Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!pacbell.com!ames!skipper!binkley
From: binkley@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov (Rob -Not from Bloom County- Binkley)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.novell
Subject: AutoCAD - Novell plotter interface
Keywords: AutoCAD Novell Plotter problem
Message-ID: <727@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov>
Date: 20 Dec 90 16:42:59 GMT
Lines: 33


We are having a difficulty here setting up a clean interface between
AutoCAD and our Novell 3.1 network.  We have 3 (different) HP plotters
and one CalComp D size thermal plotter.  The wonderful people at AutoDESK
decided for us that plotters will only be connected to a PC via the
COM ports and on dedicated to that PC since it wants to communicate with
the plotter...hence our problem.  We have 3 plotters hanging on our file
server and one as a remote printer.  Since the network can only reroute
files sent to the LPT ports, we have to plot to a file, shell to DOS,
and print the file from DOS.

This is a real bummer.  PCAD doesn't have this limitation..Its very
network aware.  It would be nice if we could get AutoCAD to operate
as smoothly as PCAD...but no dice.

Some possible solutions:

  1.  Plot to a network spool directory where Novell will plot anything
      in that directory, then delete it.

      Can Novell 3.1 handle this?  Any software we need to purchase?

  2.  A plotter ADI driver which allows printing to HP and CalComp plotters
      via the LPT ports.  Anyone ever see such a beast?


Any possible hint/solutions that anyone may have would be appreciated...


Robert L. Binkley			Internet: binkley@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov
NASA Ames-Dryden Floght Research Facility
PO Box 273   MS: XRT (not the Chicago radio station)
Edwards, CA  93523