PC3 and PMP - Paper Sizing Filter Not Working - XEROX Printer

[Cadologist]

I am creating a PC3 file for a specific printer in our office and in doing so, I want to use the 'filter paper sizes' function to remove a bunch of un-required paper sizes that we would never plot to.

 

Anyway, everything is setup correctly, I go and save my PC3 (which does create the PMP file also) and everything should be good to go.

 

But...... it isn't reading the PMP file and loading a bunch of 'unchecked' paper sizes, no clue where they are reading them from. Basically, there are about 30 default paper sizes included on this printer. With no PMP file, all 30 show up, with the PMP file created above (where I selected 4 paper sizes) about 15 show up?!? They are also different from what seems is directly in the XEROX printer software (Custom Properties).

 

It's a XEROX printer/copier (new, huge behemoth of a thing, folds 11x17's, etc you name it).

 

What I am wondering is if the printer software is defaulting to it's own settings and disregarding the PMP file or if something else is wrong. Any suggestions?

 

I have make PC3 files on the other printers and used the paper size filtering and it works perfectly, just not on the XEROX for some reason.

[Cadologist]

One more thing, shouldn't the PC3 and PMP files 'have priority' completely over the printer settings? I am wondering if this XEROX is defaulting somehow to it's own settings and disregarding the PC3/PMP file.

 

Has anyone had this happen, doesn't have to be specifically a XEROX, any printer that the 'filter paper sizes' didn't take, and/or any solutions you experienced? Thanks in advance.

[ReMark]

Maybe it has something to do with the plotter driver being used. Did you let Windows designate the driver or did you provide it yourself off of the manufacturer's CD?

[Cadologist]

It's a server printer here in the office and it is using 'XEROX' software (software installed I believe off the CD as a server printer install resource) as when you enter the custom properties (or just the typical printer properties) the interface is completely different, all sorts of 'un-normal' printer settings aside from typical default settings. Pretty sure you can print diagonally with this thing if you really wanted.

 

I am guessing that the XEROX printer is taking priority over the PC3 and PMP file, thus putting whatever sizes it can print directly into the AutoCAD plot setup. It's just strange to me since the PC3/PMP setup should overwrite what the printer is doing, it's directly in ACAD.

 

I searched on other forums and the internet and have found nothing with regards to 'errors' in the paper filtering option, seems it works 100% of the time for everyone so it may be the XEROX software.

 

Thanks for the tip though, you were one of the members I was hoping would reply to this.

[ReMark]

Let's not give up so easily.

 

What is the model number of the plotter/printer?

 

What OS is being used?

[Cadologist]

Xerox WorkCentre 7665

Windows XP Professional

[Cadologist]

Double-checked and the printer is using it's own software/driver not a Windows default or system driver.

 

XEROX WorkCentre 7665 rev 2.0 PCL6

[ReMark]

With close to 500 pages the manual for the 7665 qualifies as a full-length novel! Plus there are a couple of supplements too. Jeez! I think the manual for flying the 777 isn't as big.

 

The 7665 is really more of a document printer and that's probably part of the problem. Xerox could care less about someone printing from an AutoDesk product.

[ReMark]

I don't suppose you have the password that would allow you to access the Paper Tray Management > Tools settings do you? I see a reference to Standard Size Required Settings. Maybe this setting needs to be tweaked.

[ReMark]

How to configure a custom paper size...

 

http://www.support.xerox.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE

[Cadologist]

Well get this, they just got another one of these behemoths at the office here, not as big but still, another XEROX. I haven't had the chance to check that one out yet with regards to the PCP/PMP files but will shortly.

 

As for the large one as mentioned above, read a bit into the custom paper sizes and you can add them but it seems that it still is defaulting to some other paper choices rather then my selected ones, so I am pretty sure I am SOL on this.

[ReMark]

Whoever purchased the printer did not have one end user in mind. Can you guess who that is? Do you generally have any input into these types of purchases at all?

[Cadologist]

No not directly, in all reality, they are for the countless document packages (proposals, etc) that get done out of here. We typically just print a single drawing package and the admin staff do the rest. Not a huge deal, it's pretty minor when you think of it, basically the idea was just to turf off some of the oddball paper sizes via the PC3/PMP style rather then printing to 'system printers'.... in the end, it doesn't really matter all that much, but would have been rather nice.

 

I still don't think 100% that the Xerox is overwriting the settings in the PC3, it's really strange, cause everything is prior to the printer, your in ACAD working with ACAD stuff (including printer setups) so I can't see why it is defaulting to some strange list of paper sizes rather then what is listed in the PC3 directly since your directly using the PC3 to print, who knows?!?

[nukecad]

Had a similar problem with a Toshiba printer/scanner/copier/fold and staple/ make the coffee/ sweep up/..... monster of a thing.

Like ReMark said these are meant for text documents not cad.

 

I solved it by going thru windows control panel and setting it to use a Hewlet Packard .PCL6 driver. Let me edit out the unwanted papersizes and also solved a problem the Toshiba driver had with printing .pdfs and .tiffs.

 

Strangely enough the Toshiba has no problems with the HP driver except that the output is sent to a different tray than the Tosh driver, but as this keeps my drawings seperate from everyone elses I like it