Exporting HPGL file, bitmap file

Module(s): Layout

You can use the Export HPGL File, Bitmap File tool to print one or more layouts to file in HPGL/2 monochrome or HPGL/2 color format. The print files are saved with the extension .prn or .plt in the current project folder. If you want, you can also select a different folder.
You can also use this tool to save the current contents of the layout as a bitmap file.

Note: Whereas Allplan vector drivers are automatically used for creating the print files, the Print Layouts tool uses the selected Windows driver or Allplan vector driver to create bitmap files.

Windows drivers are printer drivers delivered with the Windows operating system or by the device manufacturer. In Allplan, either Windows drivers or Allplan vector drivers can be used for printing.

A printer driver is a program that translates graphical commands into control characters (e.g., HPGL, PostScript) for a particular printer. You can use Windows drivers or Allplan vector drivers (in connection with output channels) as printer drivers in Allplan.

Allplan vector drivers are printer drivers supplied with Allplan and are available for certain devices. To use Allplan vector drivers, you need to define at least one output channel in the Services application.

Note: When you create print files of the HPGL/2 monochrome or HPGL/2 color format, please note the restrictions applying to OLE objects, bitmap areas and fills with gradients and/or transparency.

To print layouts to a print file

1. Click Export HPGL File, Bitmap File (How).
   

   Activate Export HPGL File, Bitmap File in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Layout

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   Layout

2. Select the format of the file:
   • HPGL/2 monochrome: monochrome output (black/white) to DesignJet, Océ or HPGL/2-compatible
   • HPGL/2 color: color output to HP DesignJet, Océ or HPGL/2-compatible
3. Specify a name for the print file, select the file type, specify the path where to save the print file (Allplan proposes the folder set in the Options on the Desktop environment page, Save/load area, Folders for saving option; you can accept this folder). Then click Save to confirm.

   All the menus and toolbars disappear. The Export HPGL palette opens and you can see the Printer tab. The representation of the layout matches that in the printout.

4. To print more layouts to file, click the button to the right of Layout in the Selection area and select the required layouts in the Layout structure.

   You can visually check the selected layouts using the options in the viewport toolbar. Use the arrows to switch from one layout to the next: takes you to the previous layout and takes you to the next layout. You can use the list box to select a layout of your choice.

5. To limit the output to certain types of design elements only, click the Set button to the right of Elements to print in the Selection area and select the elements in the Element filter. You can also place the surface elements of each document in the background.
   Click OK to confirm the settings or click Cancel or Back in the navigation field at the top to return to the Export HPGL palette without saving the changes.
6. When you have selected several layouts, use the Output multiple times area to specify whether the current print profile is used for all layouts or whether the print profile saved with the respective layout is used.
7. Using Width and Height in the Settings area, you can specify the maximum coordinates the output device can handle. Large values do not have a negative effect on most output devices (for example, HP DesignJet). Note that the page format is cut in accordance with these values.
   Enter the Number of copies and, if necessary, change the format, orientation and the margins of the page by clicking the Set button to the right of Set up page (not possible with several layouts).
8. Define the Special settings in the More settings area by clicking the Set button. If you want, you can now select further options.
9. Define the size and orientation in the Customize area.
   

   Resizing factor, Adjust to paper

   Allows the layout to be stretched in a centric manner: values > 1 enlarge the layout evenly along the x and y axes by the factor you enter.
   If you use Windows drivers, you can select the Adjust to paper option instead of entering the resizing factor directly in the data entry box. As a result, the resizing factor adapts automatically when you change the format and/or orientation of the page or the format and/or orientation of the paper used by the output device. In order to calculate the resizing factor, the program adjusts the page to the paper used by the output device. Allplan does not automatically rotate the layout by 90°.

   • A page without margins is resized in such a way that it is within the printable area of the output device.
   • A page with margins is resized in such a way that it is within the paper size of the output device. The margins of the output device are ignored. The margins of the page are taken into account but they are not resized. Only the printable area of the page is resized.

   Rotation by 90°

   The layout is printed rotated by 90 degrees. When you select Optimize location, the program automatically rotates the layout if this is required.

   Resize pen thickness

   You can specify whether the pen thickness is retained or resized correspondingly.

   Note: These settings are used only temporarily. If you want to print several layouts, you need to define the settings separately for each layout.

10. You can now change the settings of the print file by clicking the button next to Print to file in the Output mode area.
11. Select the Print profile tab and define print settings.
12. Click
    • Start to create the print file.
      When you have selected several layouts, you can change the file names proposed in the Print file dialog box.
    • Cancel to quit the tool.
    • Close to save the settings without creating a print file.
      

To save the contents of a layout as a bitmap

1. Click Export HPGL File, Bitmap File (How).
2. Select Bitmap file (high-resolution).
3. Set the size of the bitmap file.
4. Select a file name, path and format of the bitmap and click Save to confirm.
   

Note: Please bear in mind that the program uses the settings of the selected driver to create the bitmap, and thus, the appearance of the bitmap may differ from that of the layout.
If, for example, you select a driver that does not support fills, the fills will not be included in the bitmap. Moreover, in order for color output of bitmaps, the requirements for printing color layouts must be met.