Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
dows programs, works with the printers you've configured in Windows. AutoCAD calls
these
system printers
because they're part of the Windows operating system.
But AutoCAD, unlike other Windows programs, can't leave well enough alone. Some out-
put devices, especially some larger plotters, aren't controlled very efficiently by the Win-
dows system printer drivers. For that reason, AutoCAD comes with specialized
non-sys-
tem drivers
(that is, drivers that are not installed as part of the Windows system) for
plotters from companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, KIP, and Océ. These drivers ig-
nore the tidy rules for communicating with Windows printers in order to get things done
a bit more quickly and flexibly.
Most of the time, using already-configured Windows system printers is easiest, and they
work well with many devices — especially devices such as laser and inkjet printers that
print on smaller paper. However, if you have a large-format plotter, you
may
be able to
get faster plotting, better plot quality, or more plot features by installing a non-system
driver. To find out more, choose Installation & Deployment⇒Driver and Peripheral
Guide⇒Use Plotters and Printers on the AutoCAD online help system's home page.
Configure it out
For now, you should simply make sure that AutoCAD recognizes the devices that you
want to use for plotting. The following steps show you how:
1. Launch AutoCAD and open an existing drawing or start a new, blank drawing.
2. Choose Options on the Application Menu, or type
OP
and press Enter, to open
the Options dialog box; then click the Plot and Publish tab.
3. Click the drop-down arrow to view the list just below the Use as Default Output
Device option, as shown in Figure 16-1.
The list includes two kinds of device configurations, designated by two tiny,
difficult-to-distinguish icons to the left of the device names:
• A little printer icon with a sheet of white paper coming out the top indicates
a Windows system printer configuration.
• A little plotter-with-legs icon with a piece of paper coming out the front indic-
ates a non-system (that is, AutoCAD-specific) configuration.
The non-system configuration names always end in
.pc3
because
they're stored in special AutoCAD Plotter Configuration version 3 files. So, if
