "Interim" Solution: Because we do not know how long it will take to develop and deliver an updated HPGL driver for Windows 3.1, we have provided an "Interim" solution for AutoCAD LT users. This solution will allow AutoCAD LT users to plot to all of the HP devices listed above. To use this "Interim" solution, please follow the instructions below: 1. Installing the HPGL "Interim" Solution for AutoCAD LT: Step 1: Start Windows. Step 2: Open File Manager and select the directory containing AutoCAD LT (probably ACLTWIN). Step 3: Rename the file ACLTSYS.DLL to ACLTSYS.OLD. Step 4: Rename the file ACLT2.MNU to ACLT2.OLD (Note: if you have customized ACLT2.MNU you may want to see "6. Advanced Users Notes" below). Step 5: Delete the file ACLT.CFG. Step 6: Delete the file ACLT2.MXK (if it is present). Step 7: Copy the new file ACLTSYS.DLL that accompanies this readme (either off the diskette or off the network) into the AutoCAD LT directory (probably ACLTWIN). Step 8: Copy the new file ACLT2.MNU that accompanies this readme (either off the diskette or off the network) into the AutoCAD LT directory (probably ACLTWIN). Step 9: Exit File Manager. You have now completed the installation of the HPGL "Interim" Solution. Next, you must be sure Windows 3.1 is properly configured for your HPGL plotter device so that AutoCAD LT can communicate with it. 2. Configuring the System Printer in Windows 3.1 for the HPGL "Interim" Solution: Step 10: Open Control Panel in the Main group of Program Manager. Step 11: Double click on Printers. Step 12: Select the HPGL device you want to plot to (if it is not listed, add it - see Windows 3.1 manual for help). Step 13: Click on the Connect... button. Step 14: Select the port that your HPGL device is connected to (probably COM1 - this is Serial Port 1 on most machines). Step 15: Click on the Settings... button. Step 16: The settings for AutoCAD LT should be: Baud Rate: (depends on device - probably 9600) Data Bits: 7 Parity: Even Stop Bits: 1 Flow Control: Xon / Xoff Step 17: Click OK, OK, Close button. Step 18: Close Control Panel. You are now ready to start up AutoCAD LT and configure it. Almost done. 3. Configuring AutoCAD LT for the HPGL "Interim" Solution: Step 19: Start AutoCAD LT by double clicking on the AutoCAD LT icon. Step 20: From Settings pull down, choose Full Menu (if not already selected). Step 21: Click on File pull down. Note that there are two new entries beneath Print/Plot... The two new entries are HPGL On and HPGL Off. Step 22: Click on "HPGL On." Step 23: From File pull down, choose Print/Plot... Step 24: Click the "Print/Plot Setup & Default Selection..." Step 25: Click on "Print/Plot Setup..." Step 26: From the "Models" pop down list, choose your plotter type (e.g. HP 7550). Step 27: From "Output To" pop down list select the port your plotter is connected to (probably COM1). Step 28: Click OK, OK, Cancel (if you click OK the last time, you will print the current drawing to your HPGL plotter). 4. Configuring your plotter for AutoCAD LT (the plotter cable): Step 29: We recommend the following cable pin assignments: Plotter end Computer end Pin 2 ------------------ Pin 3 Pin 3 ------------------ Pin 2 Pin 4 -----| |----- Pin 4 Pin 5 -----| |----- Pin 5 Pin 7 ------------------ Pin 7 Pin 6 -----| |----- Pin 6 Pin 20 -----| |----- Pin 20 Note: Plotter Pin 4 is connected to Plotter Pin 5 and Computer Pin 4 is connected to Computer Pin 5. Also, Plotter Pin 6 is connected to Plotter Pin 20 and Computer Pin 6 is connected to Computer Pin 20. All other connections are from Plotter to Computer (e.g. Plotter Pin 2 connects to Computer Pin 3). You are now ready to plot to your HPGL plotter. 5. Using the HPGL "Interim" Solution to plot a drawing: To plot a drawing to your HPGL plotter: open the drawing you wish to plot, from File pull down menu select HPGL On then select Print/Plot..., select the paper size and pen assignments you want, and press OK (you will be prompted at the command line to hit a return after the dialog box disappears to ensure that the plotter is on, loaded, etc.). AutoCAD LT will spool the drawing and send it to the System Printer (% complete will show at the command line until the plot has been completely sent to the System Printer). You can open the System Printer and examine the status of the plot there. Once AutoCAD LT has sent the plot to the System Printer, you can resume using AutoCAD LT (you may load a new drawing or edit the drawing being plotted, whatever you want - the System Printer will manage the plot). If you no longer want to use your HPGL plotter to plot AutoCAD LT drawings or you want to switch to a non-HPGL printer or plotter, select HPGL Off from the File pull down menu. This will return AutoCAD LT to its "as shipped" state (using only the Windows 3.1 system printer drivers). Once HPGL Off has been selected, AutoCAD LT will send all Print/Plot jobs to the default Windows System Printer (just as it did before you installed the "Interim" solution). You are free to switch back and forth between HPGL On and Off as often as you wish, however, you must reconfigure the Print/Plot Setup... dialog box each time you switch to ensure that AutoCAD LT correctly computes paper size and pen assignments. (You may want to switch back and forth if you are doing test plots on a laser jet printer [HPGL Off] and actual plots on a HPGL device [HPGL On]). 6. Advanced User Notes: a. The HPGL On and HPGL Off menu picks in the File pull down can be added to any menu(s) that you have customized for your own needs. The customization code to add HPGL On and HPGL Off for ACLT.MNU or ACLT2.MNU is: [/HHPGL On]^C^C_setenv hpgl 1 [/LHPGL Off]^C^C_setenv hpgl 0 b. If you are a command line user (i.e. you don't like pull down menus), the command line input to turn HPGL On is: setenv hpgl 1 The command line input to turn HPGL Off is: setenv hpgl 0 Happy plotting!!