Basics:
- a) You must have a working TCP/IP connection
- b) Unix users should submit *only* postscript files using the "hp60" command (do "hp60 -h" for the syntax).
Example: hp60 -x 58 -y 76 filename.ps
Please use the "gs" command to preview plots and find major problems before wasting valuable time on the plotter (see below). If "gs" gives errors or does not indicate a "showpage", do not submit your plot -- it will not work properly and you
If you submit plots from Unix, you are well advised to test them first
with ghostscript. This usually saves the 20 minutes to 1/2 hour plot
time not just for you, but also for the many people behind you in the
queue sweating to know whether they will make their planes. You can see
whether the plot is on the paper, whether it has a showpage, and whether
other major things are wrong by looking at a scaled down
version. The following previews a 4x6 foot postscript file ("plot.ps")
under Unix:
gs -r10 -g480x720 plot.ps
The following previews a 6x4 foot plot under Unix:
gs -r10 -g720x480 plot.ps
If you must use the Island Draw program, know the following:
- Island Draw is notoriously buggy -- do not wait until the last
minute to use it -- it may not work for you.
- Island Draw format is *not* Postscript.
- Island Draw claims to be able to "save as" EPSF but it *lies*. The
file saved as EPSF has garbage at both beginning and end and such
a file is useless and perhaps even dangerous.
- Island Draw can "save as" EPSI. This *is* postscript but does
*not* have a showpage. If you submit such a file to a printer or
plotter it will process and charge you but no plot will come out.
You must add a "showpage" command to the end of the file. To do
this under Unix for a file named "plot.ps":
echo showpage >> plot.ps