NX NX 'File – Plot' generates no output from the plotter

Plotting from NX, via ‘File – Plot’, does not create any output from the plotter.

This issue may be encountered if Class 4 Windows plotter drivers have been installed.

All current versions of NX are affected.

Outlined below is a workaround to the issue of having a Class 4 Windows printer driver installed, that results in the failure of plotting from NX :

1. Download the attached 'win_lp.exe' and place it in an appropriate location, either on the local workstation (for example, C:\utils\win_lp.exe), or a shared server location,

2. Create a batch script (for example, 'HP_plot.bat') containing the following command syntax:

(Replace <path_to_printer> with the actual path to your printer/plotter.)

3. Locate the batch file in the same folder as the 'win_lp.exe' file,

4. (This step is not necessary if you already have an appropriate printer model defined in the NX Printer Administrator.)

Using the NX Printer Administrator (File - Utilities - Printer Administration) select the 'Models' tab and select one of the out-of-the-box models that closely matches your printer/plotter, select 'Save As' to create a modifiable copy of the model and give it an appropriate name:

Select the model you created from the list and select 'Properties':

Set the properties appropriate for the plotter, the 'Class' option defines the plot file format/language (Postscript, HPGL/2 etc.):

5. Use the NX Printer Administrator (File - Utilities - Printer Administration) 'Printers' tab - 'Add', to create a new printer definition to use the batch script to send the output to the plotter (rather than selecting a queue using the 'NT/Queue' option).

Enter a name for the printer, for the Printer Model select the appropriate model from the list (created in step 4).

Select the 'Render File the Execute Program' option and enter the full path and filename of the batch script (created in step 2):

6. Save the plotter configuration and exit the Printer Administrator,

7. In NX, use 'File - Plot' and select the printer defined above to submit a plot.