HPGL2 component

Is there any free HPGL/HPGL2 ActiveX component for VB/VBA programmers?

 

What are you trying to do?

 

I ask my girlfriend's hand and my future father in low ask me to get an
ActiveX component for previewing a PLT file. So I'm looking...

 

Just kidding.
I need that for my VB programming...

 

Mine asked for a linetype viewer (OCX) I did not marry...

 

Its obvious you need it for programming, but what task do you need to
accomplish.

ActiveX is for objects, whereas, hpgl is a specification for a file type.
Its like asking for an ActiveX for dwg when you need it for Autocad, the
object that manipulates the dwg file.

Since you are asking the wrong question, it would help us if you explained
what you are trying to do.

 

He's not asking the wrong question.

ActiveX is a means through which code written in other
langauges is exposed to and use by VB. The fact that
ActiveX represents things as 'objects' is incidential to
its fundamental purpose.

What an ActiveX component or 'object' does, can be
anything at all, including access HPGL2 files.

 

Ed, you seem to have the wrong definition for ActiveX
There are many ways to define ActiveX but this one
is simple and clear:

"A programming methodology that was developed
by Microsoft and can be used to isolate
software components and build functions
using those components"

So there is nothing wrong in asking for an ActiveX control
to handle HPGL files.

 

Thank you for your observations, guys. but, while you both are technically correct, I wasn't trying to provide a definition of ActiveX, just an analogy that was applicable to this case since he didn't understand my request for clarification of his purpose. He didn't ask for a control to "handle" or "access" hpgl files. In fact he didn't specify anything that he wanted to do. What if he wants something to translate hpgl files? If he had been more specific about what he wanted, both/either of you should have provided him with it. At least your additional comments are there for others to read.

However, What I said is not really at odds with you either. I was speaking from a point of view of general practice, not theory. Your definition said, "can be used", whereas I was talking about what is used in a specific case. Generally, you won't see an ActiveX control that represents just the file structure of a dwg, or xls or doc (admittedly I'm stating this without doing an exhaustive search). But you *might* find something that *manipulates* the file in some way. What I was trying to draw out of him is, what manner he desired to manipulate an hpgl file. Without that, all I can tell him is "go Google it".
--
----
Ed
----
Ed, you seem to have the wrong definition for ActiveX
There are many ways to define ActiveX but this one
is simple and clear:
"A programming methodology that was developed
by Microsoft and can be used to isolate
software components and build functions
using those components"

So there is nothing wrong in asking for an ActiveX control
to handle HPGL files.

 

He probably already Googled it
cause there are ActiveX components
to handle HPGL but not for free !!!

He was asking for a free one.
I haven't seen one.
--
Saludos, Ing. Jorge Jimenez, SICAD S.A., Costa Rica

Thank you for your observations, guys. but, while you both are technically correct, I wasn't trying to provide a definition of ActiveX, just an analogy that was applicable to this case since he didn't understand my request for clarification of his purpose. He didn't ask for a control to "handle" or "access" hpgl files. In fact he didn't specify anything that he wanted to do. What if he wants something to translate hpgl files? If he had been more specific about what he wanted, both/either of you should have provided him with it. At least your additional comments are there for others to read.

However, What I said is not really at odds with you either. I was speaking from a point of view of general practice, not theory. Your definition said, "can be used", whereas I was talking about what is used in a specific case. Generally, you won't see an ActiveX control that represents just the file structure of a dwg, or xls or doc (admittedly I'm stating this without doing an exhaustive search). But you *might* find something that *manipulates* the file in some way. What I was trying to draw out of him is, what manner he desired to manipulate an hpgl file. Without that, all I can tell him is "go Google it".
--
----
Ed
----
Ed, you seem to have the wrong definition for ActiveX
There are many ways to define ActiveX but this one
is simple and clear:
"A programming methodology that was developed
by Microsoft and can be used to isolate
software components and build functions
using those components"

So there is nothing wrong in asking for an ActiveX control
to handle HPGL files.

 

I would like to "...see an ActiveX control that represents just the file structure of a ... " PLT file and draws it on image/picture. I need a lawyer here...

similar to "HatchPattern.ocx", "DwgThumbnail.ocx" where some method, say, <ViewHPGL2>.FileName, can be pointed to a file and be loaded in sizable image. I don't want to go in to whish-list details about properties and methods.



To manipulate PLT file structure by modifying the code will be little far from my request at this time. I know that there are some applications in the market they do so. Repro-desk is one of them and I don't like it because it never got upgrade from my grandfather's engagement era and it does not allow printing in-house using different media sizes. Other PLT viewers (99.99% shareware) are overwhelmingly too match what architectural midsize businesses need; and there are not cheap. In addition to this and some other concerns I'm thinking, would be grate if Autodesk will provide some kind of utility to play with PLT files, view, pan, modify etc.

