README.TXT
March 3, 1994
AutoCAD LT for Windows
"Interim" Solution for HPGL Printers and Plotters

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTY.  ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR
PURPOSE AND OF MERCHANTABILITY ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED.

Readme Contents:

Background
1. Installing the HPGL "Interim" Solution for AutoCAD LT
2. Configuring the System Printer in Windows 3.1 for the HPGL
  "Interim" Solution
3. Configuring AutoCAD LT for the HPGL "Interim" Solution
4. Configuring your plotter for AutoCAD LT (the plotter cable)
5. Using the HPGL "Interim" Solution to plot a drawing
6. Advanced User Notes

Background: The HPGL printer/plotter driver that is shipped with 
Windows 3.1 does not properly support AutoCAD LT (and other 
vector-based software products).  The shortcomings in this driver 
have been identified to Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard and efforts 
are underway to correct and update this driver in the future.  
Devices that do not properly plot AutoCAD LT drawings include: HP 
7220, 7470, 7475, 7550, 7580, 7585, 7586, ColorPro, DraftPro, 
DraftPro DXL and EXL, and Draftmaster I and other vendor's plotters 
that emulate one of the above.  

The "Interim" Solution:  Because we do not know how long it will 
take to develop and deliver an updated HPGL driver for Windows  3.1, 
we have provided an "Interim" solution for AutoCAD LT users.  This 
solution will allow AutoCAD LT users to plot to all of the HP 
devices listed above.  To use this "Interim" solution, please follow 
the instructions below:

1. Installing the HPGL "Interim" Solution for AutoCAD LT:

Step 1:  Start Windows.
Step 2:  Open File Manager and select the directory containing
	 AutoCAD LT (probably ACLTWIN).
Step 3:  Rename the file ACLTSYS.DLL to ACLTSYS.OLD.
Step 4:  Rename the file ACLT2.MNU to ACLT2.OLD 
	(Note: if you have customized ACLT2.MNU you may want to see
	"6. Advanced Users Notes" below).
Step 5:  Delete the file ACLT.CFG.
Step 6:  Delete the file ACLT2.MXK (if it is present).
Step 7:  Copy the new file ACLTSYS.DLL that accompanies this 
	 readme (either off the diskette or off the network) into 
	 the AutoCAD LT directory (probably ACLTWIN).
Step 8:  Copy the new file ACLT2.MNU that accompanies this readme 
	(either off the diskette or off the network) into the 
	 AutoCAD LT directory (probably ACLTWIN).
Step 9:  Exit File Manager.

You have now completed the installation of the HPGL "Interim" 
Solution. 

Next, you must be sure Windows 3.1 is properly configured for your 
HPGL plotter device so that AutoCAD LT can communicate with it.

2. Configuring the System Printer in Windows 3.1 for the HPGL 
"Interim" Solution:

Step 10: Open Control Panel in the Main group of Program Manager.
Step 11: Double click on Printers.
Step 12: Select the HPGL device you want to plot to (if it is not 
	 listed, add it - see Windows 3.1 manual for help).
Step 13: Click on the Connect... button.
Step 14: Select the port that your HPGL device is connected to 
	(probably COM1 - this is Serial Port 1 on most machines).
Step 15: Click on the Settings... button.
Step 16: The settings for AutoCAD LT should be:

	Baud Rate: (depends on device - probably 9600)
	Data Bits: 7
	Parity: Even
	Stop Bits: 1
	Flow Control: Xon / Xoff

Step 17: Click OK, OK, Close button.
Step 18: Close Control Panel.

You are now ready to start up AutoCAD LT and configure it.  
Almost done.

3. Configuring AutoCAD LT for the HPGL "Interim" Solution: 

Step 19: Start AutoCAD LT by double clicking on the 
	 AutoCAD LT icon.
Step 20: From Settings pull down, choose Full Menu (if not already 
	 selected).
Step 21: Click on File pull down.  Note that there are two new
	 entries beneath Print/Plot...  The two new entries are HPGL
	 On and HPGL Off.
Step 22: Click on "HPGL On."
Step 23: From File pull down, choose Print/Plot...
Step 24: Click the "Print/Plot Setup & Default Selection..."
Step 25: Click on "Print/Plot Setup..."
Step 26: From the "Models" pop down list, choose your plotter type
	 (e.g. HP 7550).
Step 27: From "Output To" pop down list select the port your plotter
	 is connected to (probably COM1).  
Step 28: Click OK, OK, Cancel (if you click OK the last time, you
	 will print the current drawing to your HPGL plotter).


4. Configuring your plotter for AutoCAD LT (the plotter cable):

Step 29: We recommend the following cable pin assignments:

Plotter end                Computer end
    Pin 2  ------------------  Pin 3
    Pin 3  ------------------  Pin 2
    Pin 4  -----|         |-----  Pin 4
    Pin 5  -----|         |-----  Pin 5
    Pin 7  ------------------  Pin 7
    Pin 6  -----|         |-----  Pin 6
    Pin 20 -----|         |-----  Pin 20

Note: Plotter Pin 4 is connected to Plotter Pin 5 and Computer Pin 4 
is connected to Computer Pin 5.  Also, Plotter Pin 6 is connected to 
Plotter Pin 20 and Computer Pin 6 is connected to Computer Pin 20.  
All other connections are from Plotter to Computer (e.g. Plotter Pin 
2 connects to Computer Pin 3).

	     
You are now ready to plot to your HPGL plotter.  

5. Using the HPGL "Interim" Solution to plot a drawing:

To plot a drawing to your HPGL plotter: open the drawing you wish to 
plot, from File pull down menu select HPGL On then select 
Print/Plot..., select the paper size and pen assignments you want, 
and press OK (you will be prompted at the command line to hit a 
return after the dialog box disappears to ensure that the plotter is 
on, loaded, etc.). 
 
AutoCAD LT will spool the drawing and send it to the System Printer 
(% complete will show at the command line until the plot has been 
completely sent to the System Printer).  You can open the System 
Printer and examine the status of the plot there.  Once AutoCAD LT 
has sent the plot to the System Printer, you can resume using 
AutoCAD LT (you may load a new drawing or edit the drawing being 
plotted, whatever you want - the System Printer will manage the 
plot).

If you no longer want to use your HPGL plotter to plot AutoCAD LT 
drawings or you want to switch to a non-HPGL printer or plotter, 
select HPGL Off from the File pull down menu.  This will return 
AutoCAD LT to its "as shipped" state (using only the Windows 3.1 
system printer drivers).  Once HPGL Off has been selected, AutoCAD 
LT will send all Print/Plot jobs to the default Windows System 
Printer (just as it did before you installed the "Interim" 
solution).  

You are free to switch back and forth between HPGL On and Off as 
often as you wish, however, you must reconfigure the Print/Plot 
Setup... dialog box each time you switch to ensure that AutoCAD LT 
correctly computes paper size and pen assignments.  (You may want to 
switch back and forth if you are doing test plots on a laser jet 
printer [HPGL Off] and actual plots on a HPGL device [HPGL On]).

6. Advanced User Notes:

a.  The HPGL On and HPGL Off menu picks in the File pull down can be 
added to any menu(s) that you have customized for your own needs.  
The customization code to add HPGL On and HPGL Off for ACLT.MNU 
or ACLT2.MNU is:

[/HHPGL On]^C^C_setenv hpgl 1
[/LHPGL Off]^C^C_setenv hpgl 0

b.  If you are a command line user (i.e. you don't like pull down 
menus), the command line input to turn HPGL On is:

     setenv hpgl 1

The command line input to turn HPGL Off is:

     setenv hpgl 0

Happy plotting!!
