Hi All, I hope someone will be able to clarify the differences between HPGL, prn, and plt files, and how they are meant to be used. HPGL and prn are both text based files.
Here is a snip from a HPGL file. The commands "PU" and "PD" stand for "Pen Up" and "Pen Down" respectively. It would be logical that "PA" stands for "Pen Advance" followed by the XY coordinates. PU;PA 3486, 5524; PD;PA 8344, 6729; PU;PA 8344, 1911; PD;PA 8344, 6729; PU;PA 3486, 706; PD;PA 20, 1399; Here is a snip from a prn file produced by printing a DeltaCad drawing to a HP plotter on File. The format is completely different. 370,2005PRPD55,0PAPU-345,2000PRPD-50,0PAPU-370,1995PRPD-55,0PAPU-400,1990PRPD-50,0PAPU-425,1985PRPD-55,0,0,-5,30,0PAPU-475,1975PRPD-5,0PAPAPU-470,1985PRPD-5,0,5,-5,-20,0PAPU-510,1975PRPD40,0PAPU-490,1970PRPD-35,0PAPU-510,1965PRPD-35,0PAPU-560,1960PRPD35,0PAPU-545,1955PRPD-35,0PAPU-595,1950PRPD35,0PAPU-580,1945PRPD-35,0PAPU-595,1940PRPD-40,0,0,-5,20,0PAPU-630,1930PRPD-5,0PAPAPU- I do not know what a plt file looks like, nor do I know if it's just an alternate extension for a prn file - but I doubt it. Can anyone help? ------------- Also, referring to the discussion of using printouts as templates, be aware that printers do not all scale accurately, nor do they all produce an accurate aspect ratio. In my experience my HP LaserJet III did both perfectly. That printer has since gone where good printers go when they die. My new HP OfficeJet 1175C (an ink jet as opposed to a laser jet) does not produce an accurate aspect ratio. Best, Bob