My initial question was is there available FREE "programming tool, Component, ActiveX" (I need some lawyer here) available in the market to do what I try to do with PLT files (view at least).



Thank you for your observations, guys. but, while you both are technically correct, I wasn't trying to provide a definition of ActiveX, just an analogy that was applicable to this case since he didn't understand my request for clarification of his purpose. He didn't ask for a control to "handle" or "access" hpgl files. In fact he didn't specify anything that he wanted to do. What if he wants something to translate hpgl files? If he had been more specific about what he wanted, both/either of you should have provided him with it. At least your additional comments are there for others to read.

However, What I said is not really at odds with you either. I was speaking from a point of view of general practice, not theory. Your definition said, "can be used", whereas I was talking about what is used in a specific case. Generally, you won't see an ActiveX control that represents just the file structure of a dwg, or xls or doc (admittedly I'm stating this without doing an exhaustive search). But you *might* find something that *manipulates* the file in some way. What I was trying to draw out of him is, what manner he desired to manipulate an hpgl file. Without that, all I can tell him is "go Google it".
--
----
Ed
----
Ed, you seem to have the wrong definition for ActiveX
There are many ways to define ActiveX but this one
is simple and clear:
"A programming methodology that was developed
by Microsoft and can be used to isolate
software components and build functions
using those components"

So there is nothing wrong in asking for an ActiveX control
to handle HPGL files.

 

I thought that's what COM is?

 

Sheesh guys. Gimme a break. No you don't need a lawyer. Your only criteria at first was Free ActiveX. Somewhere in the middle would be nice. For all I knew, you may have only wanted to delete hpgl files. I'm not a mind reader. When people come here asking for help with a vague request and they don't bother to provide any background, I don't assume what the background is. I don't have time to go do a ton of research if you've already done it. Half the time when people come here with vague questions, they don't get any replies. I just try to get things started by asking for some more specifics so we know which direction to go in when we do try to help you. If you bite the hand that feeds you, people will be less likely to help you with future requests. My other comments were directed to Jorge.

 

Thank you for your observations, guys. but, while you both are technically correct, I wasn't trying to provide a
definition of ActiveX, just an analogy that was applicable to this case since he didn't understand my request for
clarification of his purpose.

It really has nothing to do the specifics of his application WRT HPGL.

You were equating a file format with ActiveX, and suggesting that
there was something mutually exclusive about the two.

He didn't have to, when it is perfectly obvious.

Unless you want to sign a NDA with him, I think you should
consider being a bit less inquisitive about specifics, when they
not directly relevant to the question.

There are plenty of ActiveX libraries that deal with HPGL files,
and I don't see how the specifics of what he wants to use one
of them for, is something you or I needs to know.

 

Sorry Ed, but you got into this mess by yourself.

 

Again you're absolutely right. It must have been me...you never do anything wrong.

--

 

Now lets change the topic.



Lets try to ask a single question and get some answer about the wetter.

Do we ask?



How match rain fail in to the ground?

How fast is the wind? And what direction is it running?

How match temperature earth gets from the sun at this moment?

Etc.



We simply ask

How is the wetter?

Also we use the same expression to people

How is the mother/father/sister?



We ask the same question to different "animals" and 5 billion people
understand by contents and by several other conditions. If few of them
don't, it is their problem.



It's called a definition and if it is already a dispute.this can take a long
time.

Clinton redefined the "sexual relationship" his time, was a good example.



I'm out, I'm out, I'm out

correct, I wasn't trying to provide a

since he didn't understand my request for

 

Its obvious now. People come here all the time with one-liners and several
posts later, you find out what you offered as "help" wasn't what they wanted
at all. They just didn't know how to ask the right question, or one that
didn't elicit unwanted/wrong answers. I didn't think it would require an NDA
for him to say "I want to view it", which BTW is relevant. And since there
are plenty of controls out there, which one would I have suggested without
knowing anything about his needs? There are a lot of beginners that want to
plot hpgl and don't know you can do it with a dos command. Providing him
with a control may have been overkill. How was I to know without asking? I
was only trying to be helpful. But if this is what it gets me, I'll just sit
back and let you and Jorge offer your kind of "help".

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Ed
----

correct, I wasn't trying to provide a

since he didn't understand my request for

 

I take all your comments. Next time I will try to be more specific...
Thanks

 

A sincere, "you're welcome".

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Ed
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