August 1994 REVISION 2.3 pSERVERplusTM Interactive Diskette Based Plotter Server User's Information Manual FAR MOUNTAIN CORPORATION Issaquah, WA 98027 (206)392-6541 . Copyright© Far Mountain Corporation 1994 August 1994 REVISION 2.3 ,_ pSERVERplusrM Interactive Diskette Based Plotter Server User's Information Manual FAR \10U~TAIN CORPORATION Issaquah. WA 98027 (206)392-6541 Copyngnt·.:: Far Mountain CorporatiOn 1994 pSERVERplus 1s a trademark of Far Mountain Corporation Copyngnt '3 1993 Far Mountain Ccroorat1on All Rights Reserved. pOISK is a trademark of Far Mountain Corporation Copynght © 1993 Far Mountain CorporatiOn All Rights Reserved. FAR MOUNTAIN FILE CHECKER (FMFC) is a trademark of Far Mountain Corporation. Copynght© 1993 Far Mountain CorporatiOn All Rights Reserved. SPSIM is a trademark of Far Mountain Corporation Copynght© 1993 Far Mountain Corporat1on. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of Amenca. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmrtted 1n any form by any means without the pnor wntten consent ofF ar Mountain Corpora1lon lnformanon 1n this manual is subject to change w1thout notice and does not represent a commrtment on the part of Far Mountain Corpora1lon. The use and copying of this software 1s subject to license agreement All other uses are prohibited .. All other product names are used for identl'ficanon purposes only and may be copynght or trademali<s of their respectlve compan1es. Table of Contents 1. pSERVERplus QUICKSTART ..........................................................................3 1 1 . Assumptions . .. .. .............. 3 1.2. Cabling: Serial Models - pSERVERplus to plotter .... 3 1.3. pSERVERplus Installation . .. .. ...... ... ... .4 1 .4. Configuration: .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ........... ........4 1.5. Operation: . ... .... .... .... .......... ... ..... ....... 5 1.5.1. Idle Mode: . .. ... .. .... .......... .... .... .. .. ...... ... 5 1.5.2. File Select1on Mode .. .. .... .. .... .... .. ...... ..... ..... .... .. .. .. ................... 6 1.5.3. Plotting Mode .. ...... .. .......... ......... ..... ..... .... ... ... ... ... ...... ....... 7 2.1NTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 8 2.1. PLOTIER SHARING ... ... ............. ... .... .... .. ... ....... ........ .. ... ..... .... .. .... 8 2.2. PLOT FILES AND PRINT FILES .. .. .... ..... ..... .... .. .... .. .. .... ....... .......... 8 3. GETTING TO KNOW YOUR pSERVERplus ....................•........•.•.•..•.....•........ 9 3.1. pSERVERplus FRONT PANEL .. ... .. ... .... ..... .. ... ..... ... ........ ...... ... 9 3.2. pSERVERplus BACK PANEL... .... ................. .... ... ..... .... ....... ........ 10 4. pSERVERplus OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS .............................................. 11 5. pDISK .............................................................................................•............... 14 5.1. Assumptions: . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ..... 14 5.2. Data Compress1on and File Splitting: .. ......... ... .... .. ... ... ..... ... .. ... ....... 14 5.3. pDISK Installation:.. ... .... ..... ... .. ... .. .................. .. ....... 15 5.4. Fam1liariz1ng yourself with the pDISK program· . ..... .. .... ... .. ...... ...... 15 5.5. Generating an AutoCADrM plot file: . .... .. .. ......... ........... 16 5.6. Using pDISK© to copy AutoCAD™ plotter files: . ...... ..... .. ..... .. ........ 17 5.7. Using the pSERVERplus to olot pDISK-generated files: ... .. 17 5.8. Using MS-DOS batch files to shorten pDISK command line entry ... 18 6. Far Mountain File (Fioppy)Checker ............................................................. 19 6.1. Use Far Mountain Corporation File Checker to evaluate the integrity of floppy disks and the1r data. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .... .... ... ..... ... ..... 19 6.2. WHERE TO INSTALL. ....... .. .. .. .. ... ... ..... ... ..... 19 6.3. TO INSTALL. ................ ....... .......... .......... ...... .. ..... .... ...... ....... .... ... .... 19 6.4. TO USE. ... .. .. ... .. .. .. ... ... ... .. ...... .. .......... .. 19 FCC NOTICE FCC NOTICE WARNING: This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and 1f not mstalled and used properly. this. in stnct accordance w1th manufacturers instructions. may cause Interference w1th radio and television receptron. