Options Dialog
Golden Software PlotCall Import Options

For information on how to use Help, press F1 or choose Using Help from the Help menu.

The Import Options dialog box allows you to specify options which determine how information in the file is imported.

PlotCall files contain line graphics designed to be output on pen plotters.  The PlotCall Import Filter reads a PlotCall file and passes curve, point and text objects on to the application.

In the PlotCall file, each pen used is assigned a number.  There can be up to 16 pens used in a PlotCall file.  A set of default colors, widths and styles can be assigned by clicking the Default Pens button.  Double-clicking on a specifc pen's Width and Style list box entry can be used to alter the attributes associated with a particular pen.

Pressing the File Info button will cause the file to be scanned and information concerning the image extents (units are inches) and pens used will be displayed in a File Info dialog.  This is useful for determining which pen numbers are actually referenced in the file.  Selecting a pen number displayed in the Pens Used list box automatically selects that pen in the Width and Style list box.

File Description

General Messages

GS PlotCall-specific Messages

Macro Script Options


GS PlotCall File Description
Golden Software PlotCall File Description

PlotCall files can be either ASCII files (i.e., they can be edited with a text editor or word processor) or binary files (can't be edited) containing commands.  Each command occupies one record and begins with a two-letter operation code (op-code) to determine its function.  The currently supported op-codes are:

Op-code	Function
MA	Move Absolute
PA	Plot Absolute
TR	Translate
SC	Scale
PS	Plot String
SS	Set Symbol Set
RO	Rotate
PI	Pivot
SP	Select Pen

The general format of most commands is "op-code X,Y" where X and Y are coordinate values measured in inches.  See Golden Software's PlotCall manual for a detailed description of each command.  [PlotCall files are usually produced by Golden Software's DOS applications, or by special user-written programs on PCs or mainframes.]


GS PlotCall-specific Messages

The following messages may appear while importing Golden Software PlotCall files.

Can't establish GS Symbol Font Engine caller instance

Can't load GS Symbol Font Engine

Can't locate GS Symbol Font Engine

GetProcAddress failure for GFE_INFO

Incompatible GS Symbol Font Engine


Can't establish GS Symbol Font Engine caller instance

Free memory may be exhausted, or memory contents are corrupted.  Close all active applications and restart Windows.  Please report this situation to Technical Support.


Can't load GS Symbol Font Engine

The GS Symbol Font Engine is used to determine the proper size and spacing of characters contained in Golden Software Symbol (.SYM) files.  The GS Symbol Font Engine can't be loaded into memory.  Make sure the file is not corrupted and you have the proper access permissions.


Can't locate GS Symbol Font Engine

The GS Symbol Font Engine is used to determine the proper size and spacing of characters contained in Golden Software Symbol (.SYM) files.  The GS Symbol Font Engine can't be located.  Make sure the file is installed and you have the proper access permissions.


GetProcAddress failure for GFE_INFO

The program has detected an internal error.  Save your work and restart the program.  Please report this situation to Technical Support.


Incompatible GS Symbol Font Engine

The GS Symbol Font Engine is used to determine the proper size and spacing of characters contained in Golden Software Symbol (.SYM) files.  The program has detected a version of the Golden Software Font Engine which is not compatible with the rest of the application.  Close all active applications and restart Windows.  If this problem persists, contact Technical Support.


Coordinate:Definition
Coordinate

A pair of numeric values used to specify the location of a point.


Curve:Definition
Curve

One or more line segments joined end to end.  Curves, unlike regions, are not necessarily closed.


Point:Definition
Point

A single location or position.  Sometimes symbols are placed on points to indicate various features.


Text:Definition
Text

A series of characters shown in a particular typeface and height.


Macro Script Options

Since the Import Options dialog isn't displayed when the program is driven from a macro command script (via GS Scripter or Visual Basic), an Options="..." string can be specified in the script.  The string consists of comma-separated parameters, which specify the behavior of the various import options.  An typical example would be:

...(File="demo.plt",Options="Defaults=1,Pen3=0;0;255;1;0.05")

This would first set all import options to their default values, then set the parameters for lines in the file (demo.plt) which are drawn with Pen #3.  The lines will be Blue, dashed and 0.05 inches wide.

