Graphtec Plotter Driver OPS608 Ver. 3.2
for Microsoft Windows 3.1/Windows 95
February 1996, Graphtec Corporation
This README.TXT file provides notes on the installation and use of the OPS608
Graphtec Plotter Driver.
Be sure to read through this file before attempting to use the driver.
CONTENTS
1. OVERVIEW
2. INSTALLATION
2-1 Checking the Program Disk
2-2 Installing the Plotter Driver
3. CONFIGURING THE PLOTTER DRIVER
3-1 Selecting the Communications Port
3-2 Selecting the Plotter Type
3-3 Selecting the Paper Size
3-4 Selecting the Page Orientation
3-5 Optional Settings
4. CONFIGURING THE COMMUNICATIONS PORT
5. PLOTTING WITH APPLICATION SOFTWARE
6. PRECAUTIONS
7. PARAMETER RANGES AND ERROR MESSAGES
7-1 Plot Area
7-2 Chart Feed Length
7-3 Scaling
7-4 Allowable Color Value Range
7-5 Pen Setting
7-6 Line Pitch
7-7 Color Setting
7-8 Other
8. COMPATIBLE PLOTTER MODELS
9. CONTACT INFORMATION
1. OVERVIEW
The OPS608 plotter driver (OPS608) is designed to run on Microsoft Windows for
IBM PCs and IBM-compatible PCs.
This driver enables you to control Graphtec plotters through Windows in order
to plot (or print) using software programs that run on Windows Version 3.1 and
Windows 95.
This driver supports output from Graphtec's pen plotters, penless plotters,
and cutting plotters that are capable of using GP-GL commands (FP-GL Personal
Plotter commands).
For a list of the models supported, see Chapter 8, "Compatible Plotter Models".
Note that this driver was designed to plot vector images (line drawings) using
CAD software, and that it is not suitable for output of screen images (painting
or drawing programs).
In addition, when using this driver, note that all of the Windows functions
(such as output of bitmapped images) may not be available due to restrictions
of the plotter functions.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Graphtec has exclusive copyrights to the OPS608 Windows Plotter Driver.
2. INSTALLATION
This chapter describes how to install the plotter driver.
2-1 Checking the Program Disk
Before you begin installation, check that the program disk contains the
following:
WIN31\GRAPHTEC.DRV For Windows 3.1
WIN31\GRAPHTEC.HLP
WIN31\OEMSETUP.INF
WIN95\GRAPHTEC.DRV For Windows 95
WIN95\GRAPHTEC.HLP
WIN95\OEMSETUP.INF
2-2 Installing the Plotter Driver
[1] Windows 3.1
Note: Do not install the Windows 95 driver in Windows 3.1.
If you do install it by mistake, reboot Windows, delete the Windows 95
driver, and then install the Windows 3.1 driver.
(1) Boot Windows.
(2) Open the [Main] menu if it is not already open.
(3) Open the [Control Panel] menu by double-clicking the Control Panel
icon.
(4) Open the [Printers] menu by clicking the Printers icon.
(5) Click the (Add>>) button.
(6) In the <List of Printers> box, click <Install Unlisted or Updated
Printer>.
(7) Click the (Install...) button.
(8) When the Install Printer dialog box opens, insert the Windows Plotter
Driver disk in the computer's disk drive.
(9) Specify the disk drive containing the disk either by typing in the
drive followed by <WIN31> from the keyboard or by clicking the
(Browse...) button, then click the (OK) button.
For example, if your disk drive is A, then type <A:\WIN31>.
(10) In the <List of Printers> box, the "Graphtec Plotter" select box
appears.
(11) Click the (OK) button to install the driver.
(12) When installation is completed, "Graphtec Plotter on LPT1:" appears in
the <Installed Printers> dialog box.
[2] Windows 95
Note: Do not install the Windows 3.1 driver in Windows 95.
If you do install it by mistake, reboot Windows, delete the Windows 3.1
driver, and then install the Windows 95 driver.
(1) Boot Windows.
