Limited Paper Sizes with HP Designjet 4000?

[richjam5]

I'm trying to print autocad drawings using a HP Designjet 4000 plotter but my print dialogue box only shows A4 & A3 paper size, no A2, A1 or A0.

I've searched for a driver but the HP webite says I don't need one with OS Mountain Lion.

Any ideas?

Thanks for any help.

Rich.

[maxim_k]

Welcome to Autodesk Forums!
Hi Rich,

Which AutoCAD version do you have?
Can you see A0, A1, A2 paper sizes in Print dialogs in other than AutoCAD applications on your Mac, for example in Preview.app?

Maxim

[richjam5]

Hi Maxim,

I'm running Autocad 2014LT. I can only see A4/A3 in everything!
Thanks.

[maxim_k]

So it seems the problem of Designjet software, but not AutoCAD problem.
How did you install driver for your plotter?
You can try to remove it from Printers pane of Mac OS System preferences and than install again.
After that run software update, maybe it will find the latest HP drivers from Apple.

Maxim

[richjam5]

Thanks Maxim, I've installed the correct HP driver and can now print A2/A1/A0.

A couple more queries if you don't mind,

Does Acad Mac recognise .pc3 files?

And, my print dialogue box doesn't seem to have an "Advanced" settings button. Is this a 2014 quirk, how do I change ctb file in the print dialogue box or can't I?

Many thanks,

Rich.

[maxim_k]

Hi Rich,

I've made quick search on your problem and found this:

https://discussions.apple.com/message/22688840#22688840

I also checked Apple Support site about HP printers supported by Apple in 10.8:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3669#HP

and have not found HP Designjet 4000 among supported models.

At the same time, if you will look here (HP site):

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&docname=c01664444#N1753

you will see that HP Designjet 4000PS (only postscript model) should be supported in 10.8.

EDIT: while I type this answer, you reported about success in installation of drivers for your HP DJ 4000. Good news!

Maxim

[maxim_k]

Hi Rich,

AutoCAD for Mac doesn't support .pc3 configuration files as they are Windows specific.

From Print dialog in AC for Mac you have to open Page Setup dialog by picking on Page Setup button.

Than -if you open Page Setup dialog for the first time- you have to expand Advanced section of it by picking on small arrow button (bottom right in dialog). Now you can assign Plot Style table (uppper right).

I also suggest you to use Page Setup prior to printing (from Model or from Layout) because in Mac version of AC the settings for print doesn't saves after you use only Print dialog- there is no "Apply" button here as in Windows version.

Maxim

[richjam5]

Cheers Maxim,
I seem to have all the settings in place, but for some reason when I hit print the file gets sent to the printer ok (with no errors), the printer starts to spark into life then just quits on me and prints nothing, and the job que is empty. Any ideas why this is happening?

(Beginning to regret switching from Windows Acad now! Is there anything good about Acad for Mac!?)

Thanks
Rich

[maxim_k]

Supposing the problems with HP DJ 4000 drivers in Mac OS (in general):
Could you print from another application?
While you are in Print dialog in AutoCAD, pick on Preview button, this will open PDF created from DWG in Preview app. Then try to print from Preview. How it goes?

Maxim