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Symbol Graphics
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I am getting a message: Not ready reading drive ...
I am getting a message: Input name for file #3
In the graphic selection screen I cannot see all of my graphics stored in this folder
We will be glad to answer any of your technical questions online. Please e-mail us regarding any problems at
symbolsgi@aol.comPlease 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.
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.
.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
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.
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.)
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.
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
Letter-Art supports most plotters even though the manufacturer may not provide Windows drivers. Windows requires some way to know that there is a device associated with a port. Letter-Art provides the following solution for all plotters:
1. If a USB driver is supplied with your plotter, after installation, it may show up as a printer in your Windows Printers and Faxes. Rename this driver PLOT1.If the USB installation only establishes a port such as COM4, go to step 3 below and select this port to work with the Generic Text Only Driver.
2. For Ioline plotters. Your plotter serial number ISMMYYWWNN has the letters IS followed by 2 digits each for the Model, Year, Week and Count.
- If the year is 06 and prior, install the "Generic/Text Only" driver with a serial cable (see step 3 below).
- For year 07, the USB driver (and cable) will install as a COM port (usually COM3 or COM4), which must then be selected as the port to use with the Generic Text Only driver (see step 3 below).
- Beginning with year 08, install the USB driver and also install the Spooler module CDM_2.02.04.exe from the Ioline CD. This will add a new printer icon to your Printers and Faxes called IOLINE DEVICE. Rename this icon PLOT1 to complete your installation.
3. Install "Generic / Text only" printer driver that is supported by Windows. Select Add Printer from the Control Panel | Printers folder. Select local and choose Manufacturer "Generic". From the printers list choose the "Generic / Text only". Then select the port (network names are allowed).for your plotter and chose Next. Change the "Printer Name" to "PLOT1" or "PLOT2" (5 keystrokes only - no spaces or other spelling allowed), corresponding to "Plotter-1" or "Plotter-2" in Letter-Art. Do not select this "printer" as default if not necessary and do not output a test page.
4. If you open the Control Panel | Printers folder, you will find a new printer icon, named "PLOT1" or "PLOT2". Select the icon and check the "Spool Settings" in the File | Properties menu, Details tab. Click on "Spool Settings" button. SPOOLING must be selected ON to START OUTPUT AFTER THE FIRST PAGE with RAW data.
If a serial port plotter is connected, select the correct COM port and use the Port Settings menu for Bits per second = 9600; 8 data bits; parity none; 1 stop bit and Hardware (NOT Xon/Xoff) flow control.
The driver that you have selected will now appear in your printer list for any Windows application. Remember that this channel is really your plotter. By establishing that a port has a driver, Letter-Art can then send data to the spooler.
When a driver and a port are established, Letter-Art will send to the device via the Windows spooler without driver interpretation. Letter-Art uses the Spool program so that the plotter output, like printer output can operate in the background. Both plotters and your printer can be operated simultaneously.
In the Output | Configuration menu for Letter-Art Plotter-1 and Plotter-2 devices, if you need to output to DISK, no changes in the "PLOT1" or "PLOT2" driver settings are necessary. Just select the "Disk" option.
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.