Title: CalComp AutoCAD ADI Driver Release 6.4
Revision: Release 6.4.2 24 June 1996
Status: AutoCAD 12 & 13 Dos, Win3.x, Win95, and WinNT - operational
IMPORTANT: Please review the notes listed at the end before
installing. Windows users may prefer to use the Win13\plpccw.hlp file
instead of this file.
Supported Releases, Platforms, and Plotters
AutoCad 12 or 13 for DOS with Menus, Win3.1, Win95, and WinNT.
CalComp TechJET Ink Jet, Solus 4 LED, DrawingMaster,
Electrostatic, and Pen Plotters.
CalComp TechJET Ink Jet Plotters
TechJET Color GT 5336 GT/PS, E/A0
TechJET Color GT 5336 GT, E/A0
TechJET Color GT 5324 GT, D/A1
TechJET Color 5336, E/A0
TechJET Color 5324, D/A1
TechJET 175i 5336i, E/A0
TechJET 720c 5636, E/A0
TechJET 720c 5624, D/A1
TechJET 720 5436, E/A0, Mono
TechJET 720 5424, D/A1, Mono
CalComp Solus 4 LED Plotters
Solus 4 LED 54436, E/A0
Solus 4 LED 54424, D/A1
CalComp DrawingMaster Plotters
DrawingMaster 800 53436, E/A0
DrawingMaster 600 53336, E/A0
DrawingMaster Plus 52436, E/A0
DrawingMaster Plus 52236, E/A0
DrawingMaster Plus 52424, D/A1
DrawingMaster Plus 52224, D/A1
CalComp Electrostatic Plotters
68444, E/A0 Roll, Color EPP
68436, E/A0 Roll, Color EPP
58444, E/A0 Roll, Color EPP
58436, E/A0 Roll, Color EPP
58424, E/A0 Roll, Color EPP
67436, E/A0 Roll, Monochrome
57444, E/A0 Roll, Monochrome
57436, E/A0 Roll, Monochrome
57424, D/A1 Roll, Monochrome
CalComp Pen Plotters
DesignMate 3024 D/A1 Sheet
DesignMate 3036 E/A0 Sheet
Pacesetter Classic 4036 Dual
Pacesetter 2036, E/A0 Sheet
Pacesetter 2024, D/A1 Sheet
Artisan 1026, E/A0 Dual
Artisan 1025, E/A0 Sheet
Artisan 1023, D/A1 Sheet
1077, E/A0 Dual
1044, E/A0 Dual
1043, E/A0 Sheet
ADI/GUI Release
The CalComp AutoCAD Driver Release includes the following files.
The Dos drivers, plpccw.exp, the Windows drivers, plpccw.dll,
and the help files, plpccw.ahp, plpccw.hlp, are different; all
other files are the same across releases. The Dos drivers are
the same but two copies have been provided in different
directories/folders in case they differ in future releases.
The installation directories/folders and files are listed below.
All plpccw\com files and all plpccw\(release)
files are copied to the installation directory where (release) is
one of dos12, dos13, win12, or win13. The install.bat file does
this. In addition, the AutoCAD initialization files, support\
acadr12.lsp or com(mon)\ support\ acadr13.lsp are modified
(appended to) during installation with the lines
(autoload "plpccw" '( "cconfig" "cconfig")) ;; win12
(princ)
(autoload "drv/plpccw" '( "cconfig" "cconfig")) ;; dos12, dos13, win13
(princ)
The installation handles all releases, installing the correct
version for the version of AutoCad used for the installation.
Release directory/folder plpccw\
Installation notes ~\readme.txt
Installation notes ~\install.txt
Installation script ~\install.lsp
Installation script ~\install.bat
Removal script ~\remove.bat
Dos 12 driver ~\dos12\plpccr64.exp
Dos 12 help file ~\dos12\plpccw.hlp
Dos 13 driver ~\dos13\plpccr64.exp
Dos 13 help file ~\dos13\plpccw.ahp
Win 12 driver ~\win12\plpccr64.dll
Win 12 help file ~\win12\plpccw.hlp
Win 13 driver ~\win13\plpccr64.dll
Win 13 help file ~\win13\plpccw.hlp
Common directory/folder ~\com\
Previous palette ~\ccolor.ccp
Color palette ~\ccolr.ccp
Greyscale palette ~\cgrey.ccp
Dialog control language file ~\plpccw.dcl
Model file ~\plpccw.inm
User interface functions ~\plpccw.lsp
AutoCad slide library ~\plpccw.slb
AutoCad Release Directory/folder relative to AutoCad
AutoCad R12 Dos drv\
AutoCad R12 Windows .