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class 8 computing device in accordance with the specification in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference in residential installation. However, there IS no guarantee that interference w1ll not occur in a particular installation. If this equ1pment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by tum1ng the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: • Reorient the receiving antenna. • Relocate the computer with respect to the rece1ver. • Move the computer away from the rece1ver. • Plug the computer into a different outlet so that the two dev1ces are on different branch C1rcu1ts . If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio television technician for additional suggestions. The user may find the following booklet prepared by the Federal Commun.icat1ons CommiSSion helpful: "How to Identify and Resolve Radio- TV Interference Problems ' This booklet is available for the U.S. Government Printing Office. Washrngton. D. C. 20402. Stock No. 004-000-0345- 4. Note: In order for an 1nstallat1on of this product to ma1ntain compliance w1th the li m1ts for a Class 8 dev1ce. shielded cables must be used for the connect1on of any devices external to this product. ~ .:oyn g nt '"; ~99 4 FAR f,IOU NTAiN CCRPOPATIOtJ . ... .n wo :rc.;:r.;.f'!')l"\ 11"'\, : :.' : .1 \ pSERVERplus QUICKSTART pSERVERplus QUICKSTART Assumptions: This note descnbes for new users how to install configure and use the pSERVERplus 1n the most usual (and easy) cases. For more complicated s1tuations. refer to the referenced sections in the later in the User's Manual, and if necessary, your dealer or Far Mountain Corporation Technical Support at (206)392-6541 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. PST. Or you may fax your questions to: Technical Support: (206)392-8373. We also suggest that you change the Configuration to NO FLOW CONTROL, detach the cable from the plotter and this unit, then "play" with it in all its configurations until you become familiar with the new features. To change the Configuration: 1. Tum power off: 2. Tum power on while holding down the • key. This w1ll display the configuration menu on the LCD. Use •, to use that configuration. # to change configuration. For this easy installation. we assume that you have a working CAD and plotter system or can otherwise confirm the CAD and plotter system is correctly configured and operational and that you are familiar w1th the procedure to make a PLOT FILE from your ·cAD drawing. To save time, generate the plot file on your hard drive, then copy onto a pre-formatted floppy disk. Cabling: Serial Models - pSERVERplus to plotter The pSERVERplus output (to plotter) for serial models is the same as standard 'IBM Compatible' serial port using a 25 pin connector. Therefore, the correct serial cable from pSERVERplus to plotter is the cable which would be used to run your brand and model from an IBM PC 25 pin COM port. If you wee already driving your plotter (directly) from an IBM PC, 25 pin COM port, then use that cable. Disconnect from computer, connect to pSERVERplus OUTPUT port (on right when viewed from behind pSERVERplus). If you have been driving your plotter from a nine-pin COM port. then you must e1ther: Cooyngnt ~ ~ 99 4 FAR MOU NTAIN CORPORATION 3 ,' • 11"1W0CC"... ~ rr. an If'{;: E..O: i\ pSERVERplus QUICKSTART 1. Use a 25 pin (female) to a 9 pin (male) serial adapter. such as those often supplied w1th MICE to connect the pSERVERplus OUTPUT port to the plotter using your 9 pin plotter cable. or: 2. Obta1n a proper 25 pin COM port-to-plotter cable for use with your plotter. pSERVERplus Installation: Unpack the pSERVERplus and place 1t conveniently near your plotter. (Many of our customers seem to park the pSERVERplus on the end of the floor model plotter cabinet oppos1te the plotter control panel). Plug 1n the power transformer to the 11 OV power source. It is good practice if this is electrically "close" to the power outlet used by the plotter. the same power-strip or wall socket, if possrble. Plug in the 3 pin plug connecting the wall transformer to the pSERVERplus. The groove in the metal connector should be UP for proper orientation. Connect pSERVERplus to plotter w1th proper cable (as above). Turn on pSERVERplus us1ng the power sw1tch on the rear panel. The LCD display should show e1ther: LOAD 3.5: HIT • or LOAD 5.25: HIT • depending upon your floppy disk size. If you have a dual drive (Combo model}, you can cycle between the two drives with the arrow keys. Configuration: pSERVERplus is shipped with configuration parameter (primanly serial communication defaults) that match those used by AutoCAD'" and most other popular PC based CAD packages. So, if your plotter is configured to work via direct connection to a PC based Cad system, you should not change the default configuratron. If it is necessary to change these parameters on the pSERVERplus. then consult the CONFIGURATION sectJon in Appendix A. : ooyngnt ?.: 1994 FAR MOU NTAIN