File name too long

Before upgrading from ADT 2004 to ADT 2005, only the last part of the file
name and the layout name displayed in the queue on the plotter. Now plotting
from ADT 2005, the complete file name shows, but I can't see the last part
in the queue display. I have a HP Designjet 800.
I can go back and plot in 2004, and it shows the file name correctly (short
version) so I don't think any setting with the plotter has changed.
I copied my pc3 files and from the 2004 directory to the 2005 directory. I
have not seen any setting to change how the file name is displayed.
Does anyone know how to change the file name display on the plotter?
Thanks in advance.

 

Not directly in AutoCAD or on the plotter. It takes an extra step. Plot to
file and use my latest GoPlot version to send the file to the plotter.
GoPlot now has an option to shorten the name (strip the full path from the
name). http://members.lycos.nl/goplot/

Govert

 

For some reason Autodesk decided we would prefer seeing the path included
with the filename - WRONG!. They obviously hadn't considered the
ramifications of this when managing queues in a normal office
environment...who knows if they'll fix it? They mucked it up good!

John

 

Shouldn't have to take another step, I didn't with ADT 2004. We just need to
get Autodesk to fix whatever they changed, or allow how the file name
settings are displayed to be an option. (See next post by John Schmidt)

 

Thanks for the info. So I guess there is no option to search for, no
variable to change, to get it to display like in ADT2004?
Hey, Autodesk - the display screen on my DesignJet 800 is 2 1/2" long, and
there is no way to jump to the end of the file name to see what is in the
queue. I can't see what I need to reorder or replot, or see if I have
already sent s certain file to the queue. All that is needed to be in the
display is the last part of the file name and the layout name - like in
ADT2004.

 

The frustrating thing is I've seen no responses from Autodesk, (Bud, 'you
there?), on what might be done about this issue. In just this one office
we've got over 30 users, so moving stuff around in the queue was always a
common thing, and totally impossible since 2005.

This issue, (along with some other problems in LDT2005), has us seriously
planning on "downgrading" to R2004 - it's just that 2005 changed some things
that have very negatively impacted our productivity.

John

 

Maybe posts in the wishes discussion group will help get the attention of
Autodesk.

 

Hi John,

I have been following the thread. Just been really busy and wanted to check
with the hardcopy team before I replied to anyone.

1. This has been requested since AutoCAD 2000 took it out. Back in R14 we
could see the path and the name. But we had an 8.3 file name limitation so
you may not remember issues back then.

2. The problem is in the HP driver side and they are looking at changing
the driver to fix this. So there is no fix from the AutoCAD side.

You mention other problems that are making you think of moving back to 2004
based AutoCAD. Can you send me details on that as well? I can at least
look at it and pass by the teams that would need to see these issues.
Send to

Thanks for getting us these details.

Bud Schroeder
AutoCAD Test Development
Autodesk Inc.

 

Bud - I really don't see how the problem could be on the "driver side". The
reason being is that using the exact same Windows system driver in R2004 and
earlier does NOT add the complete path - something was changed in AutoCAD to
cause this.

I'll drop you an email about some of the other things.

John

 

What I understand of it (Bud may correct me):

AutoCAD passes the long name including the full path to the driver; the
driver writes this long name in the header of the plot file (this name in
the header is what you will see on the plotter's display) AND it passes the
full name to the spooler (the latter is what users seem to have requested;
they want to see the long name in the Windows print queue to identify the
origin).

A new driver should fix this by splitting these two: short name in the
header, long name in the Windows print queue (this is what I introduced as
an option in GoPlot).

Whether it is wise to depend on another supplier (HP) to fix this ....

Govert

 

Thanks Govert,

That is pretty much what is going on. We have talked with HP about this but
don't have any eta on when a fix will be available in there driver.

Thanks for jumping in to help.

Bud

 

I am confused just as John Schmidt is on how it could be a driver. I still
have ADT2004 on my computer, and I can go back to ADT2004 and plot - only
the last part of the file name and layout name shows on the plotter's
display. I can open the same file and print from ADT2005 and I get the long
version, where I can't see anything but the "c:\documents and sittings\
.....".
How, if a way exists, can I get ADT2005 to act like ADT2004 in sending the
file name info to the plotter?

Dianne Shelbrack
Design Services Company

 

AutoCAD passes the long name including the full path to the driver; the

So that's the issue - *AutoCAD* passes the long name...

Since the same HP system driver used in R2004 apparently does *not* send the
path to the plotter, something had to have changed in R2005. If it was the
*driver* then we'd be seeing path names with R2004 and earlier, wouldn't we?
If not, then R2004 and earlier must not be passing the path, which means
this was changed in R2005. AutoCAD is the only thing that we've changed, not
the driver. It still looks to me like the ball is in Autodesk's court on
this one, not HP.

In Bud and Govert's scenario, if we were to install an earlier version of
the HP driver, then path names would no longer be present in R2005. I'll see
if I can find one...

John

 

Definitely, giving the users an option on full or short file names would
have been the best choice for Autodesk. Hopefully, this will be in a service
pack relatively soon.

 

Has a solution to this issue been found yet? Has HP updated their driver?
Thanks, Ken

 

I have not checked lately - so I am not sure. Would be so convenient if they
would.

 

See this post on autodesk.autocad.2006 "Is path in HP plot queues fixed?"