HPGL2
- Last UpdatedOct 27, 2023
- 2 minute read
This driver supports HP-GL/2, which is the standardized version of the Hewlett-Packard Graphical language. This attempts to provide a consistent functionality between plotters and caters for pen, monochrome and colour electrostatic and other devices. The code is compact, especially for vectors that have a special encoding scheme. HP-GL/2 is a binary format.
Although HPGL and HP-GL/2 are related, HP-GL/2 is not a strict superset of HPGL. It is best for most purposes to regard them as being entirely different.
HP-GL/2 is often available in Dual-Context plotters that also have Hewlett-Packard's PCL. The HP-GL/2 behaves differently under these conditions and a driver option for PCL is necessary to ensure correct behavior.
Options
These options enable you to control the output of this driver. You can specify these options either directly, as PLOT command line arguments (see Running PLOT), or indirectly, as parameters in soft driver definition (see Creating your Own Device Drivers).
The syntax for using each option is as follows (individual options must be separated by commas).
[Key: Y/N = Yes or No; x y coordinates in mm and other values; n and pen are integers.]
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COpies n |
Print n copies of each drawing in the plot file. Default: COPIES 1 |
|---|---|
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FF Y/N |
Specifies whether the formfeed character is output at the end of the HP-GL/2 file. This is a communication character was required previously for direct operation of the plotter but may need to be omitted when a print spooler is being used. Default: FF Y |
|
ECutter Y/N |
Enables the automatic cutter that operates after each plot is completed. Default: ECUTTER N |
|
HIgh |
If selected the driver outputs higher level graphical primitives such as arcs, circles, and line styles. Default: HIGH is not selected. |
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MAp |
Derives the size of the plot from the plot file. |
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MAp x y w h |
Defines the position and size of the plot on the paper. The default is to use the plot given in the plot file. Default: MAP |
|
PCL Y/N |
Specifies that the plotter is operating HP-GL/2 with PCL in a dual context. Default: PCL Y |
|
PWidth w1 [w2] |
Specifies the widths of the thin and thick lines in mm. The thinnest line width possible is selected by specifying it as zero. Default: PWIDTH 0.0 0.35 |
|
QUality n |
Sets the percentage quality level required from the plotter. Where this is available the plotter will trade quality for speed or reduced toner usage. Default: QUALITY 100 |
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RGb pen r g b |
Selects colour mode and defines the red/green/blue colour mix for the specified logical pen number (pen must be in the range 0-256). The colour values are in the range 0 to 1. Default: Monochrome |
|
ROtate n |
Rotate the plot by 0, 90, 180, 270 degrees counter-clockwise about the plotter coordinate system origin. Default: ROTATE 0 |
The defaults specified in the standard HP-GL/2 driver are equivalent to the following options string:
"CO 1,EC N,MAP,PCL Y,PW 0.0 0.35,QU 100,RO 0"
Example
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plot hpgl2 view.pl plot1.plt |
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plot hpgl2 view.pl plot1.plt "COPIES 3,ROTATE 90" |