Changing Printer Support File Path via Lisp

Any ideas on this matter? I have the adding the support path thing figured
out, but not sure of the Printer Support file path. The reason i ask is that
we're planing on moving to a network based .pc3, .pmp, .ctb system and I'm
looking for a quick fix. for our 50+ machines. Thanks in advance

Jorge

 

If you use the same printer name when you install the printers on each
computer, the you should be able to use the same pc3 for all systems to
access the same printer as well as share page setup names.

Dave Alexander

 

check out these functions

vla-get-printerconfigpath
vla-put-printerconfigpath

 

We have that now, but everyone works localy. We're moving to a network based
location for pc3's, and ctbs. I was just wondering if anyone had any coding
in lisp to do this with a lisp routine other than me having to go into each
pc and set up the paths.

Jorge

 

I'm new to visual lisp Jason.. Would you happen to have the full/part code
for what i want to do laying around?

Jorge

 

This would be one way to handle it

; [path] - string, path to apply
; return: t or nil
(defun putPrinterConfigPath (path)
(not
(vl-catch-all-error-p
(vl-catch-all-apply
(function
(lambda ()
(vla-put-printerConfigPath
(vla-get-files
(vla-get-preferences
(vlax-get-acad-object)
)
)
path
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

; use like so: (putPrinterConfigPath "Your\\Path\\Here")

 

Jorge,

I still don't see what the problem is. As each person logs on the work
station, they just set the path. They should know how to do this anyway. If
no one is using the work station, who cares. When it is used, then set the
path. In fact, you can ignor it until someone needs to plot. Then they can
set the path.

Dave Alexander

 

have one for the DRV and CTB path too? Thanks for the other one.. Works
great.

Jorge.

 

Complete agree with you Jason. If anyone other than CADD Management was
modifying/cuctomizing the Acad platform, we would be spending alot more time
re-installing autocad on their PC's.

Jorge..

 

Jason,

I think you have to allow your "folks" some participation in your system.
The knowledge of how to set a path to a ctb or pc3 should not be a big
thing. If not, then you may not be getting the best out of them. The worst
thing that can happen is to work with people that do exactly what you tell
them to do because that is "all" that they will do.

Dave Alexander

 

Did not test them but they should work.

; [path] - string, path to apply
; return: t or nil
(defun putPrinterDescPath (path)
(not
(vl-catch-all-error-p
(vl-catch-all-apply
(function
(lambda ()
(vla-put-printerDescPath
(vla-get-files
(vla-get-preferences
(vlax-get-acad-object)
)
)
path
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

; [path] - string, path to apply
; return: t or nil
(defun putPrinterCtbPath (path)
(not
(vl-catch-all-error-p
(vl-catch-all-apply
(function
(lambda ()
(vla-put-printerStyleSheetPath
(vla-get-files
(vla-get-preferences
(vlax-get-acad-object)
)
)
path
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

or you could combine them all into one routine for updating
the plotter information, just hard code the paths and you are set.

; return t or nil
(defun mySetup ()
(and
(or *acad* (setq *acad* (vlax-get-acad-object)))
(or *pref* (setq *pref* (vla-get-preferences *acad*)))
(not
(vl-catch-all-error-p
(vl-catch-all-apply
(function
(lambda ()
(vla-put-printerConfigPath *pref* "Your\\Path\\Here"); .pc3 location
(vla-put-printerDescPath *pref* "Your\\Path\\Here"); driver path
(vla-put-printerStyleSheetPath *pref* "Your\\Path\\Here"); ctb path
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

 

Dave,

I am not against educating users, I'll often teach them as
much as they want to learn, provided I know what I am
talking about <g>.

I just feel that some system settings should not be messed
with, (granted, ctb paths will not cause major havoc) or I'll
end up with...."Why isn't this working like it used to?", "No,
I didn't change anything" but in reality, they did.... sometimes
it can just lead to wasting more time than anything.

Oh, and we have had some of those "I do nothing more than
I am told to do" type employees. Very frustrating! If a certain
person shows interest and I personally feel they can handle it
then I'll show them all I have "under the hood".

 

Jason,

Thought as much but felt I had to say something anyway.

Dave Alexander

 

I hear ya.

 

&nbsp;(setenv "PrinterConfigDir" &lt;pc3 path&gt
&nbsp;(setenv "PrinterDescDir" &lt;pmp path&gt
(setenv "PrinterStyleSheetDir" &lt;ctb path&gt

Make sure you use either \\ or / for folder separators. We use the same folder for all three, it seems to work just fine, and it's pretty simple, just a folder called n:/printing (n: is our support drive).
Regards,
Dave