Delay in selecting Plotter from AutoCAD 2006

[AutoCAD Vancouver]

We recently purchased an HP Designjet 5500ps and set it up on our Windows Server 2000 network. We use AutoCAD 2006 with all latest XP updates.

When selecting our plotter from AutoCAD it pauses for 10-30 seconds. Seems like AutoCAD is searching for the plotter. The plotter eventually pops up and life goes on..

We do not experience this pause from other software when selecting this plotter. I have come to the conclusion that AutoCAD 2006 is somehow conflicting with the software for the plotter. I have ran updates on the plotter end as well. There was another post which encountered this same problem on a hp800 plotter as well.

Is there anyone out there that has encountered this problem and knows of a solution.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!!!

Matt

[rkmcswain]

Do you have some bad .PC3 files in that directory? Meaning - are there any PC3 files that are looking for PMP files that don't exist, or drivers that don't exist, etc.

These might help:

http://support.autodesk.com/Getdoc.asp?ID=TS62597

http://discussion.autodesk.com/thread.jspa?messageID=353107

http://discussion.autodesk.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4281462

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

See if the following threads offer any help...

Plot / Plot to file freezes

Multiple printer configuration file search paths

HP700 really slow

Plus, AutoCAD does check ( ping ) network locations when performing certain tasks - Plotting being one such task - therefore if you suffer with network issues / problems, AutoCAD will appear to highlight those issues / problems.

Have a good one, Mike

[rkmcswain]

You might just remove all the PC3 files - go to plot, check the delay.
If none, add the one back that you want to use, go to plot, check the delay
Repeat until you isolate the problem file.

[Olaf.Banckaert]

...
Plus, AutoCAD does check ( ping ) network locations when performing certain tasks - Plotting being one such task - therefore if you suffer with network issues / problems, AutoCAD will appear to highlight those issues / problems.
...

Indeed, AutoCAD checks the plotter.
If you install the plotter localy, you will see there isn't a really delay.
The delay you can have with the network depens on the usage of you're network. Becaus AutoCAD will search that plotter and gather all the info he needs to make the preview and to load the settings into the drawing befor he will plot/print.
The more specifications you have setup in you're plotters configuration the slower it will be (AutoCAD compares the PC3 file with the plotter settings). For example, if you don't use the standard paper settings, but have a own paper setting (3000mmx900mm) he always reloads these. If you never use them, you can delete them so they won't be loaded enymore. There are basic settings you need, like autopaper, inked area, ...

GreetZzz