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Home / Soft- & Freeware / HpglDxf / Program |
The tool hpgldxf.exe enables converting data from hpgl-files to dxf. Most programs can create hpgl-files and most cad-programs can read dxf. Thus enables to insert your work from nearly every program in nearly any cad-program. Although not all commands of hpgl are supported, hpgldxf usually is able to convert nearly all hpgl-data into dxf-format. Hpgl/2 commands are not supported yet.
My motivation to build this tool was: Doing statical analysis with FE-programs there are restrictions with the graphic capabilities of the analysis tool. Especially it is not possible to combine the graphics with others. To complete and to ease working i wished to have an interface between the analysis tool and my cad program. To allow converting graphics also from other programs the only database covering all programs is the printfile. The converting tool hpgldxf makes use of the hpgl-datastructure of pen-plotters to create a dxf-file. Because most cad-programs offer several options of formated output it is possible to import this data also in a various number of programs (text programs and more ...).
To get a hpgl-file you have to install a driver for a pen-plotter using hpgl (for example HP-Draftmaster or HP7475A) and to plot into a file. This plotfile consists of format specifications and describes the movement of the pens. Because of this the informations in the hpgl-file only describe the plane projection of the data. The informations are also restricted to the precision given by the accuracy of the pen movement (normally 0,025mm). To minimise the relative error it is recommended to install plotters with a maximum plot size. The type of the installed pen plotter has an influence on the usable hpgl-commands. If you have problems converting data with hpgldxf you first should try a driver for another plotter. The hpgl command to change the pen is represented by changing the layer in the dxf-file. This gives you the possibility to assign different layers to the appropriate colours and thicknesses by configuring the plotter in your cad-program.
The converting tool hpgldxf is useable with any operating system allowing a dos-emulation (DOS, Win3.x, Win95/98/NT) and is started from the command-prompt. The operating systems Win95/98/NT allow improvements of usage by easily configuring the contextmenu of the windows explorer. This allowes you to convert a file just by confirming the default values during runtime.
For further informations you may visit the discussion.