I had a similar problem when I tried to connect a PC onto the plotter
cable to trap the HPGL output for importing into other programs on
the PC. The problem is that HPGL-2 allows for interogation of the
plotter which then returns the requested information. The ASPECT will
wait until the info is returned and time out if there is no return.
I have found that many printers that say they know HPGL-2 do not in
fact know about this class of commands. If I remember right, the
specific command in HPGL-2 that is the problem is 'OP'. This is a
request for the size of the plotter in plotter units. The return
is the x-y coordinates for the P1 and P2 points in the plotter.
Check your printer manual to confirm if it does in fact know this
command. My fix for the PC trap program was to send the ASPECT a
set of coordinates for it to use via the serial port. If your printer
can not return the data, then you could put a small PC in between with
a program that returns the appropriate info and passes the rest of the
HPGL-2 on to the printer which is then connected to the PC.
Allan Kershaw
Director of NMR Instrumentation
University of Southern California
PHone 213 740 6376
email allan@kershaw.usc.edu
WWW http://kershaw.usc.edu
>From numare@cnj.digex.net Wed Aug 12 12:09:43 1998
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From: numare@cnj.digex.net
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 98 14:07:46 PDT
Subject: Aspect 3000 --> HP 4000 T laser printer
To: ammrl@wwitch.unl.edu
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Dear Spinlanders,
Have Aspect 3000 computer currently sending output to an HP 7550 Plus
plotter via a DB-25 serial connection. Also have an HP 4000 T laser printer
that understands HPGL-2 plotter language and has a nine pin serial port. Have
HP cable that changes DB-25 to DB-9. The cable pin outs are as follows:
Computer DB-25 Printer DB-9
3 - Receive Data 2 - Transmit Data
2 - Transmit Data 3 - Receive Data
20 - Data Terminal Ready 4 - Data Set Ready
7 - Ground 5 - Ground
6 - Data Set Ready 6 - Data Terminal Ready
5 - Clear To Send 8 - Data Terminal Ready
Have tried connecting the Aspect 3000 to the HP 4000 T using the above serial
cable. When we attempt to send data to the printer, the Aspect 3000
computer makes the attempt and then times out without recognizing the
printer. The printer never indicates that any communication has been
attempted.
Is there a way to get the above equipment connected and working?
Will post summary of responces if useful.
Thank in advance,
Best regards,
Lawrence
--------------------------------------------------------
Lawrence Byrnes,
NMR Laboratory Manager,
Numare Spectralab Incorporated
Research Director,
The Schoenenberg Institute of Molecular Spectroscopy
10 Summit Avenue, Building #6, P.O. Box 96,
Berkeley Heights, NJ, 07922-0096,
telephone 908-665-0066
facsimile 908-464-4192
email numare@cnj.digex.net
www http://www.cnj.digex.net/~numare/
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