Troubleshooting Guide

This section contains information on common plotting problems. You should also refer to the Plot Utility Overview.

Why doesn't my plot fit onto my chosen page size?
Why am I missing parts of my plot?
How do I create a plot larger than A0?
How do I create a custom form?
How do I print multiple plots using the same printer and page specifications?
How do I set the default printer for the Plot Utility?
How do I get the Plot Utility to start with the correct printer and page size and orientation?
Why are all my patterned-filled polygons plotted solid black?
Why can't I print large or complex plots?
How do I pan the plot when I have zoomed in?
Why do my WYSIWYG plots contain corrupt rectangles where other windows overlap the graphics window?

Why doesn't my plot fit onto my chosen page size?

Since Vulcan uses Windows printing methods, you may not be able to use drafting sheets created in Version 3.5x without adjustment.

Sending the Plot to a Printer

If your plot doesn't fit onto your chosen page size when you're sending the plot to a printer, then you will need to alter the drafting sheet to ensure that the external box fits in the printable area of the page.

To do this:

Find the print margins for the printer.
1. Open an existing plot in the Plot Utility.
2. Use the Printer Control toolbar to specify the printer, page size and page orientation.
3. Use the Vulcan Plot File Properties button (on the Plot Utility Application toolbar) to access the Properties panel.
4. Record the Print Area Width and Print Area Height of the printer. You can also use the File > Plot > Plot All option to determine the size of printer margins.
  - Select the Plot All option (under the File > Plot submenu) or the Plot All button (on the Standard toolbar).
  - Choose to use a Default Template.
  - Select Next.
  - Select the printer whose margins you want to determine from the Destination Printer drop-down list. The margins for this printer displays in the Margin section of the panel. These margins are for the default page size of the printer. The margins may differ slightly if you choose to use a different page size than the default.
    Refer to How do I get the Plot Utility to start with the correct printer and page size and orientation for information on selecting the default page size for a printer.
Create a new drafting sheet (or edit the existing drafting sheet) with an external box the same dimensions as the printable area.
Through Vulcan:
1. Select the New option (under the File > Drafting Sheets submenu).
2. Enter a name and description for the drafting sheet. You may like to include the name of the printer, the page size and orientation in the name and/or description.
3. Click OK.
4. Select External option (under the File > Drafting Sheets submenu).
5. Select the Two Points option on the External box dimensions panel.
6. Click OK.
7. Select the Keyboard Entry button on the Digitise toolbar.
8. Enter the Print Area Width as the X coordinate, and the Print Area Height as the Y coordinate.
9. Click Create Point.
10. Specify the thickness of the external box border on the plot.
11. Click OK.
12. Select Accept EXTERNAL box option.
13. Create the rest of the drafting sheet using the options under the Drafting Sheets submenu. Refer to the File > Plot Templates > Plot Drafting Sheets section for more information.

Sending the Plot to a Plotter

If your plot doesn't fit onto your chosen page size when your sending the plot to a plotter, then select a larger paper size than the plot. Your plotter will then produce a plot, such that the external box will be the correct paper size.

As the majority of plotters have paper saving mechanisms, the plotter will only use the amount of paper required to render the plot. That is, the sheet size (i.e. A4) plus small margins either side. You can use your plotter in this manner to plot multiple plots (using the Batch Print or Print All options, which will be nested thus saving paper, and then use the external box as a cutting guide to produce the correct sized plots. If you try to plot to the same paper size as the drafting sheet, then the plotter margins will interfere and sections of your plot will be ignored.

Or if your plotter has an 'expanded' margin setting in the hardware menu and/or the driver, then use it to specify Smaller margins.

HP DesignJet drivers have an Oversize option on the More Sizes selection list. This allows you to produce a full-size standard plot on oversize paper. The minimum size of the oversize paper is the paper size plus the printer margins. If you choose this option and then print to a normal size paper, parts of your plot will be missing.

Why am I missing bits of my plot?

If you're missing parts of your plot along the left and top edges or the bottom and right edges, it might because of the plot origin and page settings.

If the missing parts are along the left and top edges, then try aligning the plot origin with the printable area origin of the page. This is done by selecting the Adjust plot to page origin button (on the Plot Utility Application toolbar).

If the missing parts are along the bottom and right edges, then try aligning the plot origin with the page origin. This is done by selecting the Adjust page to plot origin button (on the Plot Utility Application toolbar).

If your plot is still missing bits, then it may be too large for the chosen page size. Refer to Why doesn't my plot fit onto my chosen page size?

How do I create a plot larger than A0?

To create a plot larger than A0, you need to create a custom form.

Note Some drivers such as the HP DesignJet allow the creation of custom sheets without creating forms.

Select Printer and Faxes (via Start > Control Panel).
Select the Server Properties option (under the File menu).
Under the Forms tab, select the Create a New Form check box.
Enter the settings for the new form.

The new form will appear in the Page drop-down list (on the Printer Control toolbar).

As custom forms are stored on the computer on which they were created, to use this form on a shared printer, then create the form on the print server. You may need to have administrative privileges to create a form on the print server.

Refer to the Help and Support section of the official Microsoft website for more information about creating custom forms and possible problems.

How do I print multiple plots using the same printer and page specifications?

Use the Batch Print option to print multiple plots using the same printer and page specifications.

Select the Batch Print option.
Select the plots to print.
Specify the printer, page size and orientation.
Click OK.

How do I set the default printer for the Plot Utility?

The default printer for the Plot Utility is specified through the Plot Utility section of the Tools > Preferences option.

Select the Preferences option.
Under the Plot Utility section, select the Use Default printer check box.
Select the default printer from the drop-down list.
Click OK.

How do I get the Plot Utility to start with the correct printer and page size and orientation?

To control which printer the Plot Utility selects, specify a default printer through the Plot Utility preferences. Refer to How do I set the default printer for the Plot Utility for more information.

Once the default printer has been specified, you can then specify the default printer settings.

Select Printer and Faxes (via Start > Control Panel).
Right-click on the applicable printer and select Printing Preferences from the displayed context menu.
Select the default orientation (Portrait or Landscape).
Select the Advanced button.
Select the default paper size.
Click OK.
Click Apply.
Click OK.

Why are all my patterned-filled polygons plotted solid black?

This is a known bug in the HP DesignJet driver (4.61) and is only applicable to HP DesignJet plotters. To solve this problem, revert to a previous driver version or update to the latest version.

Refer to the Support and Drivers section of the official Hewlett-Packard website for more information on drivers.

Why can't I print large or complex plots?

If you experience problems when printing large or complex plots then ensure that your system drive has at least 800 MB of free space.

You might also find it helpful to disable print spooling.

Select Printer and Faxes (via Start > Control Panel).
Right-click on the applicable printer and select Properties from the displayed context menu.
Under the Advanced tab, select the Print directly to printer option.

Note: If complex print jobs experience timeout problems, only a portion of the plot will be correctly printed and the device will request more media. To solve this problem, increase the IN JOB TIMEOUT setting (from the plotter's front panel) to IO MENU.

How do I pan the plot when I have zoomed in?

You can use the arrow keys or the middle mouse button to move about the plot when you have zoomed into it.

Why do my WYSIWYG plots contain corrupt rectangles where other windows overlap the graphics window?

This problem is due to graphics driver issues. The Use software rendering for single frame and WYSIWYG capturing preference may overcome this problem, or you could try upgrading/ retrograding your graphics drivers.

Refer to the Graphics : Video Capture section of the Tools > Preferences option for more information on the Use software rendering for single frame and WYSIWYG capturing preference.