

     Autodesk Product Support                        February 10, 1994

           AutoCAD(R) Release 12 386 -- Network Plotting

This documents include information pertaining to AutoCAD(R) 386 Release 12, 12c1, and
12c2. Skip to the section entitled "Earlier Revisions of AutoCAD 386 Release 12" if you are
using AutoCAD Release 12 or 12c1.

AUTOCAD RELEASE 12c2 FOR DOS 386 -- SPOOLING TO NETWORK DEVICES

   The capabilities in AutoCAD Release 12c2 for DOS 386 have been improved to better
support plotting in network environments.  AutoCAD can now plot directly to network
captured or re-directed ports, and automatically spool plots to multiple network plotters or
printers.  These and other enhancements are documented in the README.DOC file in the
AutoCAD directory.

   Two examples of using these plotting enhancements are shown below. In the first,
AutoCAD is configured to plot directly to printers and plotters via Novell captured ports.  In
the second, AutoCAD's Autospooling feature is used to send plots automatically to network
print queues.

Plotting to Network Captured Ports

1) Determine which network-captured or re-directed ports connect to which network queues. 
On a Novell network, use the CAPTURE command with the /SHOW option to obtain
information about captured ports:

C:> CAPTURE /SHOW
   LPT1:  Capturing data to server 2MPSPRINT queue HP_LASERJET_PLUS.
     
   User will not be notified after the files are printed.
   Capture Defaults: Enabled  Automatic Endcap: Enabled
   Banner:     (None)    Form Feed:     No
   Copies:     1    Tabs:          No Conversion
   Form:  0    Timeout Count: Disabled

   LPT2:  Capturing data to server 2MPSPRINT queue DESIGNJET_600.

   User will not be notified after the files are printed.
   Capture Defaults: Enabled  Automatic Endcap: Enabled 
   Banner:     (None)    Form Feed:     No
   Copies:     1    Tabs:          No conversion
   Form:  0    Timeout Count: Disabled

2) Create a plotter configuration for each output device available on the network.  

   For example, to plot to the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet III shown in Novell's CAPTURE
command above, issue the following steps:
   a.  Start AutoCAD.
   b.  Use the CONFIGURE command to add a plotter configuration.
   c.  Select the driver, "Hewlett-Packard (PCL) Laser Autodesk".
   d.  Select the supported model, "HP LaserJet III".
   e.  Select the printer connection type, "Parallel".
   f.   Select the correct paper tray, resolution, and number of copies.
   g.  Specify whether or not to delete downloaded fonts and macros.
 * h.  Select the appropriate communication port, "LPT1:".
   i.   Enter a description for the plotter, "techps_pcl".
   j.   Exit the plotter configuration menu and configuration menus.

* Note: AutoCAD displays both the available port names, e.g., LPT1:, and hexadecimal port
addresses, e.g., 3BC.  Selecting a port name causes AutoCAD to send directly to that network
device.  To plot to a local device specify the hexadecimal port address.

3) Issue the PLOT command, and select the printer under the "Device and Default
Selection..." option.

Plotting with AutoCAD's AUTOSPOOL Feature

1) Add the environment variable ACADPLCMD to your system startup files or the batch file
which starts AutoCAD.

   SET ACADPLCMD=C:\SPFILES\PLOT.BAT %%s %%c

   The percent characters %s and %c pass the plotfile name and plotter description,
respectively, to the batch program.  

Note: When specifying percent signs in a batch file, use two percent signs.  The MS-DOS
batch file processor automatically suppresses the first one.  

2) Using the Configure Operating Parameters menu under the Configure menu, specify
"AUTOSPOOL" as the default plot file name.

3) Using the Configure Operating Parameters menu under the Configure menu, specify a plot
spooler directory such as C:\SPFILES to receive the plot files.  

Note: AutoCAD will not automatically create the plot spooler directory. 

4) Use AutoCAD's CONFIG command to create plotter configurations for each printer or
plotter available on the network.  

5) Specify that each plotter configuration will plot to a file.

6) Give each plotter configuration a plotter description which matches the network queue
name:  

   0. Exit to plotter configuration menu
   1. Hewlett-Packard (PCL) LaserJet ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
          Description: HP_LaserJet_III
   2. PostScript device ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
          Description: TI_Omnilaser
   3. Hewlett-Packard (HP-GL/2) ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
          Description: DesignJet_600
   4. PostScript device ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
          Description: Phaser_III
   5. Hewlett-Packard (HP-GL/2) ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
          Description: HP_Laser_IIIsi_HPGL2
   6. PostScript device ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc. 
          Description: HP_Laser_IIIsi_PostScript
   7. Hewlett-Packard (PCL) LaserJet ADI 4.2 - by Autodesk, Inc.
          Description: HP_Laser_IIIsi_PCL

Note: If non-alphanumeric characters are placed in the plotter description, AutoCAD will
automatically replace them with underscores when passing them to the plot spooler.   

7) Create a batch file in the plot spooler directory that will send the plots to their respective
printers and plotters:

   @echo off
   if "%2"=="HP_Laser_IIIsi_HPGL2"    goto SPECIAL
   if "%2"=="HP_Laser_IIIsi_PostScript"    goto SPECIAL
   if "%2"=="HP_Laser_IIIsi_PCL"      goto SPECIAL
     
   nprint %1 /server=2mpsprint /queue=%2 /nt /nff /nb>nul
   goto END

   :SPECIAL
   nprint %1 /server=2mpsprint /queue=Laser_IIIsi /nt /nff /nb>nul
   goto END    

   :END
   del %1 >nul

Note: In this example, the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIIsi can receive PostScript, HP-GL/2,
and PCL files.

