Plotting Issues

[Cscutch]

Strange situation here.

A single user is having trouble plotting Tiff files.

Hardware:
Plotter: HP 1050
Workstation: Custom Build, Windows XP (We would like to replace the machine but the user likes it and wants us to try everything possible before that.)

Problem Summary:

The user is having trouble plotting tiff files from is graphic program (Spicer 6.2) to the above mentioned HP 1050. He can print tiffs to the Xerox 9300 or Ricoh copier without any problems. Using AutoCad 2004 he can successfully plot his drawings to the HP 1050.

When he prints I can watch the print queue on the server and it will recieve the request and spool the document and then send it to the plotter where nothing will hapen, it just disapears.

No other user is having the same issue.

Troubleshooting already attempted:

- Restart Computer
- Restart Plotter
- Reinstall plotter queue and drivers
- Different graphics application
- Restart print spooler
- Can't uninstall Spicer 6.2 has it has a known problem with the uninstall function. (Hence why we want to replace his machine with different software.)

I know this is a strange problem any help would be appreciated.

Chris

 

[kranky]

When you say you tried a different graphics application, do you mean you had the same plotting trouble using something other than Spicer?

Sounds to me like the plotter doesn't recognize the file format of the plot file and is discarding it. That would lead me to think that there's an incompatibility between Spicer's output and the plotter driver.

One thing I didn't see tried is using a different app to print a tiff file to the plotter. I think you can attach a tiff file to a DWG in AutoCAD. Try that and see if it plots. If that works, I would conclude Spicer's output isn't compatible with the plotter driver.

 

[Cscutch]

I tried a different application on this workstation, just to try and rule out spicer but the same problem exisits.

The plotter supports Tiff, and this setup use to work on this machine up to a few days ago. As well as a similar setup on a co-workers machine still does work.

Chris

 

[kranky]

Well, that's interesting.

So let's recap.

- Using Spicer to send tiff files to the 1050 works on some PCs but not this particular one. But it used to work everywhere.
- You already removed and reinstalled the printer on the problem PC.
- You can't uninstall/reinstall Spicer on the problem PC.
- Plots that fail simply disappear after being sent.

Did you check the error log on the machine to see if there are any entries related to the print failure?

 

[Cscutch]

Everything you have recapped is right.

No Errors in logs on individual machine or print server.

- I can even watch the print queue on the print server watch the server recieve the request, spool and then send to the plotter.
- He can print Tiffs using spicer to two different printers.
- He can even plot dwg drawings using ACAD, just can't plot tiffs using any applications.

This is one of strangest problems I have ever faced. I think we have finally convised him that he needs a new machine. I am going to continue working on this in my free time as it bugs me when I can't find a solution to a problem or at least a cause.

Chris

 

[kranky]

If the job simply disappears when it reaches the plotter, then I have to think the plotter doesn't understand what is being sent. But if it used to work, why doesn't it work now?

If it was Spicer, then it should have never worked. But it used to.

If it was the print driver, then it shouldn't work for anyone. But it does work for some people.

Based on what you've already tried, I just have a gut feeling it must be Spicer, and something it is doing when printing tiff files. But I can't explain why it used to work and why it works for other people.

Odds are good that a new machine will fix it. Sometimes you just have to throw in the towel and accept the answer might not be knowable.

 

[BadThad]

Hi kranky!

 

[kranky]

Hey, BadThad, my first Heatware reference!