AutoCad R13 Dos dos\drv\
AutoCad R13 Windows win\drv\
CalComp AutoCAD Driver Installation and Configuration
The installation and configuration cover all supported releases.
The correct release will be installed according to the version of
AutoCAD used for installation. The menus were changed from AutoCAD
12 to 13 and items were moved from the File menu to the Options and
Tools menus. The procedure is:
Connect the CalComp Plotter if not connected
Install AutoCAD if not installed
Remove any existing CalComp plotters
Use the File/Configure or Options/Configure menu or enter
config at the Command line
Quit AutoCAD
Install the CalComp AutoCAD Plotter Driver
Start up AutoCAD
Insert the AutoCAD Driver Release into floppy a:
Select the File/Applications or Tools/Applications menu
Select the file a:\plpccw\install.lsp using
the file selection dialog
Click on the Load button
Configure AutoCAD for the plotter
Select the File/Configure or Options/Configure menu or
enter config at the Command line
Select configure plotter / Add a plotter / Select a
CalComp plotter
Answer any further questions
Configure the CalComp Plotter Driver
Enter "cconfig" at the AutoCAD Command line
Select a model and configuration / Create new
configurations / Delete old configurations
Play with the graphical user interface
In addition, AutoCAD 12 for Windows must be told about
the help file you install to access it. Use the File/Preferences
Environment dialog to enter in the Help File entry space the help
file name, (AutoCAD path\)plpccw.hlp. Only one help file is accessible
at a time so this will suppress the Windows help file. Alternatively,
the Windows help file for Release 13 can be used by itself or opened from
Windows help, but not from the user interface.
The AutoCAD 13_c3 release has an installation problem under Windows 95
which has been fixed in the 13_c4 release. The installation will print
out a shell command which fails with "shell error". Entering the line in
a DOS window outside of AutoCAD will complete the installation.
Due to DOS line length limits, downloaded driver files should be kept
at or near the root of the disk with as short a path as possible or
installation may fail.
The installation script may be made to ask for the installation directory
if it cannot find an earlier CalComp driver (plpcc). To do so, uncomment
the line near the top of the plpccw\install.lsp file.
;(setq ASKINSTALL t)
Selecting any file in the installation directory will install to that
directory. AutoCad must still be able to locate it to use it.
AutoCAD batch files used to start Dos versions must set ACADDRV to the
path of the CalComp driver. Multiple paths are permissible as long as
the first path holds the CalComp driver.
Operation
All text will be available for internationalization in the ahp,
dcl, lsp (in the ccvarval function), hlp, and inm files. A
CalComp Configuration file, plpccw.inc, will be read, modified,
and written as required to support the plotters. This file will
appear similar to a Windows ini text file having [Sections] of
variable=value parameter entries for different models and
configurations.
The AutoCad File/Configure or Options/Configure menu item or
config command will be run to install each plotter. The adi
driver will read the plpccw.inm model file for classes, models,
and messages, and the plpccw.inc configuration file for currently
installed plotters. Upon selection of a model the class, model,
number, and tag will be recorded in the configuration file. The
number corresponds to the number of this model installed, the tag
to a unique identifier that refers to this plotter. When a user
selects a different plotter, this tag is used to identify it in
the configuration file.
Once the plpccw.lsp file is autoloaded by using the cconfig
command or loaded manually using (load "drv/plpccw"), the cconfig
command will be defined which brings up the CalComp Configuration
GUI. The cconfig command will read the plpccw.inc configuration
file for the list of installed plotters and allow configuration
of each plotter by model type. Multiple configuration files per
model will be supported but only one per model will be selected
at a time. Configuration parameters will correspond to plotter
model and number rather than installed plotter description/name.
The user may create new configurations by name and delete them as
desired. When the last configuration for a plotter is deleted,
the model is also deleted. The AutoCad File/Configure or
Options/Configure menu item or config command must then be used
to remove and install the plotter for the gui to access it again.