Note: Novell networks can use a feature called Jobnames to make plot spooling easier.  If
Jobnames are available, specify the AutoCAD plotter configuration description (step number 6
above), to have the same name as the Novell Jobname.  Pass both the plot name and the
Jobname in the plot spooling batch file:

   @echo off
   if "%2"=="HP_Laser_IIIsi_HPGL2"    goto SPECIAL
   if "%2"=="HP_Laser_IIIsi_PostScript"    goto SPECIAL
   if "%2"=="HP_Laser_IIIsi_PCL"      goto SPECIAL
     
   nprint %1 jobname=%2 >nul
   goto END
     
   :SPECIAL
   nprint %1 jobname=techps >nul
   goto END
          
   :END
   del %1 >nul

8) To plot to a network printer, use the PLOT dialogue and select the appropriate printer
configuration under the "Device and Default Selection..." option.

EARLIER REVISIONS OF AUTOCAD 386 RELEASE 12

If you are using AutoCAD 386 Release 12 or 12c1, the following guidelines can be used to
plot to multiple network devices, but we encourage you to obtain the free update Release
12c2 as soon as possible.

     By default, the AutoCAD 386 Release 12 (and 12c1) plotting mechanism sends data
directly to the local serial and parallel port hardware.  In a network environment, it is usually
necessary to first plot to a spool file, then pass that file to the network queuing software.
Several methods can be used to streamline network plotting.  One way is to use a plot spooler
application specifically designed for use with AutoCAD running on a network. Consult the
AutoCAD Resource Guide for plot spooler programs tailored for use with AutoCAD.
 
     Another method of plotting on a network is to plot to a captured port, so that the data
sent to one of the MS-DOS standard output devices (LPTx, where x=1,2,3) is redirected by
the network to a spooler queue.  For example: in Release 12, you can plot to a file named
LPT1, then answer Yes to the prompt "File already exists, do you wish to replace it?"  The
plot data will then be intercepted by the network and routed to the appropriate plotter.  
However, network transmission errors can sometimes interfere, resulting in an incomplete
plot.  
 
     Plotting to a spool file on the local hard disk provides a certain degree of protection from
this predicament and can be much faster than plotting to the network port.  This process runs 
transparently in the background using AutoCAD's AUTOSPOOL feature. 


Using AUTOSPOOL to Plot to Multiple Network Devices

     To use AUTOSPOOL set a DOS environment variable, ACADPLCMD, to issue the
network spooling commands, as described in Chapter 5 of the AutoCAD Interface,
Installation, and Performance Guide.  Although ACADPLCMD can only execute one
statement during the editing session, you can switch between network plotters by 
swapping batch files.
 
     The following steps are provided as a guideline.  Keep in mind that some variables may
change depending on the type of network and the organization of the drive and directories on
the workstation.
 
1.   Set the ACADPLCMD variable by placing the following statement in the batch file used
to start AutoCAD (e.g., ACADR12.BAT): 
 
SET ACADPLCMD=c:\spfiles\spoolpl.bat %%s 
 
     Note: The "s" in %%s must be typed in lowercase, and if 
     you type the above statement at the DOS prompt you need 
     only one percent (%) sign. 
   
2.   Create a directory c:\spfiles and in it create the batch files below for each network plotter
that AutoCAD uses.   Our example assumes that the network has already been configured to
redirect the data sent to LPT1, LPT2, etc. to specific plotter queues. For example: 

lj.bat
copy /b %1 lpt1:
del %1

hpgl.bat
copy /b %1 lpt2:
del %1

hpgl2.bat
copy /b %1 lpt3:
del %1

3.   Edit the AutoCAD program parameters file, ACAD.PGP in the support directory, in order
to allow the swapping of batch files from the AutoCAD command line: 
 
LJ,COPY c:\spfiles\lj.bat c:\spfiles\spoolpl.bat, 0, ,4
HPGL,COPY c:\spfiles\hpgl.bat c:\spfiles\spoolpl.bat, 0, ,4
HPGL2,COPY c:\spfiles\hpgl2.bat c:\spfiles\spoolpl.bat, 0, ,4
 
     Note: See Chapter 3 of the AutoCAD Customization Manual for 
     information on ACAD.PGP.  Use the REINIT command to 
     initialize the revised PGP file. 

4.   Configure AutoCAD, selecting the Operating Parameter menu, and choose option 4, Plot
spooler directory.  Accept the default of \spfiles\.  Next, choose option 3, Default plot file
name, and enter AUTOSPOOL (in capital letters) as the default plot filename.  
 
     If you haven't already done so, select the Plotter configuration menu and add a plotter
configuration for each network device you plan to use.  Answer Yes to the prompt "Do 
you want to change anything?" and specify that you wish to plot to a file.  If prompted for a
device name (i.e., COM1, COM2), remember that this information will not be used at plot
time, so accept the default. 
 
     To plot to a network device, first swap batch files by entering the external command
which you defined in the ACAD.PGP file.  For example, to use the HPGL2 device, enter: 

        Command: HPGL2 

     Then select PLOT, and choose the desired plotter under "Device and Default Selection."
If plotting with the plot dialogue box turned off, CMDDIA <0>, you also need to turn off 
file dialogues, FILEDIA <0>.  Now plot to file, which should be set as the default to
AUTOSPOOL.



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