HP DesignJet 500 + R14 + win98 Q

I'm trying to help a not very computer savvy, remotely located
architect (a.k.a. mom) who is migrating all at once from an "old"
(i.e. ancient) DOS+AutoCAD10+HP plotter set-up to a "new" (i.e.
less ancient) Win98+R14+HP DesignJet 500 one. (Actually, the
printer is pretty new; only her "new" OS and "new" software are
long in the tooth.)

She is used to a correspondence between line colors in AutoCAD to
pens of different line widths in her venerable HP plotter. Her
shiny new plotter is actually an inkjet printer which prints her
drawings with all lines having the same width but in a range of
gaudy colors, and she's horrified.

Is this something that one fixes in the printer itself (using the
menus one can access through the little screen on the front of the
printer)? Or is this something one fixes at the computer? And if
the latter, is it done generally by accessing the printer driver
directly (through the Windows Control Panel), or does it need to
be done through AutoCAD itself?

If anyone can give me some general instructions on how to set line
widths in such a set-up I'd be most grateful.

Thanks!

kj

 

It has been a while since I used A14; if memory serves me: first, if using a
color printer configure it in Win98 print prefs to print in grayscale not
color. Then in A14 plotter menu import or create a 'ctb' pen file with
corresponding color/lineweights.

 

The lineweights are controlled by AutoCAD and can be adjusted in the plot
settings. Go to FILE>PRINT and there's a button in the upper right of the
dialog box called PEN ASSIGNMENTS which is where she/you can adjust the
lineweight for each color. In order to print the lines black she should
adjust the PEN NO. to "7" (this is also found in the PEN ASSIGNMENTS area.

Also, at the AutoCAD command prompt type HPCONFIG and she can adjust
numerous printer settings, i.e. line overwrite/merge, media orientation,
memory usage, how line endpoints and join points are handled, etc. (at the
bottom of this dialog box there's also a setting for PRINT COLORS where the
options are "Colors as gray" or "All as black". If HPCONFIG doesn't work
she can download it from HP's website.

So to basically sum up your questions: All your printer settings are
handled within AutoCAD. Once she has it set up the way she wants she should
save those settings. You can do this within the print dialog box, go to:
FILE>PRINT and you'll see a button at the top called DEVICE AND DEFAULT
SELECTION, that brings up another box with the SAVE buttons for your
configuration. (you can save it as a PCP or PC2 file).

HTH,

Michael (LS)

 

I have an idea : I'll give you an HP 250 plotter in exchange for your 500
series, and everyone will be happy!!

Jokes aside, it's a bit of a shame to have that shiny new stuff and not take
advantage of its capabilities. True enough, if you make a color plot of an
AutoCad drawing set up using colors for line weights, you'll end up with an
ugly color plot, in which the color detracts from the readability rather than
enhancing it. For these drawings, your mom should use R14's plot setup table,
as others describe here, and she will quickly find her old preferences. One
disadvantage of R14 compared with later versions - it always keeps the plot
setup of your last plot. If all your drawings are set up the same way, this is
not a disadvantage, but if you plot to different plotters, different sizes,
color or greyscale etc etc, you'll be missing the features of 2000 and later
versions, that save plot settings with each drawing - and many different
layouts for each drawing. It's a huge time saver.
If your mom is creating new drawings, hopefully she will want to experiment
with her new color capability, to enhance the quality and readability of her
work, extracting the most out of her superb color plotter.

G Faris