I can successfully plot a 3"x10" rectangle with 4 lines of copy, but can not plot in multiples of 3. (of the same thing) The plotter draws the three squares and then starts the first line of copy, after that it starts cutting portions of letters skewed in or outside of the borders.

With Inspire, after hitting the plot button, the job goes to an output control center. It arrives in the queue and begins processing. In most cases, the plotter starts cutting before the job has finished processing. (this is not unusual)

I've noticed that when a job requires lots of processing the plotter goes haywire.

It appears the interface and the plotter are working fine. Narrowing it down to the computer or the program. There are no difficulties running unrelated programs.

There's one thing I haven't done yet, that's to delete oodles of photo's and designs from the hard drive. I've been meaning to do this but am also haveing a problem with formatting CD's to read and write. The CD's automatically format for audio. (Adaptec)

I've uninstalled and reinstalled both the CD program and Inspire and still the problems remain.

Is your anti virus software up to date?

I'm betting it's the security key. You obviously have communication or it wouldn't work at all. The security key is right in the middle of all that complicated data directing traffic.

If you have another computer try setting up your software and hardware on it and see if you have the same problem.

It is also entirely possible that your OMNI board has a bad chip.

It is also possible that your plotter is at fault. The only way to determine the problem is by eliminating one thing at a time.

I'll check into this (cmos) thing. I have a HP 932 Deskjet printer which was installed nearly a year ago. I've never adjusted the settings.

The computer, interface, plotter, printer and scanner were all set up at the same time nearly 2 years ago. I've updated the printer since.

I wonder what makes these things change on their own. hmmmm?

Dave,

I have Norton Anitvirus and update it once a week, on Monday. When I became aware of the problem, I updated it again. It 'appears' everything is okay in that respect.

Yeah, what's up with the IRC files going directly into the MIRC folder instead of the MIRC/DOWNLOAD folder. I haven't made any changes in MIRC commands and such since I downloaded it a year ago. I've checked and it says that downloads will be sent to the MIRC/DOWNLOAD file folder. hmmmm?

Doug,

I wish I knew more about the rear end of the computer tower. There have been no changes to the communication settings or the plug-ins. I have verified the current settings to be correct using the literature that came with the OMNICAD interface and another sign company's computer, with the same setup.

The plotter is plugged into COM1 and I think the key is inline. (I'm at home now, will check this out tomorrow) Are you saying that your key and the cable are plugged into different ports? I'll check these connections and maybe I can try changing the cable to another port.

quote:

---

As for work-arounds are you sending one file to plotter then asking for repeats in plotter screen? If so, have you set up 3 copies in original file and sent as 1 cut file?

---

With the example I mention above, the plot is unsuccessful whether I send 3 as one plot file or I send one and choose the option for 3 repeats. I've even tried sending the 'plot to file' and 'plot to hold' with no success.

The amount of processing seems to be the culprit. (I think)

SECURITY KEY, that's one thing I hadn't even given a thought and it's first on your list! Can you give me a better understanding of what goes wrong in the security key?

The OMNI board. I've plugged in the floppy that came with it and ran several of it's test plots, enlarging some and all successful. They were all relatively small files, straight lines, curves, jagged, etc. I've opened the Gerber casing and watched for the flashing red and green lights and they all seem to be in check! Any ideas on how to identify a bad chip?

The Gerber. I'll give it another more extensive test. Oh how I hate all those XY movements...

hmmmm? I'll look into locating another computer to to run the setup.

I'm not familiar with your program or your equipment, but, I suspect a couple of things that might be common to your setup and mine.

One is the security key-- is it plugged into your printer port, or the plotter port? Mine has to go inline to the printer port.

You may also be coming up short in the RAM department-- 128 seems to me about the minimum to get by on. Can you add RAM? If you can, be sure it is compatible with what is already there.

You also said something about a lot of pictures to clean off-- I don't know where they are stored, probably not in RAM, but it calls to mind the notion that you may have a lot of temp files that may be cluttering things up. If this is the case, it is possible it is messing up swap files and/or virtual memory.

Unless you absolutely know what you are doing, be very careful about going into your c-mos or bios and making changes.

I'm at home now, but tomorrow I'll check to see whether the 'key' is plugged inline to the printer or the plotter port.

When I first ran the program, I had 64 RAM with no problems and have added an additional 64, to 128 RAM. I didn't really notice the difference after updating. hmmm? I wonder how to identify if it is compatible? The bios shows no conflict.

I have a CAMEDIA digital camera D-360L. It came with software which automatically set up files to store photo's.

Prior to getting the computer, we ran the shop with the Gerber and hand layout. Since then, I've basically ran the program on a 'get it done' basis and don't know diddley about 'what does what' to make it work! hmmmm? I'm not sure about the RAM but I think the photo's are stored on the HD.

Temporary files are deleted periodically, probably once a month or so. I delete them indiscriminately. hmmmm? Could that be a problem? The same for Cookies...

Virtual Memory, I've seen this in my travels but haven't explored it. hmmmm? Is there any way to check it?

quote:

---

Unless you absolutely know what you are doing, be very careful about going into your c-mos or bios and making changes.

---

I've never heard of 'c-mos', but am familure with Bios... Is there a difference?

BIOS and C-MOS are not the same thing, but I really don't know what does what. They both live in DOS and that is where changes are made. Again, techie near by. I wont touch either one myself.

Temp files can accumulate real fast, 'specially if you are on the web a lot. I have been known to clean them off as often as once a day, and I don't go much of anywhere but here to the BB. I'm told they tend to slow things down. Once a month is not often enough imho. Clearing temps should not give you problems. Cookies I'm not so sure about.

Virtual memory, is Windows managed, tho' you can set the amount if you want. If I remember right, it "borrows" space from your hard drive when you run low on, or out of RAM. Usually best to let Windows set that. You can go to Start, Programs, Accesories, System tools, and then System information to find out the size of VM. Also, look for a percentage number referring to system resources, the higher the better. Also, under system tools is an item called maintenance wizard. That does a scandisk, clears temp files, and is supposed to speed up programs. That can be put on a schedule, or you can do it on an as-needed basis.

Your security key is most likely where it belongs, otherwise I don't think your plotter would cut at all, unless you have a secondary program that doesn't require a security key.

All this assumes you are using a PC, and not a Mac. I use Win98 first edition-- if you are using some other OS say 2000 or ME I think the principles apply, but the desktop icons and routes to get where you want to go may be different.

Yes, I was suggesting that you have a port exclusively for the Security Key. Most of us sign folk, what with the security keys, plotters, scanners, printers, Digital cameras, etc. have a need for adding ports. Both my computers were built for me with extra ports according to specs supplied by my software distributor/tech support person.

The folks at Castek Resources (949) 487-1715 sold me my Casmate, & later Inspire as well as my Graphtec plotter. They are very good with tech support, and would likely help even a non-customer for a minimal fee in case you have a need to seek more expert advice.