Printer config (.pcf) for Wildfire 3.0

[esmith]

Hello all,
Hoping somebody can help me with this...

I'm trying to set-up .pcf files for a WF 3.0 installation and for some reason the plot_scale FIT_PAPER option is having no affect. I want to configure the .pcf so B, C and D-size drawings are scaled-down for printing on A or B-size paper.

I am using the following .pcf file that worked perfectly in Pro/E 2001, scaling the drawings down for printing on both postscript enabled and non-postscript laser and inkjet printers:

plotter MS_PRINT_MGR
button_name INKJET B Size
button_help INKJET B Size
plot_drawing_format YES default
plot_segmented NO default
plot_roll_media NO default
plot_label NO default
create_separate_files NO default
plot_with_panzoom NO default
rotate_plotting NO default
allow_file_naming YES
plot_name NO
interface_quality 3 default
pen_table_file D:\Pro-E\Plot_Configs\table.pnt
plot_sheets current default
paper_outline NO default
plot_clip NO default
plot_area NO default
paper_size b
plot_scale fit_paper

In this new installation I'm printing to Laserjet 5Si and an old LaserjetIII, both network printers, and neither is working like I want.

Has anybody had this same problem?
Any suggestions at all would be most appreciated.

Regards,
Ewan

 

[acook]

Hey esmith,

How exactly is the plot no working the way you want it (i.e. getting clipped, not scaled right...etc.)? This would help in diagnosing the problem if it is a new Wildfire thing for printing.

Thanks.

 

[esmith]

Hi Adam,
Thanks for the reply.

The plots are getting clipped... if I try to print a B-size drawing on an A-size sheet Pro/E is not scaling-down the drawing to fit the paper, it's simply printing an 8-1/2" X 11" corner of the 1:1 B-size drawing.

I assumed the plot_scale <FIT_PAPER> and paper_size <A> settings would do the job, as they seemed to in 2001, but no such luck.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Ewan

 

[acook]

Hey esmith,

While I am looking for a specific solution to your problem, I noticed some odd things about your printer config file. I am really not an expert on printer config but I have dealt with it before.

First, "plot_name" should be "plot_names". (According to this document I have from PTC, which you can have if you want it).

Second, shouldn't paper_size=A it seems like you have it set to B which might make the spooler think its going to a B size sheet.

Try this (unless I am wrong in my assumptions) and tell me how it works.

Hope this helps.

 

[esmith]

Hi again Adam,

You're right, it should be plot_names (not plot_name)... thanks. I'd be surprised if this was causing the problem, but I'll give it a try for sure.

I pasted my "print on a B-size sheet" .pcf file into my original posting, and then to confuse matters started talking about printing to an A-size sheet.

I do have a "print on an A-size sheet" .pcf which is identical with the exception of the paper_size <A> setting... this is the .pcf I used when trying to print a B-size drawing on an A-size sheet... sorry for the confusion.

Thanks again,
Ewan

 

[acook]

Hey esmith,

Ok. Now I understand. This is a odd problem becuase accroding to PTC wildifre 3.0 is valid with all these options in your .pcf files. I don't see anything in the bug database concerning this issue right away but something usually will turn up becuase I'm guessing this is not just a Wildfire 3.0 issue (although it might be).

I don't think as well that plot_names is causing the problem.

I will reply if I find out something.

 

[acook]

Hey Ewan,

I tried "your" .pcf file in my WF 3.0 version (WF 3.0 M020) and it worked perfectly on my printer HP LaserJet 4L (which only prints size A). I printed successfully to an A size sheet from a C and B size drawing. I had to make some changes in the file since I do not have, at your location, the table.pnt file and I changed the "plot_name" to "plot_names". Here is the file that I used. I have darkened what I changed.

plotter MS_PRINT_MGR
button_name LASERJET A Size
button_help LASERJET A Size
plot_drawing_format YES default
plot_segmented NO default
plot_roll_media NO default
plot_label NO default
create_separate_files NO default
plot_with_panzoom NO default
rotate_plotting NO default
allow_file_naming YES
plot_names NO
interface_quality 3 default
pen_table_file table.pnt
plot_sheets current default
paper_outline NO default
plot_clip NO default
plot_area NO default
paper_size A
plot_scale fit_paper


From this the only thing I can think is that your printer settings, the properties for your Laserjet 5Si and LaserjetIII are not good. However, I cannot find anything in the PTC bug database concerning ANY Pro/Engineer release having problems with the Laserjet 5Si or LaserjetIII with respect to clipping the plot.

If you didn't change anything in your printer properties then I am truly stumped.

Also, I changed the "plot_names" back to the incorrect "plot_name" and it still printed OK. Maybe your table.pnt file?????





Edited by: acook

 

[esmith]

Hi Adam,
Many thanks for your help... much appreciated.

I'm somewhat relieved to hear that the .pcf file worked for you... I didn't think there was anything wrong with it, yet both printers patently refuse to cooperate.

I forgot to mention that I'm trying to get this plot config set-up and working at a new employer, on a new installation of WF 3.0 (M010). It was at a previous job with Pro/E 2001 that everything worked as expected.
My suspicion is it's a printer server or printer configuration issue, like you suggested, but the IT guy didn't thing anything was wrong.

The only other thing I can think of is my config.pro settings that affect printing and plotting might be doing something funky in WF 3.0. I believe the .pcf settings override the config.pro settings, but I might be wrong. Any chance you would be willing to post your printer/plotting related config.pro settings? (e.g. ps_output_with_pagesize, plotter_command, plotter, plotter_handshake etc.)

Thanks again.
Ewan

 

[acook]

Hey Ewan,

I just got this WF 3.0 M020 new about 2 days ago and havent had a chance to look at a config.pro for it yet (at our company we usually try to see what options are changed, removed, ..etc. before we add a config.pro to it). Therefore, I have no config.pro options loaded when I attempted to plot those figures on WF 3.0. I also tried your .pcf file on our WF 2.0 (M190) and it was successful. I did have our company config.pro setup on the WF 2.0 version. The only thing that pertains to plotting in our confi.pro is:


plotter_command=plotrx.bat
plotter=draftmasterx

Hope this helps. If you want our full config.pro shoot me a Private Message and give me your e-mail address.