AutoCAD Plotter Driver for
Canon GP55/GP55F Digital Imaging Systems
Installation and Operation Instructions
Driver version 1.00
Instructions version 7/20/95
(c) Copyright 1995 Canon Information Systems.
Autodesk, AutoCAD, and ADI are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.
Autodesk Device Interface is a trademark of Autodesk, Inc. Other brand and
product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
owners.
AutoCAD Releases supported:
AutoCAD 386 (DOS extender) Releases 10, 11, 12 & 13
AutoCAD for Windows Releases 12 & 13
AutoCAD Release 12 Sparc (SunOS 4.1.x)
AutoCAD Release 12 Solaris
CONTENTS
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Install the Driver onto your Hard Disk
3.0 Configure AutoCAD
4.0 Digital Imaging System Settings
5.0 Plot From AutoCAD
6.0 Stopping the Plot
7.0 Line Widths
8.0 Colors and Shades of Gray
9.0 Spooling
10.0 Use Plot-to-File to Plot to a Port
11.0 Troubleshooting
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This document explains the installation and use of Canon's plotter driver
for Canon GP55/GP55F Digital Imaging Systems and AutoCAD.
This driver is a "protected-mode" ADI plotter driver. ADI is Autodesk's
trademarked acronym for the Autodesk Device Interface which the driver uses
to interact with AutoCAD. Because it uses the Autodesk Device Interface,
the driver closely integrates AutoCAD with your Digital Imaging System to
provide optimum plotting features.
To use the driver, do the following:
1. INSTALL THE DRIVER ONTO YOUR HARD DISK
2. CONFIGURE AUTOCAD
3. PLOT FROM AUTOCAD
Details for each of these steps are given below. The procedures differ
depending on what release of AutoCAD you are using. Follow only the steps
under the headings for your release of AutoCAD.
Along with these instructions, please read your AutoCAD Installation and
Performance Guide concerning plotting with ADI devices, the AutoCAD Users
Guide section on plotting, and your Digital Imaging System operators manuals.
This driver is a product of and is supported by Canon USA Inc.,
not by Autodesk.
2.0 INSTALL THE DRIVER ONTO YOUR HARD DISK
Your distribution disk and directory contains one or more driver files.
Different driver files work with different releases of AutoCAD. You must
copy one of these driver files to the proper AutoCAD directory and filename
on your hard disk.
Follow the instructions in the installation section below that is labeled
for your release of AutoCAD. Afterwards, continue with the section titled
CONFIGURE AUTOCAD. Installation sections are available for the following
AutoCAD Releases:
2.1 Release 13 for DOS
2.2 Release 13 for Windows
2.3 Release 12 for DOS
2.4 Release 12 for Windows
2.5 Release 12 for Sparc (SunOS 4.1.x)
2.6 Release 12 for Solaris
2.7 Releases 10 & 11 for DOS
2.1 Release 13 for DOS
Using the command below, copy the driver file plcgp55.exp into AutoCAD's
driver directory on your hard disk.
A normal installation of AutoCAD has already created a driver directory
called acadr13\dos\drv. This directory contains plotter driver files of
the form pl*.exp, which start with pl and have the extension .exp. If
AutoCAD is installed on a disk drive or directory other than c\:acadr13,
then substitute the correct drive and directory for c:\acadr13 in the
command below.
If the driver files that you have received are in a disk drive or directory
other than a:\, then substitute the correct disk drive and directory for
a:\ in the command below.
At a DOS prompt, enter:
copy a:\plcgp55.exp c:\acadr13\dos\drv
Continue with the section below titled CONFIGURE AUTOCAD.
2.2 Release 13 for Windows
Using one of the methods below, copy the driver file plcgp55.w13 to the file
named plcgp55.dll in AutoCAD's driver directory on your hard disk.
A normal installation of AutoCAD has already created a driver directory
called acadr13\win\drv. This directory contains plotter driver files of
the form pl*.dll, which start with pl and have the extension .dll. If
AutoCAD is in a disk drive or directory other than c:\acadr13, then
substitute the correct drive and directory for c:\acadr13 in the commands
below.
