won't stop plotting to file..

odd problem..

acad 2k5 (vanil)
win 2K pro.
plotting to tds600

well now you know the basics.. here is the problem.

No matter what settings we have in place on this one computer, it won't
stop plotting to file. All the "plot to file" options are turned off.

This is the first time this has happened in our office (we have had this
plotter, cad version, and os for a long time).. and it only started to
happen on this one computer in the last 2 days.

I've tried the repair feature to no avail. Tried making a new pc3
file.. didn't work..

Any ideas on what I should try next?..

Thanks,

 

Check your windows printer settings (Not AutoCad)... are they set to plot to
file instead of a valid port?

 

we don't install the printers localy... the pc3 file directs it to the
printer (all our computers are setup like this, for each printer).

 

both the pc3 file and the driver are NOT set to plot to file (as I said
in the OP).

all our computers use the same pc3 file & driver.. so ... if one were
set that way.. we would all have this problem.

 

Delete the device off the computer (the printer which you created the pc3
file for) and then reinstall it. Then, create a new pc3 file. I suspect
that you may have an issue with the port that it's trying to print to (on
that one machine) and it's somehow defaulting to a plot file.

Post back when you have done this, and let us know if it worked.

 

obviously i wasn't clear.. it is NOT installed on that computer (or any
computer), we all plot directly to the plotter via the pc3 file (and I
have already remade the pc3 file).

 

Ok, plotter is not installed locally, and you use only the pc3 file. No one else has the problem, and the pc3 file is not shared.

Then, the problem is locally on the machine.

Let's try some long shots:

1. Is there something stuck in the print que on that machine?
2. Is there a program that did not close all the way that had been accessing the port you print to?
3. Did you select the correct driver when installing the pc3 file, and made sure that you didn't check the "Plot files only" box?
4. Did you try rebooting the machine? Kinda obvious, but sometimes the most obvious fixes elude us.

Try those, and see what happens. I know that #3 is kinda redundant, but reverify that you didn't mistakenly check that box, instead of the other, when creating the pc3 file.

We're trying to be helpful....

 

"Ok, plotter is not installed locally, and you use only the pc3 file.
No one else has the problem, and the pc3 file is not shared."

almost 100%, the pc3 file IS shared (it is kept on our server). So I
know the pc3 file is working fine (as everyone else can print to it).

1 - no
2 - no
3 - see above
4 - yes

(thank you for taking the time to try and help, btw)

 

I spoke with our IT guy here. A printer port can have a limit on the number
of users that can access it. He was not 100% sure if that would cause the
plots to go to plot files all the time, but he said that it would prevent
printing directly to the port.

So I ask, did you add a computer to the system right before you started
having this problem?

 

my IT colleague has never heard of a limit like that.. (neither have
I).. Is this "limit" hardwired or can it be changed?.. (if that is
the problem). (only 30 computers running here, and 20 odd have access to
that printer)

 

are you also sharing the pmp files?

 

don't use pmp files..

 

How can you not be using pmp files? Every change made to the pc3 file is saved in a pmp file. That machine must have a pmp file it looks to I would think. Just an idea but you might check to see.

 

in the pc3 file were you are given the OPTION to use a pmp file, it says
"none" (and that is default).