Problem producing HPGL files with Bricscad

Oli Jock
Oli Jock
in 3D Modeling

Hello,

I have the problem that I can't produce proper HPGL files with Bricscad. I tried it with a "HP Laser Jet 5Si PCL 5 e " or "HP Designjet T1300ps HPGL2" driver. I can produce the plt file. But when I try to convert this plt file with a plt to dxf converter I only get an empty dxf file.

Using AutocadLT 2000, as I did before, makes no problem. But I need this possibilty for Bricscad. I am using solids in my drawings, but sometimes I have the need to convert them to simple lines. I looked around on the forum and in the help system, but coulldn't solve this plot problem in Bricscad.

I hope someone has an idea how to plot hpgl files with vector information inside with Bricscad. Thank you in advance.

Oli

Comments

  • Sakko
    Sakko
    Hi Oli,

    Have you tried this converter ?
    http://www.noliturbare.com/convert/plt-to-dxf
    It's free and has a batch mode for converting multiple files from HPGL  PLT to DXF.

    Also make sure that the "HP Laser Jet 5Si PCL 5 e" writes out HPGL2, because normally
    a PCLx printer/driver writes a PCL file and not a hpgl2 one...!

    Regards
    Konstantin
  • Oli Jock
    Oli Jock

    Hi Konstantin,

    thank you for your answer. I have tried the converter you indicated, but the plt file gives an empty dxf file back. I think it is not the fault of the converter, because your converter but also the viewcompanion converter gives me a correct dxf file back if I use AutocadLt instead of Bricscad to produce the plt file.

    I also think it has nothing to do with the underlying ploter driver, because I am using the same driver within AutocadLT and Bricscad. I looked also for some system variables inside Bricscad allowing me to produce a proper plt file. But I found nothing helping me.

    In the moment I think it has something to do with the implementation of the plot output to a file inside Bricscad.

    I am attaching the file "test.dwg" with my solids as I use them in the layout. Perhaps you or someone else could try to produce a proper plt file which you can convert to dxf with your indicated converter.

    I would appreciate any comment. Thank you.

    I have tried many thinks

    Test.dwg

  • Sakko
    Sakko

    <

    div>Hi Oli,

    I think to have found the reason and solution for your problem !
    You must explicit configure the "Shaded viewport options" in the PRINT dialog box
    and choose   2dWireframe , then it works ! (you can of course try other options...).


    For some reason Bricscad rasterizes otherwises  "something" and writes out a PLT file, which
    contains rasterized elements and not the vector ones. I have descovered it by trying to view the produced file
    using a PLT viewer....so i describe the steps :

    1. Your file in Bricscad :

    <img alt="" src="data:image/png;base64,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

  • Sakko
    Sakko
    OOps !
    Some Screenshots are lost ..??


    imagethe-Converted PLT to DXF imported in Bricscad.jpg
    imageThe plotted PLT in HPGL2 Viewer.jpg
    imageYour-Test-DWG.jpg
  • Oli Jock
    Oli Jock

    Hi Konstantin,

    thank you for your answer.

    You are right. I tested on my Bricscad V11 but also on a Bricscad V13 the different shademodes in layout space and in model space. It seems that Bricscad can't write proper plt files with hpgl vector information if the shademode hide is selected. In Bricscad V13 we have the old 2D hide shademode but also the 3D hide shademode. Both shademodes can't write a correct plt file. This is not good, because the hiding of objects produces different outputs compared to only wireframe.

    Certainly I  should contact the Bricscad support to ask if they have a solution. Or do you have any suggestion to me ?

    Again thank you very much for your help.

    Regards

    Oli

    All other shademodes

    A proper plt file with hpgl vector information is written in 2D wireframe and 3d wireframe. I tested all the different shademodes and remarqued that

  • Sakko
    Sakko
    Hi Oli,

    you mentioned above that you "...need solids in your drawings in order to convert them to simple lines..."
    Could you please try to structure your problem ?

    1. Do you mean Solids 2D(the old 2D objects..), 3D or both ?
    2. Are you trying to create HPGL2 >> DXF files as a method  to convert Solids (2D ??) to lines ?
    3. What are you trying to achieve by hiding objects ? Possibly to obtain different views of them or again
        some sort of "flattening" meaning a 2D wireframe view of them ?

    In any case do you have to go through HPGL >>> DXF conversion or this is your usual way to achieve what you want to do ?
    If NOT, it might exist another way to accomplish what you want, but what is this ?

    Regards
    Konstantin
  • Oli Jock
    Oli Jock

    Hi Konstantin,

    here my answers to your questions.

    1. I mean the old 2D solid object. I am using in my models the property height of 2D solid objects, but also the property elevation and height for other 2D objects. This was and is very useful for me, because you can get a view with hidden lines, which is some kind of object projection into 2D space.

    2. I am using the HPG2>> DXF file functionality to convert the 2D solids to simple lines. I found no other solution to "crack" the solids. If you know another way to crack solids etc, I am interested in. As result I receive a file with simple lines, where former objects which are behind other objects are no more visible.

    3. By hiding objects I achieve automatically correct views of objects as if I would look on the real object. All this projected into 2D space. As you wrote some sort of "flattening" comparable to 2D wireframe, but with the advantage that objects which are laying behind other objects are no more visible.

    I think I have to go through HPGL >>> DXF conversion, but I am also interested in your another way. Perhaps your way could be useful for me.