Option	Action	Default
Defaults=1	Set all options to their default values	No
ForgetOptions=1	Don't remember options for later use	No
PenN=R;G;B;S;W;N	Lines drawn with Pen #N are: Red intensity "R" (0-255) Green intensity "G" (0-255) Blue intensity "B" (0-255) Style "S" (See below) Width "W" inches Contain "N" custom segments	See below 0
PlotCall files can specify up to 16 pens (1-16).  The default width is 0.0 (thinest line possible but still visible).  The default line attributes associated with each pen are shown in the following table:

Pen #	R;G;B Values	Color	Style
1	0;0;0	Black	0 (Internal Solid)
2	0;0;255	Blue	0 (Internal Solid)
3	0;255;0	Green	0 (Internal Solid)
4	0;255;255	Cyan	0 (Internal Solid)
5	255;0;0	Red	0 (Internal Solid)
6	255;0;255	Magenta	0 (Internal Solid)
7	255;255;0	Yellow	0 (Internal Solid)
8	255;255;255	White	0 (Internal Solid)
9	0;0;0	Black	1 (Internal Dashed)
10	0;0;255	Blue	1 (Internal Dashed)
11	0;255;0	Green	1 (Internal Dashed)
12	0;255;255	Cyan	1 (Internal Dashed)
13	255;0;0	Red	1 (Internal Dashed)
14	255;0;255	Magenta	1 (Internal Dashed)
15	255;255;0	Yellow	1 (Internal Dashed)
16	255;255;255	White	1 (Internal Dashed)

The different line styles are:

Style	Line
-1	Custom (See below)
0	Internal Solid
1	Internal Dashed
2	Internal Dotted
3	Internal Dash-Dot
4	Internal Dash-Dot-Dot

The five internal styles indicate a generic style and leave it to the display device to decide how best to render the line.  A custom style allows (and requires) you to specify the length of the strokes and gaps used when rendering the line.

If a custom style is specified, then the number of custom segments must follow the width value, followed by the length of each custom segment.  The even numbered segments specify the length of strokes and the odd numbered segments specify the length of gaps.  Therefore, to specify that Pen #2 be green, 0.05 inches wide and have 0.3 inch dashes, separated by 0.2 inch gaps, use an option string containing "Pen2=0;255;0;-1,0.05;2;0.3;0.2".


General Messages

The following messages may appear while importing files in any format.

Application has no Color dialog!

Application has not Line Attribute dialog!

Bad values in .INI file or Options String

Can't load Import Filter resource

Can't open import file

Can't show import status dialog

Error reading import file

Error reading Import Filter profile item

Import file is of incorrect format or type

Import Filter passed bad parameter

Internal inconsistency detected in Import Filter

Invalid Import Filter instance handle

Out of global memory

Out of local memory

Error writing Import Filter profile item


Application has no Color dialog!

The program has detected an internal error.  Close all active applications and restart Windows.  Please report this situation to Technical Support.


Application has no Line Attribute dialog!

The program has detected an internal error.  Close all active applications and restart Windows.  Please report this situation to Technical Support.


Bad values in .INI file or Options String

A bad value has been read from the application's .INI file or Options String.  Check the .INI file or Options String to make sure the values are valid.


Can't load Import Filter resource

Free memory may be exhausted, or memory contents are corrupted.  Close all active applications and restart Windows.  Please report this situation to Technical Support.


Can't open import file

The file you selected to import exists, but cannot be opened.  Perhaps you don't have the proper access permissions.  This message sometimes results if the file is not in the proper format.


Can't show status dialog
Can't show import status dialog

Free memory may be exhausted, or memory contents are corrupted.  Close all active applications and restart Windows.  Please report this situation to Technical Support.


Error reading import file

The import filter cannot read the indicated file. Perhaps the file has been corrupted.


Error reading Import Filter profile item

Information stored in the application's .INI file could not be located.  If the .INI file is corrupted, you will need to restore a backup copy or, possibly, reinstall the stoftware.  You should probably check with Technical Support before proceeding.


Import file is of incorrect format or type

The specified file is not the type indicated by its extension, or the file has been corrupted or is not in the proper format.


Import Filter passed bad parameter

The program has detected an internal error.  Close all active applications and restart Windows.  Please report this situation to Technical Support.


Internal inconsistency detected in Import Filter

The program has detected an internal error.  Close all active applications and restart Windows.  Please report this situation to Technical Support.


Invalid Import Filter instance handle

The program has detected an internal error.  Close all active applications and restart Windows.  Please report this situation to Technical Support.


Out of global memory

Free memory may be exhausted.  Close all active applications and restart Windows.  If you get this message often, contact Technical Support.


Out of local memory

Free memory may be exhausted.  Close all active applications and restart Windows.  If you get this message often, contact Technical Support.


Error writing Import Filter profile item

The program encountered an error while writing information to the application's .INI file. The path of the .INI file may have be been changed or a section in the file may have been lost. You should probably check with Technical Support.