When plotting the adi driver then reads the parameters of the
selected model and configuration and uses them for plotter output.
Notes
Cconfig selects the current configuration for each plotter but
AutoCAD still selects the plotter. Configurations of the same
name refer to the same configuration.
Should errors occur, the driver may be reinitialized by removing
all CalComp plotters using AutoCAD's 'config' command and deleting
the driver configuration file, plpccw.inc, in the driver directory
/ folder.
Custom CDCL commands may be inserted into the plpccw.inc
configuration file after initial configuration. Locate the
plotter, then selected configuration of the plotter (Cfg000),
and then the configuration section of that name. Enter a line
CDCLUser=cdcl;cdcl;cdcl where cdcl are the CDCL commands to be
inserted. The original DrawingMaster Plus may need a line
CDCLTrailer=usernumber where usernumber is the number of
the user to restore after plotting. All other plotters restore
to the currently selected user.
Scale to fit must have the correct page size (portrait/landscape)
Plotter orientation is additive to cdcl rotation. Auto
orientation with cut sheet requires portrait media if possible
A size commonly must be landscape, leading to images rotated 90
degree from the pictures. Select a different orientation. The
Solus may have problems with some mirroring and rotation angles.
Color uses the color palette, greyscale uses the color palette
converted to grey, and black uses the greyscale palette. Color
is only applicable to color palettes, black is only applicable
to grey palettes. The Ccolr.ccp palette which has more saturated
pastels and darker dark colors is new the new default palette.
Ccdiff.ccp is a similar palette using simulated error diffusion.
The previous palette has been included as Ccolor.ccp.
AutoCad 12 for Windows uses the working directory for driver
configuration and palette files. All others use the driver
directory.
Some plotters, such as the TechJET 720c, are capable of wider
plotting if wider media is used, just specify a wider user page
size. As such media is non-standard, this size is not returned in
the MAX page size.
Changes 6.2.2
More robust installation, driver, and user interface.
Installation will resort to asking the user for a directory if
the one found appears incorrect.
Multiple configurations of the same name now refer to the
same configuration and are handled appropriately.
Reordered models.
Redesign of file location procedure BuildCfgFileName
Used for Model, Config, Color, and Threshhold files.
Output CDCL header and trailer even if PlotterValues
CDCLTrailer added to DrawingMaster Plus.
Setlevel merge implemented.
Index if not Cut sheet. Cut sheet pen plotters and ink jets.
Crop marks implemented. Page size rather than plot size used.
Mirror x and y 180 degree rotation corrected.
Output CDCL COLOR_PEN for Solus, no default MEDIA_SOURCE.
Output CDCL RGB_COLOR for Black TechJet under DOS
New Grey conversion, Undercolorremoval and Blackgeneration
gamma function color control. Color palettes added.
ColorType set appropriate to palette file.
Able to set threshhold file in config file (Threshes=).
Wide dots adjusted in plxpa.
DefineColor uses DefinePattern for USEBLACK blacks.
Serial hardware handshake default.
Spaces added after #%02d model lines.
Changes 6.2.3
Sharing Violation warning displayed when replacing an existing driver.
Corrected line loss when pen was changed in midst of a line.
Fixed long plot max plotter width under rotation.
Able to set Full Page Area from config file (MediaFPage=0/1).
Able to control Full Page Area by uncommenting lines in plpccw.dcl and
plpccw.lsp files.
Able to set threshhold file in color file (Threshes=),
overriding config file.
Changes 6.3.0
First column of threshold matrix now processed for thresholds.
Gamma rather than gamma reciprocal used.
Changes 6.4.0 & 6.4.1
Dual/Sheet Pen Plotters differentiated. Only Electrostatics use RGB_COLOR.
TechJET 720c added. CDCL COLOR_PEN suppressed when pens are not
defined. Overlay is now the default setting. MAX page width of
standard rolls are returned. Plotters may support wider user
page sizes.
Changes 6.4.2
Enabled Connection Timeout, Pen Intensity, and Media Full Page Area
controls.
Troubleshooting Guide Questions and Answers
Driver installation requests the location of the install.lsp file even
though the file is selected when loaded.
This information is not available from AutoCAD and the file cannot
determine where it itself is located. It tries a:\plpccw and b:\plpccw
before asking the user.
