use .pcf to print .drw file

[dinneth]

Hi


I am a new member and have a problem with printer. I searched our forum and did not find good answer. I am not sure whether or not it is correct to place printer question here (CAD Administration). If it is not proper, I am sorry. Please move this topic to the forum where it should be.


Pro/E WF 2.0 M171
WinXP SP2
Network printer HP LaserJet 5000 LE


In order to print .drw drawing in Pro/E, I create a .pcf file.


button_name HP_LaserJet_A3
button_help Plot from HP LaserJet
plotter LaserJet5000LE
plot_drawing_format yes
allow_file_naming no
paper_size A3
plot_translate -0 -0 mm
plot_access create
delete_after_plotting yes
plotter_command windows_print_manager \\ServerName\PrinterName
pen_table_file C:\Proe_wildfire2\Standards\Plot_Configs\Pen.pnt
plot_with_panzoom no default


But when I open a drw file, Menu -> Print, in the pull-down list near the field of Destination, I cannot find the printer. As I imaged, there should be an "HP_LaserJet_A3". I asked a friend, he said, only the printers what Pro/E "know" will be show here IF I use real printer type name in the "plotter" option in .pcf file. If Pro/E does not know my printer, I have to use postscript in the "plotter" option in .pcf file.
Is it right?
And if I use postscript, my printer print some strange code instead of my drawing. Then I call HP support hotline. They told me that HP LaserJet 5000 LE does not support postscript. Oh ...

Could anybody please give me some suggestion?
Thank you!
Yours
Dinneth

 

[sgalayda]

You may have this, but you didn't mention it so I am assuming it is not set. Do you have in your config.pro file the option pro_plot_config_dir and set to where the .pcf file is?

 

[peterbrown77]

The problem is that "plotter LaserJet5000LE" is not a supported printer in ProE. You need to change it to "MS_PRINT_MGR". This will pop the Windows Print Manager where you select the printer, etc.


Regards

 

[dr_gallup]

First, did you put the .pcf file in the correct place? The default is load_point\text\plot_config directory. Otherwise you need to set the option pro_plot_config_dir. As long as Pro can find the .pcf file you should see the printer in the pull down list. That does not guarantee that it will work.

We used to have an HP5000 and it did support postscript but perhaps that is an option yours does not have. Postscript is by far the most reliable way to get good output from Pro/E and the easiest to convert to PDF but if you don't have it try one of the older laserjet settings. I would try LASERJET4V.

plotter LASERJET4V

 

[dinneth]

Thank you sgalayda. I know the setting in config.pro. I think, in my case, it is not the point, because in same directory, other .pcf files can be viewd in the pull-down list.





Thank you Peter. I think it would be a solution. However, my requirement is to avoid such a pop-up dialog window. Our engineers would like to choose a entry in pull-down list, then click print. They do not want to see more dialog window of Windows Print Manager.





Thank you dr_gallup. About the directory, just like I wrote to sgalayda above. I think I put it in correct place already.


For the postscript, I also doubt the reply from HP hotline people. But anyhow, if I use "postscript" in the option line in .pcf file, my HP LaserJet 5000 LE just does not work. The LaserJet4V is a good suggestion. I will try it.





Thank you all for your kindly reply.