If the driver files that you have received are in a disk drive or directory
other than a:\, then substitute the correct disk drive and directory for
a:\ in the commands below.
Note that the commands below change the driver file extension from .w13 to
.dll as you copy the file.
Use one of the following methods, either A or B:
A. In File Manager, choose File, then choose Copy, then fill in:
From: a:\plcgp55.w13
To: c:\acadr13\win\drv\plcgp55.dll
Select OK to copy the driver file.
Continue with the section below titled CONFIGURE AUTOCAD.
B. At a DOS prompt, use the DOS copy command. Enter:
copy a:\plcgp55.w13 c:\acadr13\win\drv\plcgp55.dll
Continue with the section below titled CONFIGURE AUTOCAD.
2.3 Release 12 for DOS
Using the command below, copy the driver file plcgp55.exp into AutoCAD's
driver directory on your hard disk.
A normal installation of AutoCAD has already created a driver directory
called acad\drv. This directory contains plotter driver files of the form
pl*.exp, which start with pl and have the extension .exp. If AutoCAD is in
a disk drive or directory other than c:\acad, then substitute the correct
drive and directory for c:\acad in the command below.
If the driver files that you have received are in a disk drive or directory
other than a:\, then substitute the correct disk drive and directory for
a:\ in the command below.
At a DOS prompt, enter:
copy a:\plcgp55.exp c:\acad\drv
Continue with the section below titled CONFIGURE AUTOCAD.
2.4 Release 12 for Windows
Using one of the methods below, copy the driver file plcgp55.w12 to the file
named plcgp55.dll in the main AutoCAD directory on your hard disk.
A normal installation of AutoCAD has already created a main AutoCAD
directory called acadwin. This directory contains AutoCAD files including
plotter driver files of the form pl*.dll, which start with pl and have the
extension .dll. If AutoCAD is in a disk drive or directory other than
c:\acadwin, then substitute the correct drive and directory for c:\acadwin
in the commands below.
If the driver files that you have received are in a disk drive or directory
other than a:\, then substitute the correct disk drive and directory for
a:\ in the commands below.
Note that the commands below change the driver file extension from .w12 to
.dll as you copy the file.
Use one of the following methods, either A or B:
A. In File Manager, choose File, then choose Copy, then fill in:
From: a:\plcgp55.w12
To: c:\acadwin\plcgp55.dll
Select OK to copy the driver file.
Continue with the section below titled CONFIGURE AUTOCAD.
B. At a DOS prompt, use the DOS copy command. Enter:
copy a:\plcgp55.w12 c:\acadwin\plcgp55.dll
Continue with the section CONFIGURE AUTOCAD.
2.5 Release 12 for SUN Sparcstation (SunOS 4.1.x)
Using the commands below, install the driver file plcgp55.unx into AutoCAD's
driver directory.
1. Log on to your system. Locate your AutoCAD driver directory.
A normal installation of AutoCAD has already created a driver directory
/usr/acad/drv, where /usr/acad is your main AutoCAD directory. This
drv directory contains plotter driver files which start with the
characters pl. If AutoCAD is in a directory other than /usr/acad,
then substitute the correct directory for /usr/acad in the commands below.
2. Change to the AutoCAD driver directory, using an appropriate command
such as:
cd /usr/acad/drv
3. If you have received your driver files on a SUN-format 3.5 inch
diskette, place the diskette into its drive. Transfer the driver file
plcgp55.unx from the floppy disk to your AutoCAD driver directory using
the command:
tar xvfp /dev/rfd0
Alternatively, if the driver files that you have received are already
in your file system, copy the file plcgp55.unx to your AutoCAD driver
directory. Use a command such as the following. Replace /mydir with
the path and directory where the driver files currently reside:
cp /mydir/plcgp55.unx /usr/acad/drv
4. Some early versions of Release 12 will not recognize the driver file if
it has an extension. To avoid this problem, remove the driver file
extension using the command:
mv plcgp55.unx plcgp55
Continue with the section titled CONFIGURE AUTOCAD.
