Copyright: Copyright © Micrografx, Inc., 1994


Using Help
Using On-line Help

On-line help messages provide detailed information about commands and dialog boxes.

Accessing On-line Help

You can access help one of two ways. The first way involves pressing F1. When you press F1, you receive a help message specific to the command or dialog box choose or open.

The second way involves using the Help menu. The Help menu lets you see an index of topics.

Jump Terms

Some help messages contain underlined words and phrases called "jump" terms. A jump term takes you to a related message for that term. Jump terms let you move throughout the help system without returning to the Help menu.

Printing Help

You can print a help message using the Print Topic command in the File menu of the Help window.

To print a help message:

·	Choose the Print Topic command in the File menu.

Closing Help

You can close help and return to the dialog box in one of three ways.

·	Double click the Control menu box in the Help window.

·	Choose the Exit command in the File menu of the Help window.

·	Choose the Close command in the Control menu of the Help window.

Micrografx Help

Designed, written, and produced by Shannon L. Bridges.


Editing session

An editing session begins when a Micrografx application is started, and ends when the application is closed.


HPGL Translator Help Topics
PLT (HPGL) Translator Help Topics

Importing a PLT (HPGL) File

Exporting to PLT (HPGL)

HPGL Export Setup Dialog Box

Compatibility

Error Messages and Solutions

INI File Settings

Limitations of the HPGL Format

Export Translation Messages


Importing an PLT File
Importing a PLT File

To import a PLT (HPGL) file:

1.	Open the File menu and choose Import. The Import dialog box opens.

2.	Click the down arrow in the List Files of Type list box.

3.	Choose PLT - Hewlett Packard Graphics Language.

4.	Change to the drive and directory you want.

5.	Highlight the name of the file you want to import.

6.	Click Import. The dialog box closes and the imported file appears in the drawing area.

Related Topics

Compatibility

Limitations of the HPGL Format

Error Messages and Solutions

INI File Settings

Export Translation Messages


HPGL Export Setup Dialog Box

The HPGL Export Setup dialog box opens when you choose the Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language option in the Export dialog box, then choose Setup.

Preset Pen Maps List Box

There are predefined color maps for AutoCAD, Hewlett Packard, and previous default pen color selections. Choosing one of these maps will set the color for all eight pens.

Pen Colors 1 through 8

You may assign the color of each pen by clicking on the pen's list box and clicking on the color you want for that pen.

Curve Quality

HPGL does not support complex curves. These are instead simulated as many small straight polyline segments. The Curve Quality Index lets you specify how smoothly you wish to simulate curves in HPGL, 1 being the roughest and 10 the smoothest. However, the higher the curve quality index, the more memory and disk space are required for the translation.

Carriage Returns

If this option is selected the translator will place a Carriage Return-Line Feed sequence at the end of each HPGL command. This helps to make the resulting HPGL file more legible. If this option is not selected the translation will require less disk space.

Line Terminators

If this option is selected the translator will place a semi-colon at the end of each HPGL command. Some HPGL input translators may require these terminators in order to work correctly. If this option is not selected the translation will require less disk space.

Enable Polygon Mode

If this option is selected the translator will place HPGL polygon and fill information in the HPGL file it creates. Some HPGL import translators may not support this information correctly so you may need to turn off this option.

Export Text as Curves Option

This option lets you select whether you wish text to be exported as text, or simulated by first converting the text to curves before it is exported. Text that is exported as text will lose special attributes such as line fills, and might map to a different font than the one selected. However, such text can still be edited. Text that is exported as curves will retain the same appearance, but will not be able to be edited as text in the target application. Only text that uses scalable fonts has the ability to be converted to curves.

Export Gradients Option

This option lets you select whether you wish gradient fills to be exported using a solid color, or simulated by converting the gradient to many solid-filled polygons before it is exported. Exporting a gradient fill as a solid color saves disk space. Exporting a simulated gradient retains the same appearance, but uses more disk space.

OK Button

The OK button closes the HPGL Export Setup dialog box and saves the configuration settings for use with all following translations.

Cancel Button

The Cancel button closes the HPGL Export Setup dialog box without saving any changes to the configuration settings.