(2) Click the [Start] button, and then select [Settings] with the pointer.
(3) Click [Printers] to open the Printers menu.
(4) Double click the [Add Printer] icon.
(5) Click the (Next >) button.
(6) Select <Local printer> and then click the (Next >) button.
(7) Click the (Have Disk...) button.
(8) When the Install Printer screen opens, insert the Windows Plotter
Driver disk in the computer's disk drive.
(9) Specify the disk drive containing the disk either by typing in the
drive followed by <WIN95> from the keyboard or by clicking the
(Browse...) button, then click the (OK) button.
For example, if your disk drive is A, then type <A:\WIN95>.
(10) "Graphtec Plotter" is displayed in <Printers>.
(11) Click the (Next >) button.
(12) Select the port from which you want plotter data to be output from
<Available ports>, and then click the (Next >) button.
(13) Click <Yes> to use the Graphtec driver as the default printer, and then
click the (Next >) button.
(14) For "Would you like to print a test page?" select (No), as the plotter
driver hasn't been configured.
Click the (Finish) button.
(15) When installation is completed, the Graphtec Plotter icon appears in
the Printers window.
This completes the installation process.
Before using your plotter, proceed to the next chapter to configure the plotter
driver.
3. CONFIGURING THE PLOTTER DRIVER
The configuration of the plotter driver involves selecting the communications
port, plotter type, paper size, page orientation, and options.
Be sure to choose plotter settings that match the plotter you will be using.
3-1 Selecting the Communications Port
This selects the port and interface to be used to exchange data with the
plotter.
To use the RS-232C serial interface, select a port from COM1 through COM4.
To use a Centronics-compatible interface, select either LPT1 or LPT2.
[1] Windows 3.1
(1) Open the Control Panel menu from the Main menu.
Double click the Printers icon to open the [Printers] menu.
If you are continuing from Chapter 2, the [Printers] menu is already
open so simply proceed to step 2.
(2) To enable the Graphtec driver, select "Graphtec Plotter on LPT1:",
and then click the (Set As Default Printer) button to display
"Graphtec Plotter on LPT1:" as the [Default Printer].
(3) Click the (Connect...) button.
(4) The Connect Printer dialog box appears, so select the port in the
<Ports> box to which the plotter is actually connected.
(5) Proceed to the <Timeouts (seconds)> setting.
Click 600 as the value for <Device Not Selected>.
Set the figure 600 for <Transmission Retry> as well.
The transmission of data to the plotter may be suspended before it is
completed if the value is too low, so be sure to set it to 600.
(6) Click <Fast Printing Direct to Port> to perform fast printing of text
directly without going via MS-DOS.
Always have this option selected.
(7) When all the displayed values are satisfactory, click the (OK) button
to terminate port selection.
[2] Windows 95
(1) To enable you to make the plotter driver settings, click the [Start]
button and then select [Settings] with the pointer.
Click [Printers] to open the Printer menu.
If you are continuing from Chapter 2, the [Printers] menu is already
open so simply proceed to step 2.
(2) Select the [Graphtec Plotter] icon and display Properties.
(3) Click the <Details> tab.
(4) Select the port to which the plotter is actually connected from <Print
to the following port>.
(5) Perform <Timeout settings>.
Click 600 as the value for <Not Selected>.
Set the figure 600 for <Transmission Retry> as well.
The transmission of data to the plotter may be suspended before it is
completed if the value is too low, so be sure to set it to 600.
(6) When all the displayed values are satisfactory, click the (OK) button
to terminate port selection.
3-2 Selecting the Plotter Type
Next, select the plotter type.
Four types of plotter are available: Pen plotter, penless plotter for line
drawings, penless plotter for solid fill drawings, and cutting plotter.
Select the type of plotter which you will actually be using.
Selection of the plotter type changes the available settings for the plotter's
paper size and options.
[1] Windows 3.1
(1) Open the Main menu's Control Panel menu and then open the [Printers]
menu by double-clicking the Printers icon.
(2) Click the (Setup...) button to display the [Graphtec Plotter] menu.