2.6 Release 12 for SUN Solaris
Using the commands below, install the driver file plcgp55.sol into AutoCAD's
driver directory.
1. Log on to your system. Locate your AutoCAD driver directory.
A normal installation of AutoCAD has already created a driver directory
/usr/acad/drv, where /usr/acad is your main AutoCAD directory. This
drv directory contains plotter driver files which start with the
characters pl. If AutoCAD is in a directory other than /usr/acad,
then substitute the correct directory for /usr/acad in the commands below.
2. Change to the AutoCAD driver directory, using an appropriate command
such as:
cd /usr/acad/drv
3. If you have received your driver files on a SUN-format 3.5 inch
diskette, place the diskette into its drive. Transfer the driver file
plcgp55.sol from the floppy disk to your AutoCAD driver directory using
the command:
tar xvfp /dev/diskette
Alternatively, if the driver files that you have received are already
in your file system, copy the file plcgp55.sol to your AutoCAD driver
directory. Use a command such as the following. Replace /mydir with
the path and directory where the driver files currently reside:
cp /mydir/plcgp55.sol /usr/acad/drv
Continue with the section titled CONFIGURE AUTOCAD.
2.7 Release 10 & 11 for DOS
Using the command below, copy the driver file plcgp55.exp to the file named
adiplot.exp in the main AutoCAD directory on your hard disk.
A normal installation of AutoCAD has created a main AutoCAD directory called
acad. If AutoCAD is in a disk drive or directory other than c:\acad, then
substitute the correct disk drive and directory for c:\acad in the command
below.
If the driver files that you have received are in a disk drive or directory
other than a:\, then substitute the correct disk drive and directory for
a:\ in the command below.
Note that the command below changes the driver file name as you copy the
file.
At a DOS prompt, enter:
copy a:\plcgp55.exp c:\acad\adiplot.exp
Continue with the section titled CONFIGURE AUTOCAD.
3.0 CONFIGURE AUTOCAD
You will need to configure your Digital Imaging System as an AutoCAD
plotter before you can plot. Do the following:
1. Start AutoCAD.
2. Go to AutoCAD's configuration menu:
Release 13: Choose Configure under the OPTIONS menu or enter "config"
at AutoCAD's command prompt.
Release 12: Choose Configure under the FILE menu or enter "config" at
AutoCAD's command prompt.
Releases 10 & 11.: Select "Configure AutoCAD" from AutoCAD's Main Menu.
3. Your current configuration will be displayed. Press Enter until the
AutoCAD configuration menu appears.
4. Select "Configure plotter".
(Do not select "Configure printer-plotter" in Releases 10 & 11.)
5. Select the plotter:
Releases 12 & 13: Choose to "Add a plotter." AutoCAD will display the
plotters which have drivers available. "Canon GP55 Digital Imaging System
ADI 4.2 by Canon" should appear as one of the plotter choices. Choose
this. If it does not appear, check the installation of the driver file
using the directions above in the section INSTALL THE DRIVER ONTO YOUR
HARD DISK.
Releases 10 & 11: Select "ADI P386 plotter" from the list of displayed
plotters.
6. Select your Digital Imaging System model and answer the screen prompts
to configure settings for the Digital Imaging System. See the
information below in the section CANON DIGITAL IMAGING SYSTEM SETTINGS.
7. After you are done changing the Digital Imaging System settings,
answer any additional screen prompts about plot settings and printer
ports. In Releases 12 & 13, when prompted, enter a description for this
plotter configuration. The default will be "Canon GP55 Digital Imaging
System". This description will appear at plot time in a menu of your
plotter configurations.
8. Exit from AutoCAD's configuration process. Make sure you save your
configuration when prompted to do so.
9. If you are using Windows for Workgroups 3.11, or a network,
consult the information below in the section USE PLOT-TO-FILE
TO PLOT TO PORT.
