[comp.sys.hp] HP 7220 Plotter Compatibility Question

leue@galen.crd.ge.com (Bill Leue) (08/09/89)

I've got an old HP 7221C plotter that I've recently upgraded to HP-GL
capability with a ROM change.  The manual for the upgrade states that
the printer is now compatible with the Model 7220.

I'd like to try to use this printer with a Macintosh CPU and Claris's
"MacPlot" plotter drivers.  Unfortunately, the Model 7220 isn't one of
the plotters listed in Claris's list of supported plotters.  My hope
is that it's sufficiently close to one of the supported HP plotters that
I can make it work.

Here's the Claris list of supported HP plotters:
	7440A ColorPro
	7475A
	7550A
	7570A DraftPro
	7580B
	7585B
	7586B
	7595A Draftmaster I
	7596A Draftmaster II

Does anyone know whether the 7220 is anything like any one of these plotters?
Thanks!
-Bill Leue
leue@crd.ge.com

rjn@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Bob Niland) (08/10/89)

re: "Here's the Claris list of supported HP plotters:"
>	7440A ColorPro
>	7475A
>	7550A
>	7570A DraftPro
>	7580B
>	7585B
>	7586B
>	7595A Draftmaster I
>	7596A Draftmaster II

> Does anyone know whether the 7220 is anything like any one of these plotters?

The closest would be the 9872, but failing that... try the 7475A or 7580B.

However, if your software emits an "OI" command, and asks the plotter to
ID itself, the jig is up.  It will reject a response of "7220B" or whatever.
You may be able to work around it by telling the software you have a
"spooled" plotter (i.e., no direct connect).

If the plot "sort of" works, but is, for example, inverted, try inverting
or transforming the P1 and P2 position settings via the plotter controls.

dunlap@apl-em.UUCP (John Dunlap) (08/11/89)

As I recall, the HP-7220 plotter is the RS-232 version of the HP-9872.
These older plotters don't have the scaling command, "SC", and a few
others like area fill.  Modern software many times takes advantage of
the newer commands.  HP does have a booklet available from the sales
offices that describes the differences between plotters in detail.

John

tak@hprnd.HP.COM (Tom Keaveny) (08/12/89)

> However, if your software emits an "OI" command, and asks the plotter to
> ID itself, the jig is up.  It will reject a response of "7220B" or whatever.
> You may be able to work around it by telling the software you have a
> "spooled" plotter (i.e., no direct connect).

	Also, if the application program allows you to send the
graphic plotter command output to a disc file, rather than the plotter
device, problems with the HP-GL "Output" commands (O[EIS...]) can
be circumvented.

----------
tak (aka tak the hack @ Roseville Networks Division)