(3) Select the <Plotter Type> by clicking the dot preceding the desired
plotter type.
(4) A black dot indicates the currently selected plotter type.
(5) To register your selection and close this menu, click the (OK) button.
[2] Windows 95
(1) Click the [Start] button, select [Settings] with the pointer, and then
open the Printers menu by clicking [Printers].
(2) Select the [Graphtec Plotter] icon and display Properties.
(3) Click the <Details> tab, and then click the (Setup...) button.
(4) Select the <Plotter Type> by clicking the dot preceding the desired
plotter type.
(5) A black dot indicates the currently selected plotter type.
(6) To register your selection and close this menu, click the (OK) button.
Note: This driver software supports GP-GL Personal Plotter commands only.
Digiplot (MP-GL) and HP-GL commands cannot be used.
3-3 Selecting the Paper Size
This setting determines the plotter's effective plot area according to the
plotter type and size standard selected.
With certain Windows applications, changing the paper size setting may alter
the size of previously defined plots.
Before defining a plot, therefore, always be sure to select the paper size.
The paper size that can be used depends on the plotter type selected.
* The Plot Area of Pen Plotters and Cutting Plotters
If you set the plotter type to Pen plotter or Cutting plotter, you must
also choose between the grit-rolling and the flatbed type.
The paper size can be set to ISO, DIN, ANSI, or FREE.
The plot area consists of the selected size standard minus margins on all
four sides of the page.
The margins vary according to whether NORMAL or EXPAND mode is selected.
* The Plot Area of Penless Plotters
If you set the plotter type to one of the two Penless Plotter types, the
paper standard can only be set to ISO or FREE and the plot area is equal
to the area of the selected paper standard without any margins.
Setting the Paper Size
Open the [Printers] menu from the Control Panel or open the Graphtec
Plotter dialog box by selecting <Print Setup...> from the <File> menu of
the Windows application.
You are now ready to select the paper size.
Unless the paper standard is set to FREE, the dimensions of the currently
selected paper size appear in the Paper Size box.
To select a different paper standard, open the Paper Size drop-down list
box and click the desired size.
If the paper standard is set to FREE, click the dot preceding mm or inch in
the Unit box (a black dot indicates the currently selected unit) and then
input the dimensions of the plot area from the keyboard.
Note: With certain Windows applications, changing the paper size setting may
alter the size of previously defined plots, and the <File> menu's
<Print Setup...>. option may have a different name.
3-4 Selecting the Page Orientation
To select the page orientation, click the dot preceding Portrait or Landscape.
A black dot indicates the currently selected page orientation.
Portrait: The page is oriented vertically
Landscape: The page is oriented horizontally
Note: Be sure to set the page orientation before you generate plot data using
a Windows application.
With certain Windows applications, changing the page orientation may
alter the orientation of previously defined plots.
3-5 Optional Functions
Settings for the optional functions of this plotter driver are as follows:
Pen Parameters
In additional to setting the line width and plotting speed, the colors
available with your Windows application can be assigned to your plotter's
Pen Nos.
Chart Feed
These settings are only valid if your plotter can handle roll paper.
Click the box preceding <Feed> to enable chart feed.
If you select <Page>, the paper is fed to the start of the next page after
the end of every plot.
If you select <Free>, the chart feed length can be freely set.
Chart feed length settings cannot be specified for penless plotters.
Programmable Resolution
The programmable resolution determines the minimum distance the pen
travels.
Set the resolution to the same setting selected at the plotter.
For penless plotters, select 0.1 mm steps.
If the BINARY option has been specified for a penless plotter,
the programmable resolution cannot be set.
Note: Be sure to set the programmable resolution before plotting from a
Windows application.
With certain Windows applications, changing the resolution may alter
the size of previously defined plots.
The range of numeric values that Windows can internally process is
limited.
When the resolution is set to a low value and a large paper size is
selected, the "The value exceeds limit" error message may appear.
If this happens, correct these values.
