"Sight" Survey   (SS15)

This is a typical sign of an incorrect Flow Control / Handshaking setting. The setting for your Windows COM port does not match the setting on your plotter. Software handshaking is also known as XON/ XOFF handshaking and Hardware handshaking is also known as DTR handshaking. Your plotter may use one specific handshaking and not have a setting for you to change. If that is the case, you will need to modify the Windows port setting for Flow Control to match the handshaking that your plotter uses. Consult your plotter manual to determine the handshaking type, and then change the port setting in the Windows Control Panel. The three options are None, XON/XOFF, and Hardware.

You can always try the trial and error approach using all three options: Change the Ports handshaking options within the Windows Control Panel, each time also changing the necessary settings on the plotter to match. First try None, next try XON/XOFF, then try Hardware.

Make sure that you are using the correct cable for your plotter, and that it has the proper pin settings; consult your plotter documentation or dealer. If all else fails, you may wish to try a null modem cable such as a Smart Cable. This device helps you determine whether signals to and from your computer and plotter are correct. Check with your plotter dealer.

You should also try toggling the Make Arcs from Lines check box in the Printer Defaults dialog box. If it is enabled, disable it, and vice-a-versa. 

Plotting Doesn't Work 

If nothing happens when you try to plot, or if the plotting works incorrectly or erratically, please check each of the following items before calling for technical support. It may solve your problem, and it will definitely save money in long distance phone charges.

1. Ensure that the plotter is plugged in, that the power to the plotter has been turned on, and that the plotter is on-line.

2. Ensure that the cable between the computer and plotter is securely plugged in at the computer and at the plotter.

3. If a switch box is attached between the computer and the plotter, ensure that it is switched to the correct setting.

4. Ensure that the cable is plugged into the correct serial (COM) port on the computer: Check your printer/plotter setup in the Windows Control Panel. If the plotter port is set to a different COM (serial) port than the plotter cable is plugged into, you can either move the cable to the correct COM port, or change the plotter port to the COM port where the cable is connected. If you have a parallel plotter connection, note that you must set the configuration to an LPT port.

5. Ensure that the correct output device is shown in the Printer field of the Print dialog box: If it is not correct, click on the button to access the Printer/Plotter Setup dialog box. Either choose the Default Printer or select the desired output device from the Specific Printer drop-down list box.

6. Ensure that the drawing is properly centered within the paper border: If you use the Zoom Page (ZP) routine and you cannot see your drawing within the paper border (a dotted, magenta rectangle), you need to re-center the drawing on the page. First use the Zoom All (ZA) routine to show the drawing on the screen, then center the drawing on the page using the Center Paper (CE) routine.

7. Ensure that you are using the correct plotter cable.

8. If you are using a gender changer or especially a 9-pin to 25-pin port adapter on the cable, ensure that it is the correct adapter for the plotter cable and that it does not change the pin-out connections.

9. If using a pen plotter, ensure that plotter pens are loaded.

10. If using a pen plotter, ensure that the plotter is not prompting you to change pens.

11. Ensure that the plotter isn't waiting for you to load paper: Check your printer/plotter setup in the Windows Control Panel. Click on your plotter in the list of installed printers that appears, then click on the button to access the Printer/ Plotter Setup dialog box for your plotter. If the dialog box includes a Paper Feed option, enable the Preloaded check box. If this was not enabled (checked), it is likely that your plotter was simply waiting for you to load the paper.

12. Ensure that the plotter has sized the paper: Some plotters must initialize or size the paper before they will plot. Check your plotter documentation for instructions.

13. Check the plotter's LED display for error messages: Your plotter may be displaying an error or informational message on its LED display, if it has one. Check your plotter documentation for information on how to fix the error or respond to the message.

14. Ensure that the plotter's Pen Sort option has been set On, if required: Check your plotter documentation for instructions.

15. Ensure that the Windows COM port settings match your plotter communications setup: Check the Baud Rate, Data Bits, Parity, Stop Bits (word length), and Flow Control (handshaking) for your Windows Port settings. Check the same items on your plotter. The Windows settings must match your plotter settings for correct plotting to occur. If you don't know how to check these settings on your plotter, refer to your plotter documentation. These are usually set by making changes via the LED display or by setting dip switches on back of (or sometimes underneath) the plotter.

