Plot Config
I used to find setting up or customising printers in Pro/E a nightmare . . .
Then I got to grips with the different options available - use these pointers to help you set up your printers/plotters:
- The folder: "proe loadpoint\text\plot_config" contains plot config files (pcf files) which define the plotting commands available to Pro/E.
- The default MS_PRINT_MGR uses the Windows default printer, and this is usually fine for simple A4 plots.
- To create others (ie large plots, or custom icons for specific printers) add your own pcf file to the plot_config folder: either . . .
- Save settings from the Print options dialog box (Print > Configure > Save), or
- Copy an existing pcf file and edit accordingly (use Notepad, etc).
Here's an example...
- Important lines in the pcf file:
PLOTTER - this defines the type of plot output - pick from "Add Printer Type" list in Print dialog box, eg: plotter LASERJET4.
BUTTON_NAME & BUTTON_HELP - these help the user choose between different plotters.
PLOTTER_COMMAND - use this to specify the network location of a plotter to perform a direct plot (ie bypass Windows properties dialog box)
eg: plotter_command windows_print_manager \\servername\printername
Set other values using the Print > Configure options (ie size, format, media, etc . . .)
- It could be a good idea to create a mapkey and icon for each plotter output, then place them on a flyout (see more about menus), so users can easily pick which plotter to use for drawings.
