Printing text, .plt and .prn

[Morglisn]

Thanks in advance for any help on this. We're on a tight deadline, and I'm sinking fast.

We've previously been using AutoCrud, and shipping our .plt files out to a printing service. We've recently purchased SW, and, to my dismay, I can only produce .prn files. Our printers balked at this, yet discovered how to print them this morning. However, my text isn't showing up. Is this a problem with their printing methods, or is it an obscure setting in my drawing that I've neglected?

Just for the info, this is an imported .dwg.

Thanks!

 

[APPENG]

the only thing I can suggest is to verify that you are writing the files for that specific printer...barring that I am at a loss sorry! Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com

 

[dsi]

I am also at a loss. You may want to mess around with the layer settings and printing options.

On the upside, I am sure that a solution can be developed to solve the problem. I have recently developed an application for one of my clients that does something similar.

From SolidWorks, it:
- exports the active drawing to DXF format
- fires up Anvil-1000
- imports the DXF into Anvil
- converts it to the standard Anvil format
- and finally exports it to an IGES file needed for an EDM application

If you can't get the formatting figured out, I would only pursue this type of solution as a worst-case option. Although SolidWorks and AutoCAD are both easy to automate, crossing platforms just to print defeats the ability to use a single CAD application. DimensionalSolutions@Core.com
While I welcome e-mail messages, please post all thread activity in these forums for the benefit of all members.

 

[CajunCAD]

Have you tried printing to a .PDF file? (assuming you have a copy of Adobe Acrobat)

The other workaround you might try is to save the SolidWorks file as a .DWG Open the file in AutoCad, make any format corrections (I have to change fonts to Romans as during the translation process my text changes. You might have to run through this 2 times end up at the font you want. You will also have to scan your text for symbols that don't translate properly). From here you can print as before.

Good Luck.

 

[DetroitPickles]

We use "Arial Narrow" on our SW drawings, and when we DXF them to AutoCrud, AutoCrud chnages the text font, assumably because it doesn't know what an "Arial Narrow" is.

Perhaps the printer does not know what font you are using because it isn't installed or isn't included in the drawing "package".

And another stupid question from me. What the heck do I do with this PRN file I created? I can't drop it on a printer icon because there is no program associated with it. I can't print it from Notepad, without a bazillion funky characters. So what to do?
Mr. Pickles

 

[MadMango]

A lot of times, PRN files are used by vendors to create silkscreens and the like. Most use Adobe Illustrator or something similar to tweeak them as required.

At least, this has been my experience. "The attempt and not the deed confounds us."

 

[StarrRider]

Mr. Pickles

Prn files go way back. They were in existence (and haven’t changed all that much) in the CPM days before DOS. If you do a DOS shell in windows you can copy them directly to any device on your system, like a printer. The thing is that you need direct access to the computer and Windows doesn’t exactly like that. The easiest way to use them is to create a batch or command file on your desktop and then drop the file on it.

That file would look like this. The files name would be Print-It.cmd
Echo Off
Copy %1 LPT1
------ End of file -----

I don’t know where your printer is hooked up to on your system, it could be. LPT1, LPT2, COM1, or COM2.

I don't know if you can copy a file to a printer on your network or not. It's been a lot of years since I had to do this and networks have changed. My guess is that you can if you know what the printers address is.

Lee

 

[TheTick]

Try this:
Make PDF (Acrobat) files of you drawings and have your service print those. If your service can't print a PDF, it's time to get a new service.

There is an inexpensive print engine that we use to generate PDF files. It is called "PDF995" and is available at

http://www.pdf995.com

There is a free version, but the license only costs (you guessed it) $9.95!

Also, I find PDF to be an excellent format to exchange 2D drawings. Anyone (include managers) can read them, and they can't easily be used to misappropriate geometry. Also, they are a lot more compact than eDrawing files.