How to use the new "Printer" connection method in PlotFlow for X version 9.0

A new connection method has been introduced in PlotFlow for X version 9.0, which runs on Mac OS X 10.2 or later. By choosing "Printer" as your communication port in the Configure dialog, you can send your plt file to almost any installed printer. You may also create a new system printer just for downloading your plt files to your plotter, even if you do not want to use it as a printer. This way you can connect your plotter supporting network protocols beyond the built-in PlotFlow connection methods, like Rendezvous, LDP/LPR, AppleTalk etc.

The difference in using a printer as a connection is that this way your plt file is passed to the cups printing system in one step and cups will spool your file to your plotter. Older Printer drivers which were written for the now largely obsolete Tioga printing system (pre-10.2) are disabled in the Printers pop-up menu of the Setup dialog, because they can not be used to send raw binary data to the printer.

You can follow the spooling process and plotter status in the Jobs window of your printer. To open this window, select your printer in the "Printer List" of "Printer Setup Utility" and choose "Show Jobs" in Printers menu (or double-click on your printer's line).

Warning!
Note that sending a plt file to a printer which cannot understand the plotter language may lead to unexpected results.

Creating a new printer for communicating with your plotter

Follow the steps below to create a printer for different connection methods/printing protocols supported by your plotter. The terms in the examples are based on Mac OS X 10.3.5.

LPD/LPR

• Launch "Printer Setup Utility" (in Applications -> Utilities folder or click the "Set Up Printers..." button in System Preferences -> Print&Fax -> Printing)
• click the Add tool in the toolbar or select "Add printer..." from the Printers menu
• in the topmost pop-up menu select "IP Printing"
• in "Printer Type" pop-up menu select "LPD/LPR"
• enter the IP address of your plotter (by name or dotted decimal notation)
• leave the item "Queue Name" empty and leave the "Printer Model" on Generic
• click Add
• close "Printer Setup Utility"

Internet Printing Protocol

• follow the steps under LPD/LPR, but select "Internet Printing Protocol" instead of "LPD/LPR" in "Printer Type" pop-up menu.

Socket/HP Jet Direct

• follow the steps under LPD/LPR, but select "Socket/HP Jet Direct" instead of "LPD/LPR" in "Printer Type" pop-up menu.

Note that the "Socket/HP Jet Direct" protocol is similar to selecting "IP Printing" in PlotFlow and entering port number 9100, but the spooling is performed by cups.

USB

USB printers are automatically added by the system. If their driver is not a cups driver, you cannot select them from the menu. In this case it is suggested to create a new printer by hand and set the printer type to Generic as follows:

• Connect your plotter to your computer
• click the Add tool in the toolbar or select "Add Printer..." from the Printers menu
• select USB in the topmost menu
• select your device from the list. If your device is not listed, please turn it on.
• in the Printer Model pop-up menu, select Apple instead of the offered type
• select the first printer from the list, e.g. Apple Color LaserWriter 12/600 PS v2014/108. The model of the selected printer does not matter - as long as it is a cups driver - since it is used only as a backend to maintain communication between your computer and your printer.
• click the Add button

AppleTalk

Note that you have to make AppleTalk active in System Preferences -> Network dialog

• after clicking the Add tool select AppleTalk in the topmost menu
• select the AppleTalk zone your printer is in
• wait until your devices are listed
• select your plotter from the list
• click Add

If your plotter is not a PostScript printer as well, your plotter will not appear in the list. In this case you have to enter its address manually. It is not a simple task so please contact your network administrator if you are not sure about what to do.

First determine the AppleTalk name and type of your plotter.

• Start Terminal in Applications -> Utilities folder
• enter the following command:
  atlookup -a
  and press the Return key.
  
  This will list all AppleTalk entities in your zone in the form :. If your plotter is in a different zone, enter the following command (the '=' is the wildcard character for name and type):
  attlookup -a =:=@ZoneNameOfYourPlotter
  
  This will show a list of all active AppleTalk entities in the specified zone.
• Copy the name and type of your plotter
• Switch to "Printer Setup Utility"
• hold down the alt (option) key while clicking the "Add" tool
• select the last item "Advanced" in the topmost menu
• enter a string as "Device Name:"
• enter the "Device URI:" in the following form:
  pap://ZoneName/DeviceName/DeviceType
  Note that if you paste the name and type from the Terminal, you have to change spaces to "%20" and use '/' instead of ':' between the name and type.
  example: pap://MyZone/DesignJet455CA/HP%20JetDirect%20EX

Where to look for help in troubleshooting?

• consult the Help of Network Utility and Printer Setup Utility for assistance
• check the cups error log: Launch Console from Applications -> Utilities and select File menu -> Open Quickly -> /var/log -> cups -> error_log
• check the following URL in your internet browser: http://localhost:631/

Page last updated: Monday, August 1, 2011