16. Try the other Flow Control (handshaking) options: Even if both Windows and your plotter are configured for the same handshaking, there may be an incompatibility in your cable or plotter driver. Change the Ports handshaking options within the Windows Control Panel, each time also changing the necessary settings on the plotter to match. First try None, next try XON/XOFF, then try Hardware.

17. Try disabling the Draft option: Check your printer/plotter setup in the Windows Control Panel. Click on your plotter in the list of installed printers that appears, then click on the Setup..   button to access the Printer/Plotter Setup dialog box for your plotter. If the dialog box includes a Draft check box, disable it. Try plotting again.

18. Ensure that the appropriate plotter driver is installed for the version of Windows that you are using: You may need to contact the plotter manufacturer or Microsoft to obtain the latest Windows device driver for your plotter. You can also check on the Internet, CompuServe, on the plotter manufacturer's company BBS (Bulletin Board Service).

19. Ensure that the plotter's Plot Language setting matches the language used by the plotter driver.

20. Ensure that the plotter works under DOS with a "Sight" Survey plot file: Configure the plotter port for File instead of a COM port. Plot the file and type in a file name when the Print to File dialog box appears. After printing the file, exit "Sight" Survey and close down Windows entirely (don't just go to a DOS Shell). If your plotter is connected to a COM port, setup the COM port mode using the DOS Mode command. In this command: MODE COM2 : 9600 , N , 8 , 1 ,P     Enter. The plotter is on COM2 and is configured for 9600 baud, No parity, 8 data bits, and 1 stop bit. Enter the command using the appropriate substitutions for your plotter setup. (The P at the end of the command needs to be there.) If you need more information about Mode, please refer to your DOS manual. Next, copy the plot file to the plotter port by typing: COPY C : \SIGHTSRV\TESTPLOT.PLT COM2  Enter.  Replace C : \SIGHTSRV with the actual program drive and directory name as installed to your own computer. Replace TESTPLOT.PLT with the name of the plot file you created in "Sight" Survey; and replace COM2 with the correct plotter port.

21. Try bypassing the Windows Print Manager: Setup the port to print directly to the plotter. Refer to your Windows documentation or on-line help file for more information. Try plotting again.

22. Try printing through the BIOS: Disable the Fast Printing Direct to Port check box in the Connect section of Printer setup in the Windows Control Panel. Refer to your Windows documentation or on-line help file for more information. Try plotting again.

23. Set up a direct access port: If you are using Windows 3.1 or 3.11, use a text editor such as the Windows Notepad to open the WIN.INI file located in the Windows directory. Locate the [Ports] section and change the line that starts out COM4: = to read COM2.PRN (assuming your plotter is connected to COM2, make the appropriate port substitution if necessary). In the Windows Printer/Plotter Setup, configure the plotter to use the new COM2.PRN port that will appear in the list of available ports. Try plotting again.

24. Write a file directly to the printer:  In the Windows Printer/Plotter Setup, configure the plotter port for FILE instead of a COM port.  Plot the file, and when the Print to File dialog box appears, type in the name of the plotter port as the file name, for example COM2.  Click Ok when asked if you would like to overwrite the existing file.

25. Write a file and copy it to the port: If all else has failed, this may be the only solution left. Configure the plotter port for FILE instead of a COM port.  Plot the file and type in a file name when the Print to File dialog box appears.  Next, if you are using Windows 3.1 or 3.11, load the File Manager and select Copy from the File menu.  In the From box, type the name and path of the plot file that you created in "Sight" Survey.  In the To box, type the name of the plotter port, i.e.. COM2 . Click on Ok and then click Yes when asked to confirm the file copy.  Next, if you are using Windows 95, load a DOS Shell session and copy the file to the port following the instructions shown in Step 20.  If you were able to plot from DOS, you should be able to plot from Windows using this method.

© 2008 by Carlson Software, Inc.   Last modified November 18, 2008