How to print a .PLT file?

[Kroke]

Hi,

Sorry if this is known to most but I havn't used Acad for 5 years so I can't remember how to plot a PLT file.

I have an HP800 plotter connected through a USB, is there a utility I need to use or how is this done?

Thanks in advance.

[Wanderer]

Hi,

Sorry if this is known to most but I havn't used Acad for 5 years so I can't remember how to plot a PLT file.

I have an HP800 plotter connected through a USB, is there a utility I need to use or how is this done?

Thanks in advance.

when plotting, pick the configuration you need (from the plotter name) then simply check the box marked 'plot to file' then you'll be prompted where to save your plt file.
recall that this is only instructions to a plotter rather than a 'real' file, so you have to create it with the configuration of the plotter that it is meant to be printed from.

[Kroke]

Hey thanks for the quick response.

That's my problem...I have a PLT file an engineer sent to me (a color rendering he did he wants me to plot for him). So how do I print the file in PLT form he's already sent me? Looking back at my original post I realise I wasn't very clear on that...

Does that make any sense?

[Wanderer]

Hey thanks for the quick response.

That's my problem...I have a PLT file an engineer sent to me (a color rendering he did he wants me to plot for him). So how do I print the file in PLT form he's already sent me? Looking back at my original post I realise I wasn't very clear on that...

Does that make any sense?

ah... if he set it up using your plotter settings erm... well, I haven't done that before ~looks around~ beuller? ... there are standalone programs that allow you to plot a plt file as you would a real file... ~shrug~ at least I tried, sorry...

[jaberwok]

I haven't done it in many years and it may not work at all with a USB plotter but the command (from a DOS prompt) would be something like -

copy filename.plt>USB001 /b

[Opie]

I haven't done it in many years and it may not work at all with a USB plotter but the command (from a DOS prompt) would be something like -

copy filename.plt>USB001 /b

You would replace USB001 that John pointed out for whichever port your printer is located. You can find this information out from Windows Start Menu -> Printers and Faxes. View the Port page within the properties page of the printer.

[Mike.Perry]

That's my problem...I have a PLT file an engineer sent to me (a color rendering he did he wants me to plot for him). So how do I print the file in PLT form he's already sent me? Looking back at my original post I realise I wasn't very clear on that...

Hi

Take a look at the links provided within the following post...

RE: Batch Plotting PLT files with Sheet Set Manager

Have a good one, Mike

[Kroke]

Hey thanks you guys. I ended up finding a PLT freeware thing. The engineer didn't plot w/ my plotter config before he created the file, so he's going to install my driver and re-create the PLT. It looks pretty good without the 'correct' driver for my plotter but we'll see if it changes anything, hopefully it will.

Thanks again!

[Wanderer]

Hey thanks you guys. I ended up finding a PLT freeware thing. The engineer didn't plot w/ my plotter config before he created the file, so he's going to install my driver and re-create the PLT. It looks pretty good without the 'correct' driver for my plotter but we'll see if it changes anything, hopefully it will.

Thanks again!

Would you mind sharing which freeware plt viewer you found? How it worked? Well? not so good?

[Kroke]

Sorry it took me so long to reply, I get lost in all the threads on this forum, hehe.

It worked great, it also allowed the printshop who we share space with to plot other file extensions they previously couldn't print, so they were thrilled about it too.

Here's the info:

prfile21.zip Send n-up text,
PostScript & more to printer

PrintFile is a Windows utility program
that does n-up printing (with optional
pretty printing) of text files
e.g. source code files. It can also
send files directly to a printer. This
can be seen as a Windows replacement for
the DOS command "copy/b file LPT1". As
opposed to this DOS command, PrintFile
works well with network printers which
has no connection to any LPTx. This
function is mainly intended for printing
PostScript files but may just as well be
used for any file created by a by the
"Print to File" option available for
most Windows printer drivers. The
program also has several PostScript
specific options (e.g. n-up).

Both 16 bit (Win 3.1x) and 32 bit (Win
95 and NT) versions included. Freeware.

Peter Lerup
ptlerup@hem1.passagen.se
http://hem1.passagen.se/ptlerup/ "