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Symbol Graphics
Technical Support
phone: (951) 736-4040 / fax: (951) 737-0652
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Technical Support Online
We will be glad to answer any of your technical questions online.
Please e-mail us regarding any problems at
symbolsgi@aol.com
DOS and Windows FAQ
-- How do I save .SYM files to floppy disks --
Please follow these steps:
1. Save the .SYM file on a floppy with ALL of the .GNT graphics included
in the sign.
2. On the receiving machine, copy the file and the graphics in the desired
directories from the floppy to the disk.
3. Set the default .GNT directory to the directory where you stored your
.GNT files.
4. Set the default font to a font from a directory that has all of the
fonts used in your sign.
To back up a .SYM file you need only the file itself to be stored on a
floppy disk. If you don't keep a backup copy of your .GNT graphics, then you will need to
add all the graphics included in the sign job.
-- Exporting files from Corel and Adobe Illustrator --
The file format we recommend is "Adobe Illustrator (.EPS)".
Be sure to have "Hair line" outline and "No fill" for every graphical
element you export. This is essential to get single line outline cut on the plotter.
-- Exporting files to Corel --
.PLT (plotter) files
.PLT files have only lines so make sure the file is big enough to capture
curves. Go into output to device and change to "disk" not plotter.
.DXF files
go into Output Configuration | Export. Check .DXF option
FAQ About the DOS version
-- I am getting a message "Not ready reading drive ..." --
1. If this message is about your floppy or CD drive, don't worry. You
have a path setting that points to a removable media (such as diskette or CD).
- If the error occurs when you start a function from Menu 1
"File" (such as Open, Save, Delete, Merge), simply place a disk in the drive
(any disk) and Retry. You will be able to change the path and continue.
- If the error occurs when you try to add a graphic to your sign (F4 or F5
in the text entry), the solution is the same as above.
- If it is during the Import process, when you try to save the .GNT, then
you have to change the default path settings (see below).
Changing your Default Paths: Start the program. From
Menu 1 "File" select the Delete function. The Type option lets you switch to any
file format that the program uses. Check all of them for paths pointing to a floppy or CD
driver and set them to the hard drive. When you are done, click on Cancel. Select Menu 2
"System" | Configuration. Click on the "Done" button, click inside the
drawing area and answer "Yes" on the question "Save system changes?"
2. If the message is regarding your hard drive, immediately exit all
programs and call your system consultant. This means there is an error reading the hard
drive. ScanDisk program can be of some help in this instance.
-- In the graphic selection screen I cannot see all of my graphics
stored in this folder --
The DOS version is limited to 200 entities in a list.
Use the "? Search" function to narrow the list. When you press
the [?] key, a prompt "......" appears. Type the first letter(s) of the name of
the graphic and press [Enter] (such as BET[Enter], all graphics beginning with the letters
BET will be in the list.)
-- Not all of my fonts are available for selection --
The DOS version is limited to 200 entities in a list. You may want to
separate fonts into more then one folder. Build the font table for every font folder. Be
sure to always add the font "SGI71102 - Helvetica Medium SGI" to a new font
folder.
-- How do I use a non HP scanner? --
8.0 Scanning (only takes HP scanner). If using another scanner: use the
scanner software to Scan and Save image as .TIF or .PCX - B & W (good quality, no gray
shades). Make sure to save to appropriate directory (wherever Letter-Art is
(SGI,Letter-Art)).
Go to Letter-Art Menu #2 (System)|Raster to Vector. Select input raster
file (a)
.DXF = file
.GDT = 8.0 GRAND editor
choose "type" and select .TIF (for example). Process
FAQ About the Windows version
-- Some files do not register correctly --
To prepare for REGCLEAN, we suggest that you uninstall Letter-Art
Version 9
My Computer | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs
and if necessary, uninstall multiple times to clear multiple attempts
to install. Secondary attempts to uninstall will give warnings that some files are not
being found because they were removed in the first uninstall. Allow (and help) the
procedure to complete.
REGCLEAN.EXE and REGOCX32.EXE files are on the floppy disk. From the
desktop, you should run the self extracting REGCLEAN file which will install the program
in your \Temp directory.
Start | Run | A:REGCLEAN
The \Temp directory is not the same for all computers. You will need to
find the \Temp directory to run the REGCLEAN program. From the desktop:
Start | Find | Files or Folders | REGCLEAN
The program shipped to you has file date 12/30/97. Be sure this is the
program you run.
Start | Run | C:\Temp\REGCLEAN
where \Temp is the correct TEMP directory.
The README.TXT file is printed out and attached. It explains what
happens when the program is run. The following notes are not applicable if REGCLEAN
finishes with no error messages. If REGCLEAN has problems with OLEAUT32 and a device not
correctly functioning, you need to run OADIST.EXE from the TEMP directory
Start | Run | C:\Temp\OADIST
where \Temp is the correct TEMP directory. Then re-run REGCLEAN.
After running REGCLEAN, install Letter-Art 9. The registry problem
should not occur and installation should proceed normally.