Tip of the Month

Creating a File for Service Plotting
Purpose: To create a plot-file or print-file from SoftPlan to allow a reprographics or plotting service to print large-format drawings.

Softplan's print box allows an option to print to a file, but you need to set up the correct type of file to allow a plotter to print it. As most people do not have a large-format plotter/printer, you need to load the correct printer/plotter driver in Windows to allow the file to be written to an HPGL2 device. You don't actually have to have the device to create the file. It will also help if you know how to zip or unzip files.

To add a printer/plotter driver:

You will need the Windows XP CD
Go to start, settings, printer
Click on add a printer
Choose HP from the left side menu
Scroll down on the right side list until you see HP Designjet series, i.e HP750 (or Equivalent)
Pick HP750 D or E, if this does not show up in this menu, you will need to load it from the Windows CD. (If you do not have the HP Plotter driver file you can download if from our web-site. Download HP Plotter Driver

Do not make this the default printer

To create print/plot file:

Open the drawing you want to use
Go to file, print
Choose print to file
Select the plotter in the printer option box
You will get the option to pick a paper size big enough to fit your drawing at the scale you choose.
Typical sizes are:

"C" architectural, 18"x24"
"D" architectural, 24"x36"
"E" architectural, 36"x48"

SoftPlan will then require a file name, xxx.plt
Select "OK"
Send these files to your service provider by e-mail or other means.

See links on our web page for a preferred reprographics supplier near you.