    Regards

    Oli

  • Sakko
    Sakko
    Hi Oli,

    to my surprise, there is an alternative to get flattened hidden views in Bricscad (...to "crack" the solids " in your words) !
    The file contains 2 Solids3d (yellow), 1 Region (red), 2 solids ( 2d-oldies green + cyan)
    The production line is:
    Export to SVG (file>export>svg, hidden)  >> import SVG into InkScape >>  export to WMF  >> import WMF into Bricscad (file>import>wmf)
    DONE!
    During the exporting into SVG make sure that:
    1.    the view in Bricscad is hidden (click on the "hidden" rendering image button )
    2.    The export configuration option (file>export options>svg) is set to  "SVG hidden line removing = YES"

    The InkScape program you can get free at    http://inkscape.org/download/
    Below you find the screenshots and the files produced

    Regards
    konstantin





    imageExport-WMF.jpg

    DWG-hidden.dwgDWG-from-WMF.dwg

    imageHidden View in Bricscad.jpg
    imageFlattened in Bricscad after WMF import.jpg
    imageSVG-Options.jpg
  • Oli Jock
    Oli Jock

    Hi Konstantin,

    your alternative solution (SVG >> WMF >> DWG) looks good. There are only some lines which are bit longer as they should, but nothing severe. Nearly 100% of the lines are ok. Your solution is really great in my opinion.

    Some time ago I tried to find an alternative to the HPGL >> DXF way, but couldn't achieve it. At that time I also tried SVG.

    In the moment I am using Bricscad V11. With Bricscad V11 a  import of WMF files seems not to be possible (there is no import WMF into Bricscad. I tried also in Bricscad "Tools" >> "Show snapshot" without success). I think I have to upgrade to Briscad V13.

    With Bricscad V13 this is possible and the result is good. Also I had an old inkscape installed (Version "Inkscape-0.47-3.exe" and "inkscape_r11552-201207162229.7z"). With these old version I couldn't convert from SVG to WMF (I got errors). I downloaded the newest release from Inkscape "inkscape_r12217-201303171112.7z". This version correctly converts from SVG to WMF.

    Your alternative solution

    Export to SVG (file>export>svg, hidden)  >> import SVG into InkScape >>  export to WMF  >> import WMF into Bricscad (file>import>wmf)

    is really top !!!

    I had also contact to the Bricscad support team regarding the HPGL >>> DXF conversion problem. They answered me that hpgl vector information when plotting in shademode "hidden" is not on their agenda. I hope that in mid term they will implement this possibillity. AutocadLT can it.

    Thank you for your effort.

    Regards

    Oli

  • Sakko
    Sakko
    Hi Oli,

    the problems you describe have definitely to do with the WMF export functionality of InkScape.
    Similar problems do not show if i use Adobe Illustrator CS4 to import SVG and Export WMF or directly DWG.
    SVG is "...Adobe..."
    So if you have a copy of Adobe Illustrator around then you are done !
    According to my tests you can then export perspectives of just about "everything" hidden flattened for further illustration.
    So i am glad that all these functioned and helped!

    Regards
    Konstantin

  • Geraldo Brodbeck
    Geraldo Brodbeck
    Hi Konstantin

    The exported SVG file is in xml format and can be read programatically avoid using another program to convert.
    This is the ideal solution for me. 
    Thanks a lot!

    Geraldo Brodbeck
  • Oli Jock
    Oli Jock

    Hi Geraldo,

    can you explain it to me what you mean.

    I suppose you mean producing the SVG file manually with Bricscad. What are you doing with the SVG file? I think you mean to use a program library (API) in a certain programming language which can make the conversion from SVG >> WMF and perhaps further to dxf. Do you mean the programming interface from Inkscape or can I do it completely with program code (Lisp, VBA or something else) inside Bricscad ?

    Regards

    Oli

  • Sakko
    Sakko
    Hi Geraldo,

    would be interested to see your programs in C# or Lisp , that read an SVG file into Bricscad ????

    Regards
    Konstantin

  • Geraldo Brodbeck
    Geraldo Brodbeck
    Hi Konstantin,

    These programas doesn't exist yet. But I'll show you as soon as I write them.

    I use C++ and Lisp, but I've not decided which will be used to read the svg file.

    Regards,
    Geraldo Brodbeck
  • Sakko
    Sakko
    ok Geraldo,

    ...fine thanks...don't forget me when you have the programs in place !
    and translate your webpage in english so that everyone can read it !

    Regards
    Konstantin
  • Geraldo Brodbeck
    Geraldo Brodbeck
    Hi Oli,

    I generate the SVG file from a dwg with polyfaces and the result was very good.
    Just for test, this is what you can do:
    1. Open the SVG file with a text editor.
    2. Removed every line that doesn't begin with ' 3. Replace this text with 'LINE ' and remove the text '" />' at end of lines.
    4. Save the file with SCR extension.
    5. Run the script in Bricscad.

    See the attached files.

    Obviously, I will write some code in Lisp or C++ to read the SVG file and generate LINES directly inside Bricscad.
    To generate the SVG file, I will turn off the FILEDIA and use Lisp (command "_.EXPORT" ...).

    If you are interested in this code, I should provide it when it's done.

    Geraldo Brodbeck

    AdelmarAguzzoli-Peitoril.scrAdelmarAguzzoli-Peitoril.svg

  • Geraldo Brodbeck
    Geraldo Brodbeck
    Hi Oli,
    Some text was removed from my previous post, because this forum editor. I send the instructions in a text file attached.
    Geraldo Brodbeck

    SVG2SCR-Instructions.txt

  • Oli Jock
    Oli Jock

    Hi Geraldo,

    thank you for your information. I will try it. If you have in the future some more informations regarding this topic I am interested in.

    Regards

    Oli

This discussion has been closed.