Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hpfcdc!bayes
From: bayes@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Scott Bayes)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp
Subject: Re: Using Plotter in a Cartridge with LASERJETII and HP330
Message-ID: <5570165@hpfcdc.HP.COM>
Date: 27 Apr 89 16:11:13 GMT
References: <4038@ece-csc.UUCP>
Organization: HP Ft. Collins, Co.
Lines: 41

> I am having a problem with the 98644 serial RS232 line talking
> to the laserjetII.  I am currently using the Plotter in a Cartridge
> that emulates HPGL on the laserjet, but I cannot specify 
> 
> 	PLOTTER IS 9,"HPGL"
> 
> This will work for a HP7475A plotter, but it does not work for the laserjet.
> If anyone has any experience with this type of problem, please contact me 
> As soon as possible.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> /David Dreifus
> 
> dld@ece-csc.UUCP
> 

I believe the problem is probably one of language. The "real" plotters, e.g.
7475, speak a language called HPGL (HP Graphics Language) which is what you
specified in your PLOTTER IS...

The LaserJet speaks a different language, common to most HP printers, called
PCL (Printer Control Language), which I believe is not available to the
PLOTTER IS.. call.

HPGL is a vector/pen-plotter oriented language. PCL is a text/bitmap oriented
language, and the two are very different. LaserJet does not know how to draw
a vector; you must create a bitmap containing the vector(s) required, and send
that to the LaserJet.

You can say PLOTTER IS "somefilename","HPGL"

and plot the data to the file "somefilename".  There is a third-party
utility available from L.W.  James and Associates, and possibly from
elsewhere as well, that can convert this HPGL "spoolfile" to a bitmap and
send it to your LaserJet.  HP cannot recommend use of any particular
third-party software, nor can we support it.

Scott Bayes
The above is my personal opinion and does not represent an official policy of
Hewlett-Packard Company.