Topic: Test for Available Plotter

[Ken Alexander]

I need to check for available plotters.  The problem is, what if a plotter is set up but a network connection is unplugged or not available.

I am using vlisp to test for plotters available and to test which, if any, plotters are set up in model or other layouts.

What property or method do I look at to see if there is a good connection to a network?

Thanks for any help.

[LE]

I need to check for available plotters.  The problem is, what if a plotter is set up but a network connection is unplugged or not available.

I am using vlisp to test for plotters available and to test which, if any, plotters are set up in model or other layouts.

What property or method do I look at to see if there is a good connection to a network?

Thanks for any help.

I do not have code of my own about plotters.... but have you been at Jimmy B. www.jtbworld.com in the lisps section?

[LE]

http://www.jtbworld.com/lisp.htm

[Ken Alexander]

No.  I didn't look at this site prior.  After reviewing the various code in the link, unless I am missing something, the code provided in the examples will have the same problem.

The plotter may exist in the plot list but not available if a network connection is lost.

[Ken Alexander]

No.  I didn't look at this site prior.  After reviewing the various code in the link, unless I am missing something, the code provided in the examples will have the same problem.

The plotter may exist in the plot list but not available if a network connection is lost.

I should expand on this.....

The plotter does exist in the plot list but may not be available to plot to; this is my dilemma.

[Ken Alexander]

Here is my code so far:

(if plotlist
    (progn
      (setq playout (vla-get-layout
           (vla-get-modelspace
             (vla-get-activedocument
               (vlax-get-acad-object)
             )
           )
         )
       )
      (vla-RefreshPlotDeviceInfo playout)
      (setq plotters
        (mapcar 'strcase
           (vlax-safearray->list
             (vlax-variant-value
          (vla-GetPlotDeviceNames playout)))))
      (setq pconfig (strcase
            (vla-get-configname
         playout
            )
          )
      )
      (if (not (member pconfig plotters))
   (setq pconfig "NONE")
   )
   
      (initget "Yes, No")
      (setq ans
        (getkword "Do you wish to plot selected nest Yes/No? <Y> ")
      )
      (if (or (not ans) (= ans "Yes"))
   (progn
     (if (= pconfig "NONE")
       (progn
         (alert
      "No plotter has been set up for Model Space. \n
     Please right click on the Model Space Tab and Set up a plotter
     before using this function. "
         )
         (vla-endundomark
      (vla-get-activedocument (vlax-get-acad-object))
         )
         (command "._Undo" "1")
       )
       (progn
         (mapcar (function   (lambda   (x)
              (command "._-plot"
                  "Y"
                  ""
                  ""
                  ""
                  punit
                  ""
                  ""
                  "V"
                  x;(rtos x)
                  ""
                  "C"
                  ""
                  ""
                  ""
                  ""
                  ""
                  ""
                  ""
              )
            )
            )
            plotlist
         )
         (vla-endundomark
      (vla-get-activedocument (vlax-get-acad-object))
         )
         ;(command "._Undo" "1")
       )
     )
   )
   (vla-endundomark
     (vla-get-activedocument (vlax-get-acad-object))
   )
      )
    )
  )

[Kerry]

Ken,
Would the Simplest way be to wrap your plot command in an exception trap
.. or try (vl-cmdf  ? in place of command

I cant test it currently.

There may be a method in Windows Scripting to assert the printer connection, but thats a guess.

[Ken Alexander]

Hi Kerry,

vl-cmdf or vl-catch-all-apply do not provide the information to say, "Plotter exists, but plotter exists on a network connection that is disconnected. Connect or change plotters and re-run.".

This is of course IF I am doing something wrong (which is very possible).

Pulling my hair our on this one.

Thanks folks for your insight.

[Ken Alexander]

.....got to go to bed.  I'll look and try again in the morning.


Thanks to all for their input thus far.

[Sdoman]

Just an idea.  If you know the plotter IP address, then perhaps you could ping the plotter.  Maybe use the SHELL command to run PING, then save the result (somehow) in a DOS environment variable, return to AutoCAD and read that variable.
 

[Jeff_M]

Ken,
I don't have time right now to try this, but if you could convert THIS to vlisp I think it's what you need.

Jeff

[Ken Alexander]

Ken,
I don't have time right now to try this, but if you could convert THIS to vlisp I think it's what you need.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff,

I'll take a look at this tonight.

[Joe Burke]

Off topic, I'm new here and trying to fiind the lay of the land. Since this thread contains messages from a number of folks I know... (Luis, Jeff, Steve, Ken) well I'm just saying Hi.

Regards
Joe Burke

[LE]

Off topic, I'm new here and trying to fiind the lay of the land. Since this thread contains messages from a number of folks I know... (Luis, Jeff, Steve, Ken) well I'm just saying Hi.

Regards
Joe Burke

Welcome to The Swamp Joe.

 

[MP]

Welcome to the swamp Joe.

- Michael Puckett.