4.0 DIGITAL IMAGING SYSTEM SETTINGS
During AutoCAD configuration, and again at plot time, you see a menu of
Canon Digital Imaging System settings. Enter the desired number from the
menu to change any of the settings. Information on some of the settings is
provided below.
4.1 Plot label
You can choose to print a label and crop marks on the edge of your drawing.
This setting invokes an menu which allows you to choose what is included in
the label. You can include the date, time, drawing name. For Releases 12
and 13, you can also include a note which you can define. If you want
to include the note, you must define it during AutoCAD's plotter
configuration process, though you can turn it on and off at plot time. For
use with multisheet-mode (see below), you can also include the sheet
number and crop marks which will mark the corners of the maximum plot
image area on the paper.
4.2 Paper size
The paper size setting determines the maximum plotted image that can be
plotted on each sheet of paper.
4.3 Multi-sheet mode
You can choose to plot your drawings so that they extend on to more than
one sheet of paper. This process is sometimes called tiling. You can
select the number of sheets high and the number of sheets wide that the
drawing will be allowed to cover. The actual maximum dimensions for the
plot image will depend also on the current paper size setting and the paper
orientation setting.
4.4 Paper source
You can choose the paper cassette or bin for the source of the paper.
Normally, use the automatic setting, so that the Digital Imaging System
selects the cassette based on the paper size setting.
4.5 Line width units
Among the options for Releases 10 and 11, you can select the units for
setting line widths. At plot time you will specify line widths as integer
values multiplied by the units that you select.
5.0 PLOT FROM AUTOCAD
Make sure your computer is properly connected to the GP55/GP55 Digital
Imaging System through its Multi-device controller.
5.1 Releases 12 & 13
1. Issue the Plot command from within the drawing editor. A plot
configuration dialogue box will appear, allowing you to check and
change the plot settings.
2. Choose the "Device and Default Selection" button to select the
Canon Digital Imaging System as the current plotter.
3. Choose the "Change Device Requirements" button to make changes to the
Canon Digital Imaging System settings. Use this button before each
plot whenever you want to change the settings.
4. Back on the main plot configuration dialogue box, use the "Pen
Assignments" button to change the printed shades of gray and
line thicknesses.
5. Make any additional changes to the settings in the plot
configuration dialogue box.
6. Press enter or select OK to start printing.
5.1 Releases 10 and 11
1. Either issue the Plot command from within the drawing editor;
or select the plot file option from AutoCAD's main menu.
2. Select the portion of your drawing that you want to plot.
3. AutoCAD will display the Canon Digital Imaging System settings
and AutoCAD's plot settings. You will be asked:
Do you want to change anything? <N>
Answer yes if you want to change anything. Otherwise, plotting
will proceed with the displayed settings.
Note: You must also answer yes to display the current color, pen
and linetype settings in order to change pens and line types.
If you do answer yes in order make changes, you will see a table of
entity colors, the associated pen numbers, and line types or widths.
If you again answer yes when asked, you can reassign pen numbers
(gray shades) and line types (line widths) to each entity color.
Review the suggestions given below on line width choices. The
default linetype for each color after initial configuration is set
to 0.01 inches. Change these pen and linetype assignments now if
you desire. AutoCAD will remember your changes between plots.
4. Answer any remaining screen prompts and printing will begin.
6.0 STOPPING THE PLOT
To stop the plot while AutoCAD is sending data to the Digital Imaging
System, press Control-C.
In Release 10, type STOP and press Enter.
7.0 LINE WIDTHS
Caution: when plotting lines thicker than the minimum thickness, be careful
when setting the plot region of your drawing. If a wide line is along the
edge of the selected plot area, part of the line may extend over the edge
where it will not print. For example: if you choose "extents" to select
your plot region with a drawing that includes a wide border line, AutoCAD
assumes the plot extends only to the center of the border line and does not
print the outer half of the line. The border line will end up only half as
wide as you expected. To avoid this, select the plot region using a window
or a view that includes extra space to plot the wide lines.