Driver installation fails with "shell error".
AutoCAD Release 13_c3 under Windows 95, fixed with 13_c4. Enter the
printed line which fails with this error at a Dos Prompt to complete the
installation.
Driver installation fails during copying of driver files.
Driver installs to the wrong directory.
Verify the printed line "install release from to" is similar to one of
the forms below where the source directory is a:\plpccw and the AutoCAD
directory is c:\acad. If the paths are too long the Dos line limit may
be exceeded. If the support files are installed elsewhere than
c:\acad\support (AutoCAD12) or c:\acad\com\support (AutoCAD13) where
c:\acad is the AutoCAD directory, the driver directory may be incorrect.
Entering the correct line at a Dos Prompt will complete the installation.
If a "Sharing violation" occurs, exit AutoCAD before installation.
a:\plpccw\install dos12 a:\plpccw c:\acad\drv
a:\plpccw\install dos13 a:\plpccw c:\acad\dos\drv
a:\plpccw\install win12 a:\plpccw c:\acad
a:\plpccw\install win13 a:\plpccw c:\acad\win\drv
Running config and selecting the driver leads to a "plpcc error creating
initial configuration file" or "plpcc memory allocation error"
AutoCAD for Dos. Make sure the line SET ACADDRV=C:\ACAD\DRV exists in
the batch file used to start AutoCAD (acadr12.bat or acadr13.bat).
Running config and selecting the driver leads to a "Internal error:
General Protection Error"
AutoCAD for Dos. Verify that no plpccw.inc configuration file initially
exists in the driver directory.
Cconfig returns "Unknown command"
Verify you have opened a new drawing since installation. Verify the
location of the AutoCAD lisp file using (findfile "acadr12.lsp") or
(findfile "acadr13.lsp"). Verify no other copies exist in the path.
Verify the file ends with the following lines. (AutoCAD 12 for Windows
will not have "drv/" on the autoload line.)
;; CalComp Configuration Command
(autoload "drv/plpccw" '( "cconfig" "cconfig"))
(princ)
Cconfig returns "No CalComp Plotter Found!"
Verify you have run config and selected a CalComp 6.4 or higher driver
and no errors occurred during configuration.
Cconfig help returns "Invalid keyword"
AutoCAD 12 for Windows. No good solution. Open the AutoCAD 13 help
file from Windows Help or change the File/Preferences/Environment to
refer to the AutoCAD 12 help file, plpccw.hlp. The latter will suppress
the normal AutoCAD help file though.
Some Cconfig options are greyed out.
Not all models support all features. Conn(ection) is only to support
older non-cdcl pen plotters.
Cconfig options change but they are not reflected in the output.
Cconfig selects the configuration for a plotter but AutoCAD still selects
the plotter. Make sure the plotter selected in AutoCAD is the one
associated with the plotter being configured.
How do I add a printer model to Cconfig?
Run AutoCAD's config and install a CalComp Driver 6.4 or above for that
model.
How do I control a feature from the front panel?
Select Plotter from the popups in Cconfig, or Use Plotter Values suppress
control of most features.
How do I use the pen table defined on the plotter?
Deselect Define Pens in Cconfig / Pens.
How do I prevent thin light colored lines from breaking up?
(Previously referred to as "Setpen" versus "Map Pen to Color".) Select
for best line width rather than best color by deselecting Dither lines in
Cconfig / Pens.
How do I change individual line colors and widths?
This is accomplished using the AutoCAD File / Print/Plot / Pen Assignment
Dialog. The results may be saved to and retrieved from a file using
File / Print/Plot / Device and Default Selection Dialog. Colors depend
on whether objects are colored by color, layer, or block.
How do I change a color in the palette?
This is currently accomplished by editing the text palette files in the
driver directory, ccolr.ccp and cgrey.ccp. RGB or K values, 0-255, for
each color are listed. Modified palette files may be given different
names and selected from Cconfig / Pens / Color Palette / Other and
selecting the palette file in the driver directory.
How do I get a portrait orientation?
A portrait page size must be selected as well as an orientation in the
right column of Cconfig / Media. The image on screen should also be
portrait.
How do I do a long plot?
Select a long plot scale factor in Cconfig / Media and select the MAX
size in Print/Plot / Size. The image must be of this size as well.
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.