Printing Error

[Stephen Freeman]

Good Afternoon,
We appear to have found a small problem, I say we because it isn't just me, two of us on separate machines and locations.

Scale 2mm fs
The problem is related to shapes, whilst everything looks fine in Templot, when we come to print, the baseboard outlines aren't where they are supposed to be.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Stephen Freeman

Hi Stephen,

This isn't really a bug, it is unfinished work for the 3D exports. Twisting background rectangle shapes is a new function in the last update. It is not even finished for the 3D exports. You can still use the previous method to rotate rectangles, but that will also change their position.

A temporary work-around for your file is to export a 2D DXF file and then re-import it into the background shapes. It will then print properly on the templates. More info about how to do that here:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/rotated-shapes-bug.567

Sorry about that. I will get it finished for the next program update.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Stephen Freeman]

I should add that I tried to print the smaller collection to the bottom left as a group

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Stephen Freeman

Hi Stephen,

Output of twisted rectangle shapes will now be in the next program update.

Your files:

Purple lines = your baseboard outlines.

Thanks for nudging me to get it done.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Stephen Freeman]

Good Morning,
I haven't had time to look at it myself as yet but this is what I have been told

"When I saw the stepped representation of a rectangle in screen print I reverted to rotating the picture and at the same time aligning the rectangle to be parallel to the x and y axes. It was then that I discovered the different outcomes of printing from the print screen window and the print group templates menu. I had expected that what you see in the print screen window is what is sent to the printer. On further examination, I noticed the green horizontal bar about middle of the print group template menu. If this had completed, got to the right hand end, then what you see in the print screen window is what is sent to the printer. On the more complicated or densely populated sheets, the green bar seems to hang in the middle and not complete. I think you cannot then print from the tab in the print group template window but still can from the print screen which is inconsistent and in this case it appears that only the template is printed."

Looks still to be a problem I can send you the boxfile and shapes if that helps.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Stephen Freeman

Hi Stephen,

I couldn't follow any of that. It's no good reporting stuff second-hand. Have they actually updated to 236d for example? Are they printing directly or via PDF? Wndows or Mac/CrossOver? If they are printing picture shapes (maps) full size as part of the templates, they will need a well-specified system and printer. Lesser systems may appear to hang for long periods, but should eventually return if you wait. Everything is working here as intended, on three different systems. Please ask whoever is having problems to come on here and ask/explain their problem. That's what we are here for. Thanks.

However, I shall be away from the computer for most of today.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Stephen Freeman

Hi Stephen,

I have now read your post several times, and still can't follow it.

However, it may be related to empty pages.

Templot prints a page only if it contains track. If you have pages which contain only background shapes, or only other items such as sketchboard content, and no track, they don't print. This usually becomes relevant only in the case of background picture shapes (maps).

The solution is to add a short bit of dummy track in the corner of such empty pages. It can be very short (0.5mm) and be a centre-line-only template. In which case it will barely notice, even on a blank sheet. But it is enough to trigger Templot to print the sheet.

There is an alternative, selecting the banner fill option. But in that case Templot prints every sheet regardless. You can imagine what that means for a large roundy-roundy layout -- a hundred printed sheets across the middle of the layout containing nothing more than the grid and trim margins. Hence the default setting of not printing empty pages.

If the page margins are moved around to contain different templates, the empty pages will change. It could get very baffling if you don't know what's going on.

banner fill also makes changes to the margins on the assumption you are printing Z-fold banners. Remember those?

After 40 years there is a reason for most things in Templot, but unless someone reads the help notes or comes on here to ask, they are not going to know.

cheers,

Martin.