Line Pitch
This specifies the spacing between the dots and/or dashes in the four line
types (dot, dash, dash-dot, and dash-dot-dot).
If a negative value is specified, end point compensation can be performed.
End point compensation is a function which prevents a break in a line or an
end point from being printed as a white space.
This function can only be used, however, if the plotter comes with this
function.
Specifying end point compensation affects the line picth.
Furthermore, for applications where circles and curves are output as
continuous straight lines, the distance between points is short and the
lines are output as actual lines.
End point compensation cannot be performed for this type of application.
Scaling
The scaling data can be selected in a range of 25% to 400%.
TrueType fonts
Specify TrueType font output.
For fonts other than TrueType, use the Plotter fonts.
If <Plotter Fonts> is selected, drawings are output using the plotter
fonts.
If <Output Outline> is selected, TrueType fonts are output as outlines.
For penless plotter models which have solid fill functions, the output
characters are solid filled.
CLIPPING
If you want to set the drawing limits from the application, click the box.
If CLIPPING is specified, a command to specify clipping is output for each
drawing.
If this is not necessary, an alternative is to reduce the amount of data
instead of specifying CLIPPING.
BINARY
This is only enabled when <Penless Plotter Lines> has been selected,
and is used for plotters which can accept GP-GL BINARY commands.
If you select this option, data is output in binary format, thereby
shortening the transmission time.
Allowable Color Value Range
This specifies the allowable range for the specified color with respect to
the RGB values.
If the range is set to 64, for example, the RGB values of each specified
color are set with a range of +/-64 on either side of the specified color.
The color specified in <Color Setting> is searched for within this range.
If several colors are considered suitable, the one closest to the specified
color is selected.
Line Width Adjustment
With many applications, even if you have changed the resolution, there is
no change to the width of the lines output.
On the other hand, there are also applications where the line widths are
changed if you change the resolution.
Use the <Line Width Adjustment> function as necessary to suit your
application.
Operation
(1) Display [Graphtec Plotter].
(2) Click the (Options...) button to display the [Optional Functions] menu.
(3) Click the dot preceding the desired setting for <Chart Feed Length> and
<Programmable Resolution>.
(4) Click the (Line Pitch...) button to display the [Line Pitch] menu.
Input the values as required.
A negative value enables end point dot compensation to be performed.
Clicking the (Reset) button returns the input values to their default
values.
(5) Click the (Pen Assignment) button to display the [Pen Assignment] menu.
(6) To assign a color to a pen number, double click the desired <Pen>
number to display the Pen Setting menu.
For each pen number, input numerals from the keyboard to specify the
<Pen> number, <Width>, and <Speed>.
To assign a color, click the (Color Setting...) button to display the
[Color Setting] menu.
Specify your color by combining Red, Blue, and Green.
Color assignment defines the correspondence between the screen colors
displayed by your application and the plotter's Pen Nos..
The number of colors which can be selected is around 16 million.
If you click the (Default) button, the default colors are as follows.
Try to match the colors in your application to the colors below.
Pen No. Color Red Blue Green
1 Black 0 0 0
2 Blue 0 0 255
3 Red 255 0 0
4 Magenta 255 0 255
5 Green 0 255 0
6 Cyan 0 255 255
7 Yellow 255 255 0
8 White 255 255 255
9 Gray 128 128 128
10 Light gray 220 220 220
To use a color not listed above, click the <Plotting Unlisted Colors>
box to assign an unlisted color to your desired Pen No.
Click the down arrow under <Pen> in the <Plotting Unlisted Colors> box
to specify the Pen no. you want to use.
If you want to output in black only, click (Delete) button to delete
the pen list, then use <Plotting Unlisted Colors> to specify black for
the desired pen(s).
<Width> selects the pen which corresponds to the line width displayed
by the application.
However, the width setting takes precedence over the color setting,
and if there are two pens of the same color, the pen with the specified
width is selected.
A one-dot line on the screen corresponds to a pen width of 0.1 mm.
With penless plotters, set the line width at the plotter beforehand.
<Speed> selects the plotting speed for pen plotters and cutting
plotters.
