Pen Plotter Settings
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Dialog Box: Pen Plotter Settings [ Pen Plot dialog] [ Settings Menu]

Current plotter radio buttons. There are several pre-programmed plotters; clicking on the Get Data button reads the pen-plotter data file (PPLOT) and obtains the commands and parameters. Even if your plotter is not listed here, you may be able to input the commands through the Other option. In this case, click on the Commands button to set or revise the commands and parameters.

Port . This should be either a serial or parallel port: "COMn" or "LPTn". Even if this box shows the correct port, if it is a serial port you should verify the baud, parity, stop bits and data bits in the Ports item in the Windows Control Panel . These parameters should be set to match the settings on your pen plotter (which are usually controlled by DIP switches).

Pen-change mode radio buttons. If you have a multiple-pen plotter, you can elect to run in the Use single pen mode with the pen number entered in the edit field, and conversely if you have a single-pen plotter you can draw with multiple colors, but you will have to change the pens manually. If you choose the Change pens manually mode, the plotter returns to the zero position after drawing all lines of each color, and a message box appears, prompting you to change pens.

Speed number . This is the parameter (see Commands) which controls velocity of the pen - for example for the Comrex, speed number 1 is slowest and 15 is fastest. Although some plotters, like the HP7475A, allow decimal speeds, you must use an integer here.