In Releases 12 & 13, set the line width directly for each drawing color.
Choose the Pen Assignments button on the plot configuration dialogue box.
In Releases 10 and 11, AutoCAD assigns a plotter pen and a printer linetype
to each color in your drawing. You can adjust these assignments at each
plot time. The driver and Digital Imaging System use the linetype value
(0 to 255) to set the width of the plotted lines. Line type 0 is always the
minimum that the Digital Imaging System can produce. Choices for units are
1 mm, 0.1 mm, .01 inch, and .001 inch. The plotted line widths will be the
linetype value (0 to 255) times the line width units.
Also in AutoCAD Releases 10 and 11, be careful with filled solids and wide
polylines. AutoCAD expects a specific pen width (usually 0.01 inches) for
drawing filled entities with multiple line passes. To plot filled
entities, change AutoCAD's pen width setting to the same as your linetype
choice for these entities. AutoCAD asks for a default pen width during the
configuration dialogue, and AutoCAD's pen width setting can be reset before
each plot.
8.0 COLORS AND SHADES OF GRAY
You can assign a different printed shade of gray to each color in your
drawing. Generally, use the default pen assignments where all drawing
colors are set to use pen number 1. Pen 1 prints solid black, pen 100
prints solid white. Pens in between print grays, with the pen number
equal to the percentage of white.
In Releases 12 & 13, choose the Pen Assignments button on the plot
configuration dialogue box.
In Releases 10 and 11, AutoCAD limits you to assign a pen number to
only the first 15 drawing colors in your drawing. Any drawing color
above 15 will plot in the pen color assigned to drawing color 15.
For Releases 10 and 11, use only colors 1 through 15 in creating your
drawing. Then, when plotting, you can reassign any of the pen shades to
the first 15 drawing colors.
9.0 SPOOLING
The driver uses AutoCAD dispatcher functions for all communication with
the Digital Imaging System. As a result, the driver supports the use of
AutoCAD's AUTOSPOOL facility, which is described in your AutoCAD
Installation and Performance Guide.
10.0 USE PLOT-TO-FILE TO PLOT TO A PORT
You can use AutoCAD's plot-to-file feature to send the plot output to a
file, and also to direct the output to one of the computers devices or
ports such as LPT1 or COM1. Using plot-to-file to plot to a port is useful
in the following situations.
1. Avoid the stop after plot setup:
After you have requested a plot from AutoCAD, AutoCAD normally pauses
for hardware set up. To resume, you must press Enter. To avoid this
stop every time you request a plot, use plot-to-file to plot to a port.
2. AutoCAD for Windows using Windows for Workgroups 3.11:
Windows for Workgroups 3.11 has a bug that generates errors when
applications try, as AutoCAD does, to send data directly to a printer
port. AutoCAD or Windows may have trouble recognizing the device
attached to the port. If you are running AutoCAD under Windows for
Workgroups 3.11, use plot-to-file to plot to a port.
3. Network printing:
The driver uses special AutoCAD functions to transfer printer data to
the computer's parallel or serial ports. This enables AutoCAD to
redirect data for AutoCAD's spooling and plot-to-file features.
However, because the AutoCAD uses low level functions to access
the port controllers, network software may not be able to capture plot
data directed to a port. Also, before sending data, AutoCAD queries
the port. In a network setup or with a printer switch box, the port
may appear "not ready" to AutoCAD and the plot will never get going.
If you are having problems transferring data to a network or a switch
box, the solution may be to route the plot data through AutoCAD's
"plot-to-file" feature. Then AutoCAD will use higher-level operating
system functions to transfer data to the port. The network or switch
box should then be able to capture the data.
To configure AutoCAD to use plot-to-file to plot to a port:
A. Configure default plot file name.
1. Either from AutoCAD's main menu, or in Release 12 under the Files
pull-down menu, or in Release 13 under the Options menu, choose
Configure.