This setting is ignored by penless plotters.
If set to zero, the plotter's default speed setting takes effect.
To revise any of the preceding settings, click the (Modify) button and
then click the desired Pen No.
To add a new pen, click the (Add...) button.
To remove the pen list, click the (Delete) button.
To return the pen parameters to their default settings, click the
(Reset) button.
Note: Clicking the (Reset) button will return the pen parameters of all
the Pen Nos. to their default values.
4. CONFIGURING THE COMMUNICATIONS PORT
If the plotter and computer are connected via the RS-232C serial interface,
it is necessary to set the interface parameters for data transfer.
Using the procedure described in this chapter, select the same settings for the
computer's serial port that you have set at your plotter.
Unless the interface settings match at both the plotter and computer, data
cannot be properly transmitted.
[1] Windows 3.1
(1) Open the [Control Panel] menu.
(2) Open the {Ports} menu by double-clicking the [Ports] icon in the
[Control Panel] menu.
(3) Select the serial interface port to which the plotter is actually
connected.
(4) Click the (Settings...) button to display the [Settings for Comn] menu
('n" represents the port number selected in the previous step) for
setting the <Baud Rate>, <Data Bits>, <Parity>, <Stop Bits>, and <Flow
Control>.
(5) When all the displayed values are satisfactory, click the (OK) button.
Note: If you did not click [Fast Printing Direct to Port] in Section 3-1,
some of the settings made in this section may not be registered.
Be sure to click [Fast Printing Direct to Port].
[2] Windows 95
(1) Click the [Start] button and select [Settings] with the pointer.
Click [Printers] to open the {Printers} menu.
(2) Click the [Graphtec Plotter] icon to display {Properties}.
(3) Click the <Details> tab and then click the (Port Setting...) button.
(4) The [Comn Properties] menu is displayed.
Make the <Bits per second>, <Data bits>, <Parity>, <Stop bits>, and
<Flow control> settings.
(5) When all the displayed values are satisfactory, click the (OK) button.
5. PLOTTING WITH APPLICATION SOFTWARE
(1) Install and configure the plotter driver as described in the preceding
chapters.
(2) Boot a Windows application.
(3) To confirm that the plotter driver is correctly installed, select the
[Print Setup...] menu from the [File] menu of your Windows application.
If the settings are OK, click the (OK) button.
(4) Generate the plot data using the Windows application.
(5) When you have finished, click the <Print...> option on your <File> menu.
(6) The "Printing" message appears and the plot data is sent to the plotter
where it is plotted.
(7) If you selected <FILE> as the communications port, the [Print to File]
box appears.
Input the drive, directory, and filename of the output file.
When you click the (OK) button, an output file is generated.
Note: With certain Windows applications, the [File] Menu's [Print Setup...]
and [Print...] menus may have different names.
6. PRECAUTIONS
(1) Even if the Windows applications can display opaque lines and planes that
obscure the graphics underneath, they will be plotted as transparent
graphics.
(2) When using a painting or drawing application based on screen output, the
background may become a solid-fill pattern or the same line or character
may be repeatedly plotted.
(3) Certain Windows applications cannot use the plotter's internal fonts and
will send character data to the plotter as a set of vector data.
In this case, the pen plotter generates characters by a filling operation
with the pen in lowered status, so the plotting speed slows down.
(4) 0.1 mm of the pen's line width setting corresponds to one dot of the
displayed line width.
If a pen with the specified line width is not available, the pen with the
closest line width will be used for plotting.
(5) Configure the plotter driver (resolution, paper size, etc.) before you
generate plot data using a Windows application.
With certain applications, changing the settings may alter the size of
previously defined plots.
(6) When an image displayed by a Windows application has been revised by
painting it over with white, the plotter may output the plot without the
revision.
If a solid-fill white background is selected, the entire page may become
filled with color, as the pen which has been assigned to "white" will
plot the background.
(7) This plotter driver currently does not support plotting of bitmap data.
If bitmap data is sent to the plotter, only the outline frame will be
plotted.
