7.2 Pattern output.

Clipboard

G rafis supports the Windows clipboard for processing patterns in other Windows applications. The function Copy (clipboard) in the Edit pull-down menu copies the visible contents of the Grafis screen to the clipboard. The contents of the clipboard can be inserted into other Windows applications such as Word, Paint or Excel to create further material about the style or teaching material for example.

Grade a basic block in 5 sizes, centre with <F6> and copy the graded nest to the clipboard via Edit | Copy (clipboard). Now start a different Windows application (e.g. Paint) and insert the contents of the clipboard into this application. Process the graded nest by changing the line colour, fill in the shapes or add annotation for example.

Output to plotter/printer

Output of patterns to plotters (drawing devices) or printers ensues via the Plot/Print menu. A special feature of the pattern output function in Grafis is the automatic wrap. It allows for quick output of full size patterns to small scale printers by dividing the pat-tern into partial pictures which can be joined subsequently.

The Plot/Print menu is opened via the

File | Plot/ Print... pull-down menu or from the toolbox.

Preparation of plot picture

• Set up or change the plot-ter/printer (plotter type, paper format,...)

• Click format position centred and press <F6> to get an overview

• Adjust the following settings:

• portrait or landscape

• plot scale with enlargement

• activate the automatic wrap

• position the plot frame with align/centre and/or dragging

• Position the frame text

Output of plot picture

• Click plot (plot picture is gener-ated internally)

Change plotter/printer

The selected output device is displayed under plot device. The extensions mean:

direct output to the parallel port LPT1 a file with control information for the output device is generated output to a device with Windows driver output to a device without Windows driver.

Further information about set up or changing a plotter/ printer can be found in the Grafis help function.

Output to file

Output to file is required if your plots:

• are to be output onto a plotter not directly attached to your computer and not accessible via a network or

• are to be transferred into a text or drawing software as HPGL files.

Plot to file is only possible for printer/plotters without windows driver. If the target for the plot device in the menu on the right is not yet displayed as “to File:”, open the Grafis – Plot file dialogue via plot device change. Select the plotter, click on Settings, activate the Edit button, set the option connected to to ”FILE” and accept the settings. To generate HPGL data select the HPGL-2 plotter.

If output to file is active, the control information is saved in one or more files (for automatic wrap). After initiating output, you are requested to enter a file name.

Grafis is not required for output of plot files to a plotter inland or abroad. It is important that the control information was generated especially for this plotter. For example, plot files generated with the “Algotex (to FILE)” setting can only be read by an Algotex plotter.

To transfer the file to the plotter click on Start | Run…and enter

copy C:\test.plt com2: in the Open dialogue.

C:\test.plt must be the complete path to the plot file including the name of the plot file. com2 must be the port to which the plotter is connected. The copy command cannot be used for output to USB ports.

Self assessment questions

1. What possible ways Grafis offer to print construction?

2. How Grafis file content can be inserted into other Windows applications?

3. How to output to plotter/printer?

4. How to change plotter/printer?

5. How to output to file?

Reference:

©Friedrich: Grafis – Textbook Part 1, Edition 2008, Chapter 13, 2-25 p.p., Chapter 3, 6-9p.p.

Lecture 8