Missing data on plot.
Missing data on plot.
A. If the plot is missing entities that showed on the computer screen but
did not plot, then check the following:
1. Try to determine if your pens are skipping. If you can visually
observe the pen moving and attempting to draw the entities, then
you pens are skipping. See problem summary for 102X PENS ARE
SKIPPING OR DRAGGING OR NOT TOUCHING PAPER.
B. If the plotter does not attempt to draw the entities, note the
following:
1. Whenever possible, use hardware handshake. Other forms of
handshake such as Xon/Xoff can lose data.
2. On a DOS-based system, hardware handshake using DOS I/O is the
best way to ensure a good I/O transmission. If the software
application provides the option for plotting to a file, perform
the following:
a. First issue a DOS MODE command to establish the baud rate,
parity, number of bits, and number of stop bits. The
handshake is always direct control (hardware handshake)
when using DOS.
i. The DOS MODE command format is:
MODE com_port:Baud_rate,Parity,Data_bits,Stop_bits,P
where parity is one of the following: (E=even, O=odd,
N=none)
The last character of the MODE statement (i.e., the
letter P), tells DOS to perform retries.
ii. If using COM port 1 at 9600 baud, No parity, 8 data
bits, and 1 stop bit, issue the following DOS MODE
command at the DOS prompt:
MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1,P
iii. If using COM port 2 at 9600 baud, No parity, 8 data
bits, and 1 stop bit, issue the following DOS MODE
command at the DOS prompt:
MODE COM2:9600,N,8,1,P
b. Configure the plotter for direct control (hardware)
handshake. To access the handshaking menu on the plotter:
i. Turn the plotter power on.
ii. Load and size the media by pressing the softkey under
MANUAL. The softkeys are the four light colored keys
that surround your plotter's display (Liquid Crystal
Display).
iii. After the plotter is done sizing the media, press the
NEXT key twice.
iv. Select Set-up by pressing the softkey above SET-UP.
v. Select Host by pressing the softkey under HOST.
vi. Press the softkey under Handshake.
vii. Use either of the bottom soft keys to toggle to
Xon/Xoff, direct control or Ack/Nak.
viii. Press the EXIT key three times. The plotter will
prompt you to save this change. Press the softkey for
YES.
c. In the application, select the option for plot to a file.
The file name is to be set to the name of the COM port
being used (e.g., COM1 or COM2).
3. It is possible that data was corrupted on its way from the
computer to the plotter.
a. Try removing networks, spoolers, switch boxes, etc.
Directly connect the computer to the plotter.
b. If using an IBM PC or compatible or a Sun workstation with
an RS232 port:
i. Try another serial cable. A bad serial cable can
cause the data to be dropped on its way from the
computer to the plotter. The plotter uses a straight-
through, 25-pin female to 25-pin male serial cable
(CalComp part number 11772-0250, 25 foot serial
cable) This is not a proprietary cable. It is
commercially available, sometimes called a MODEM
cable. A NULL-MODEM cable will not work.
ii. The total cable length should not exceed 50 feet.
For testing purposes a shorter cable can decrease
your factor for error.
iii. If the computer has a 9-pin connector for the COM
port (i.e. COM1 or COM2), a commercially available 9
to 25 pin adapter is acceptable to perform the
conversion.
c If you are using a Macintosh:
i. Try a different communications cable. The plotter
uses an 8-pin mini-din Macintosh to 25-pin serial
cable (CalComp part number 16623-0029, 12 ft.
cable).
d. Send a different plot file. The plot file being sent may
be corrupt.
e. Try plotting from another computer. The port on the
computer may be defective.
f. If using AutoCAD:
i. If arrowheads are not plotting, set the Pen
Optimization Level to zero (or no optimization). The
Pen Optimization dialog box is located in the AutoCAD
Plot Menu if you are using versions 12 or 13 of
AutoCad. This usually resolves the problem. Also,
check to see that your pen widths are set to 0.010 in
the Autocad Pen Assignment menu.