(8) If the 0.025 mm resolution has been selected, the maximum plotting area
in a Windows application is limited to 819 mm.
(9) This plotter driver only supports Graphtec's GP-GL personal plotter
commands and GP-GL BINARY commands (400 dpi).
Digiplot (MP-GL) and HP-GL commands are not supported.
7. PARAMETER RANGES AND ERROR MESSAGES
7-1 Plot area
(1) If FREE paper size is selected
Resolution Plot area
0.1 mm 0.1 mm to 3276.7 mm
0.05 mm 0.1 mm to 1638.3 mm
0.025 mm 0.1 mm to 819.1 mm
(2) If the FREE paper size is not selected
The maximum plot area of the respective standard
(3) Error messages
"Value exceeds limit"
The specified plot area exceeds the maximum plot area.
"No value has been set"
The plot area dimensions have not been specified for the FREE
paper size.
"Incorrect value"
An illegal value was input.
7-2 Chart Feed Length
(1) Free Length
0.1 mm to 16,000 mm
(2) Error messages
"Value exceeds limit"
The specified chart feed length exceeds the maximum chart feed length.
"No value has been set"
The chart feed length has not been specified.
"Incorrect value"
An illegal value was input.
7-3 Scaling
(1) Specifiable range: 25% to 400%
(2) Error message
"Incorrect value"
An illegal value was input.
7-4 Allowable Color Value Range
(1) Specifiable range: 0 to 255
(2) Error message
"Allowable color value range is 0 to 255"
A negative value or a value exceeding 255 was input.
"No value has been set"
A value was not input.
7-5 Pen Settings
(1) Pen No. : 1 to 10
(2) Line width: 0.1 mm to 10 mm
(3) Pen speed : 0 cm/s to 99 cm/s (Default: 0 cm/s)
(4) Error messages:
"Maximum combination of pens is 32"
Up to 32 combinations of Pen Nos. and line widths can be specified.
"No pen has been selected"
For revision or removal, no pen has been selected.
"Duplicate pen assignment"
Multiple pens have been assigned the same color and same line width.
"Pen number is 1 to 10"
0 or a numeral greater than 10 was input.
"Value exceeds limit"
A value exceeding the pertinent parameter range was input.
"Incorrect value"
An illegal value was input.
"No pens have been defined"
The Pen Settings menu lists no Pen Nos., and neither has [Plotting
Unlisted Colors] been selected.
7-6 Line Pitch
(1) Line types: Dot, Dash, Dash-dot, Dash-dot-dot
(2) Specifiable range: Resolution Range
0.1 mm -819 to +819 mm
0.05 mm -409 to +409 mm
0.025 mm -204 to +204 mm
(3) Error message
"Incorrect value"
An illegal value was input.
7-7 Color Setting
(1) Colors: Red, green, blue
(2) Specifiable range: 0 to 255
(3) Error messages
"Incorrect value"
A negative value or a value exceeding 255 was input.
"No value has been set"
A color setting value was not input.
7-8 Other
"Modified programmable resolution, please set line pitch"
The resolution was changed, causing the line pitch value to exceed
the specified range.
8. COMPATIBLE PLOTTER MODELS
The OPS608 Plotter Driver can be used with the following models:
PEN PLOTTERS
MP3000 series
MP4000 series
MP5000 series
FP6200/6300 series
FP7000 series
GP1000/2000/3000 series
GX1000 series
CUTTING PLOTTERS
FC2200-50
FC2200-90/EX
FC2100-60A/90A/120
FC3100-100/120
FC3200-50/50H
PENLESS PLOTTERS
TM1300
TM1010/1110
TM1030/1130
EM3010/3110
9. CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have any questions concerning this driver, please contact your local
Graphtec representative or Graphtec headquarters at the following address:
Overseas Sales Dept.
Graphtec Corporation
503-10, Shinano-cho
Totsuka-ku
Yokohama 244, Japan
Tel: +81-45-825-6250
Fax: +81-45-825-6396
END
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.