Reset Button

The Reset button resets all configuration options to the state they were in at the beginning of the configuration session.

Help Button

The Help button opens the HPGL help file.

Related Topics

Procedure information

Compatibility

Limitations of the HPGL Format

Error Messages and Solutions

INI File Settings

Export Translation Messages


Exporting an HPGL File

To export an HPGL file:

1.	Choose the HPGL pen colors you want.

2.	Choose the desired curve quality.

3.	Choose the HPGL command terminators required.

4.	Choose the HPGL polygon mode required.

5.	Choose to export text as curves, if you want.

6.	Choose to export gradients, if you want.

7.	Click OK.

Related Topics

Dialog Box information

Compatibility

Limitations of the HPGL Format

Error Messages and Solutions

INI File Settings

Export Translation Messages


Limitations of the HPGL Format

Color Mapping

The limited number of pens available in the HPGL format may force the generating application to map several colors to one HPGL pen. Therefore the colors may differ from those in the original application.

Drawing Entity Editability

Many applications that generate HPGL files may export complex, curved or text entities as many very small straight line segments. Based on the order they are received, the import translator finds the most efficient way to group these entities as one complex entity. In some cases, imported entities may seem to have been broken into multiple pieces.

Scale Factor

In HPGL files the distance is often defined in plotter units and not in the units used in the original application. Since the original application scale is not kept in the HPGL file it may be necessary to resize the image once imported.

Gradient Simulation

The Export Gradients option in the HPGL Export Setup dialog box lets you choose how gradients are translated to the file.

Related Topics

Compatibility

Error Messages and Solutions

INI File Settings

Export Translation Messages


HPGL Compatibility

Adaptive Line Styles

HPGL supports adaptive line styles. This means that the length of the line pattern ( the distance between dots and dashes) can vary according to the length of the line segment. On import these will be mapped to the nearest corresponding Micrografx line style.

User Defined Fills

HPGL allows users to define their own fill types. On import these will be mapped to the nearest corresponding Micrografx fill style.

Related Topics

Error Messages and Solutions

INI File Settings

Limitations of the HPGL Format

Export Translation Messages


HPGL Translation Messages
HPGL Export Translation Messages

Warning and error messages are collected in the message log file, MGXXLATE.LOG, located in your Windows directory. The message log file is emptied at the beginning of an editing session, and then accumulates messages for all translations that take place during that session. If a drawing fails to translate correctly, read the MGXXLATE.LOG file to find out what caused the problem. Correct the problem and translate again.

Warnings

Most translation problems that occur are minor, and do not require any attention. Warnings provide information about unexpected or unsupported data or commands that were ignored during translation.

Errors

An error is a problem that is severe enough to halt the translation. No further translation will be attempted; however, objects that have already been translated will be retained. A message describing the problem will appear on the screen.

Related Topics

Compatibility

Error Messages and Solutions

INI File Settings

Limitations of the HPGL Format


INI File Settings

Export

The PLT export translator stores configuration information in a file named MGX.INI in your Windows directory. All export options are automatically configured in the export setup dialog. The HPGL translator has its own section where its options are stored. To reset the HPGL translator to its "factory settings," delete the section marked [HPGL].

You can enter a setting for pen speed in the HPGL section of the MGX.INI.

PenSpeed=x

X is the pen speed in 1/10 cm/sec. A value of 1 results in a pen speed of 1/10 cm/sec., and a value of 360 results in a pen speed of 36 cm/sec.

Related Topics

Compatibility

Error Messages and Solutions

Limitations of the HPGL Format

Export Translation Messages

Import Considerations


Import Considerations

Polyline Encoding is not supported.

Color Table commands are not supported.

A SCALE command maps all objects affected by it to the viewport. Image extent considers only

the SCALE command, not the individual objects affected by it.

User defined characters are not supported.

Related Topics

Importing a PLT File

HPGL Compatibility

INI File Settings


Error Messages and Solutions

Error Message: Unable to allocate memory handle.

Solution: You need to free more memory handles for the HPGL translator to use. Simply close any applications that you can and try the translation again.

Related Topics

Compatibility

INI File Settings

Limitations of the HPGL Format

Export Translation Messages