Post by thread:PCB & Schematic/Printer output

>>> The only complaint I've had about Autotrax was >>> the 'crippled' output to printers. I've overcome >>> this by using a shareware package that converts >>> HPGL to direct printer output. >> If you are using a HP Laserjet printer to print your HPGL-files you don't have to put them through a program. The printer can understand HP-GL if you send the appro- priate control codes. I have made a pair of batch files to do the job. Works just fine, I use it for schematics and PCB layout. Anyone care to try, they can have the files. Med venlig hilsen / Best regards Poul Bundgaard Phone +45 86 65 13 92 Praestevaenget 4 Fax +45 86 65 13 92 Roedding Mobil DK-8830 Tjele Denmark E-mail: spam_OUTp_bundgaardTakeThisOuTvip.cybercity.dk

Bob Lunn 07/29/97 12:30 PM > If you are using a HP Laserjet printer to print your > HPGL-files you don't have to put them through a program. > The printer can understand HP-GL if you send the appro- > priate control codes. Interesting. When I first used 'printgl' it was to output to a Canon ink-jet. The Laserjet came later. Using 'printgl' still has a number of advantages. First, it can output to an enormous range of printers from 9- and 24-pin dot-matrix, through inkjets, lasers, and color printers. Second, it will often output faster, or with a higher quality, than the drivers built-in to an application. Third, it allows you to transform the output in many ways (scaling, rotating, flipping, inverting) that the application itself may not support. Fourth, it allows you to preview your plot file on the screen ('printgl' can output to almost any standard video mode). Finally, you can often efficiently overlap actual printing a plot-file generation. ___Bob

Due to a cheapskate boss, I've been using AutoCad with some special customizations to make PCB layouts. The advantages are: We already have AutoCad The photoplotter house can accept AutoCad .DWG or .DXF files no problem No problem with video drivers or plotter output - AutoCad will work with ANY plotter and ANY printer and ANY video screen you'd want to look at over 5 minutes. You can draw ANYTHING. Many PCB packages have limitations in what you can draw - only 45 degree angles, only in .001" increments, no logo's or artwork other than text on the silkscreen layer, hard to make new parts, can't make anything but round holes in the PCB, etc. etc. Each one is different. Autocad can make any mark within the dots per inch capability of the plotter. The disadvantages are: It's not a real EDA tool. There's no link between the board and the schematic except in the user's mind. You can forget a trace. You have to draw your own parts and make your own part library. Everybody in the PICLIST thinks you're nuts. Does anyone else use AutoCad to layout PCB boards? If anyone is interested I can zip up the blocks, menus, etc. and post them on my web page. Reply here. -- Lawrence Lile

> I also use Autocad for PCB layouts. Most of my reasons are > the same as > yours. I would appreciate having the chance to look at some of your > blocks, menus, etc. Thanks in advance. Increvable! So there is another humanoid out there doing this! I'll zip 'em up tonight and post them on HTTP://members.sockets/~llile/index.htm under AUTOCAD SUPPORT TOOLS