2. Choose Configure operating parameters.
3. Choose Default plot file name.
4. Now, for the file name, enter the name of the port to which your
network or Digital Imaging System are connected. Examples on DOS
or Windows systems: are LPT1 or COM1 (enter just the four characters
of the port name). If your network requires plot to an actual file,
enter that directory and file name instead.
B. Configure plotter.
Continue through the configuration menu. If you have not yet configured
the plotter driver, choose Configure plotter at the configuration menu.
Follow the instructions above in the section CONFIGURE AUTOCAD, with the
following changes. Since we will be plotting to a file, don't worry about
the questions asking you to select the port. Just choose anything. When you
get to the question that asks "Do you want to plot to a file" enter Yes.
C. At plot time.
Set up the plot as described in the PLOT FROM AUTOCAD section above.
In Release 12 or 13's Plot Configuration dialogue box, set the "plot to
file" box if it isn't already set. You shouldn't have to, but if you do
select the "File Name" button, enter the port name or network file name as
described above in A. You may get a message "The specified file already
exists. Do you want to replace it?". If it is a port it will always
already exist. Answer yes. If it is a network file, check that it is a
correct path and file and if so answer yes. Finish up the plot
configuration and the press Enter or OK to begin printing.
In Releases 10 or 11, check the list of plot settings that AutoCAD will
display. Included is a line: "Plot will (not) be written to a selected
file." If the plot will not be written to a file, then enter yes to change
the settings. Then answer yes to the question "Write plot to file?" when
you get to it.
11.0 TROUBLESHOOTING
AutoCAD configuration and placement of driver files in DOS and Windows
If you have a non-standard AutoCAD directory structure, or if AutoCAD does
not find the driver during the AutoCAD configuration process described in
section above CONFIGURE AUTOCAD, then you can use an environment variable to
point AutoCAD to the driver.
For Releases 12 and 13, use DOS 's set command to set the environment
variable ACADDRV to include the directory where the driver file resides.
For example, suppose the driver file is in the c:\acad\files directory.
Before starting AutoCAD, at a DOS prompt, enter:
set ACADDRV=c:\acad\files
In this example, instead of c:\acad\files, substitute the path and
directory where the driver file exists on your system. Your system may
already be using a set ACADDRV command in a batch file that starts AutoCAD.
If so, edit the batch file line with ACADDRV. Add a semicolon ";", and
then add the path and directory name that includes the driver file.
For Releases 10 and 11, If you do not have a c:\acad directory, or prefer
to place the driver file in another location, use DOS's set command to set
the environment variable PLPADI to point to the driver file. First copy
the driver file plcgp55.exp from the distribution disk on to a convenient
directory on your hard disk, without changing the filename. For example,
if this directory is c:\mydir, enter the following at a DOS prompt:
copy a:plcgp55.exp c:\mydir
set PLPADI=c:\mydir\plcgp55.exp
In these examples, substitute the path name and directory name that you
want for c:\mydir in the above commands.
You'll have to enter the set command lines manually every time you start
your system. To avoid this, add the set command line to your autoexec.bat
file or to the batch file that you use to start AutoCAD.
Communication problems
If your Digital Imaging System does not load paper or otherwise respond to
AutoCAD's plot commands, first test the Digital Imaging System setup
outside of AutoCAD. Use another software application to verify that the
Digital Imaging System will receive data from your computer. One way is to
use the DOS copy command to print a text file. For example, enter:
c>: copy c:\autoexec.bat LPT1
Substitute for LPT1 if your Digital Imaging System is connected to
another port. Be sure the Digital Imaging System can receive data in this
way before further troubleshooting with AutoCAD or the driver.
If your Digital Imaging System is connected to a network, and is not
responding, try connecting the Digital Imaging System directly to a port on
your computer and then plot. If the plot then works, the problem involves
the network communication. Consult with your network administrator.
Also see the section above: USE PLOT-TO-FILE TO PLOT TO A PORT.
** End of Installation and Operation Instructions ***
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.