CALCOMP
- Last UpdatedNov 24, 2025
- 4 minute read
Models
This driver produces code for the Calcomp 1040 series plotters using 906/907 plotter code. This data format is acceptable to most Calcomp plotters.
The Calcomp 1040 series plotters are drum plotters with either cut sheet or roll feed options, which can take media up to A0 size.
Description
The Calcomp device code produced by the driver is based on the use of simple positioning, drawing, and pen selection commands. It can select from up to eight pens.
Output
The output from this driver is device code that is sent directly to the Calcomp plotter. The data is encoded and is unintelligible. The device protocol means that the code is organized to include synchronising sequences and checksums. Transmission is synchronised by waiting for a plotter response after each message.
The coded format for each data record is as follows:
Files output by this driver are ASCII coded and record structured. Their content comprises all the data shown above, except for the request for plotter response and its reply.
Options
The CALCOMP driver allows you to use options to control all low-level detail of the plotter code format (as shown in the preceding table). You can specify these options either directly, as PLOT command line arguments (see Running PLOT), or indirectly, as parameters in a soft driver definition.
The syntax for using each option is as follows (individual options must be separated by commas):
|
[Key: |
int = an integer; val = a real number; Y/N = Yes or No] |
|---|---|
|
BUffer int |
Sets device to use int data buffers (int must be 2 or 16). Default: BU 16 |
|
CHecksum Y/N |
Specifies whether or not checksum is enabled. Default: CH YEOm intSets the end-of-message character to int (int must be in the range 0-127). Default: EO 3 |
|
HEader Y/N |
Specifies whether or not a search address is to be included in the output header. Default: HE Y |
|
LIne int |
Sets the line length of the output data field to int characters (int must be in the range 80-125). Default: LI 119 |
|
NL Y/N |
Specifies that a newline code is to be output between lines. Default: NL Y |
|
PAd int |
Sets the number of padding characters to be used before SYNC and after EOM to int characters (int must be in the range 0-10). Default: PA 10 |
|
RAdix int |
Sets the number conversion radix to int (int must be 64 or 95). Default: RA 95 |
|
RESponse Y/N |
Specifies whether or not a plotter response is expected by the driver for output flow control. Default: RES Y |
|
SCale int |
Sets the plotter scaling factor to int. You can use this option with STEPS to compress and expand the data to reduce the size (and accuracy) of the device code. Default: SC 1 |
|
STeps val |
Sets the number of plotter steps per mm (that means, the plotter resolution) to val. Default: ST 80.0 |
|
SYnc int1 int2 |
Sets the number of Synch characters to int1 and the Sync character itself to the control character represented by int2 (int1 must be 1 or 2; int2 must be in the range 0-31) Default: SY 1 2 |
|
WAit Y/N |
Specifies whether or not the plotter is switched off-line between plots. Default: WA Y |
|
WIndon val |
Sets the distance to be left blank between adjacent plots to val mm. Default: WI 20.0 |
The defaults specified in the standard CALCOMP driver are equivalent to the following options string:
"BU 16,CH Y,EO 3,HE Y,LI 119,NL Y,PA 10,PE Y,\
RA 95,RES Y,SC 1,ST 80,SY 1 2,WA Y,WI 20"
As an example, to remove the preamble and postamble padding characters, and to select no response control of the output flow, you would either enter a command line such as:
plot calcomp pdms.plot pdms.code "PA 0,RE N"
Alternatively, you could create the equivalent soft driver to do this.
For example:
calcompx|calcomp|PA 0,RE N
The new soft driver can then be used with the command:
plot calcompx pdms.plot pdms.code
Note: PLOT includes an alternative version of the CALCOMP driver known as the CALCOMP64 driver. The latter version has the following option defaults, almost all of which differ from those of the standard CALCOMP driver:
"BU 2,CH Y,EO 13,HE N,LI 125,NL Y,PA 0,PE N,RA
64,RES N,\SC 0,ST 40,SY 2 22,WA N,WI 20"
You may use the CALCOMP64 driver as the basis for your option settings if it is closer to your desired final specification.
Example
|
plot calcomp view.pl ‑1 |
|
plot calcomp64 view.pl ‑1 |
|
plot calcomp view.pl ‑1 "HE N,LI 110,PE N,WI 25" |