This note explains how to install the rtl2versa formatter on a Sun Sparc running SunOS 4.1.x. There are two types of interface cards that can be used: The 116 card from XES and the IKON card from IKON. These have similar functionality but use different device drivers. Both cards are supported by the rtl2versa fomatter.

Input Filter

The rtl2versa formatter is essentially configured as an lp input filter. LP services gets the rtl file and then executes the rtl2versa.sh script file. This script file executes the rtl2versa formatter which reads the rtl data and decompresses each color one at a time. The uncompressed color bitmap along with the necessary plotter control commands are piped directly to the interface card so that no uncompressed data need be stored on disk.

Install the IKON or XES 116 SBUS card and Driver

Add a new Plotter to /etc/printcap

This is done by adding an entry to the /etc/printcap file.

acslp0:\
:lp=/var/spool/printers/ce3436/.null:\
:if=/var/spool/printers/ce3436/rtl2versa.sh:\
:sh:sf:mx#0:\
:sd=/var/spool/printers/ce3436:\

Comments

You must create the .null file.
You can of course use any directories you want - we've named the directory for our in house ce3436 plotter.

Install the RTL2VERSA program

Both rtl2vera.sh and rtl2versa should be copied to the directory you created for the plotter. In this example we would put these programs in:

/var/spool/printers/ce3436

The rtl2versa.sh Shell Script

This script may need minor modifications to suite your plotter so we have documented it here.

!#/bin/sh
rm log.*		removes any existing log file.
PWD=`pwd`		current working directory
NM=$PWD/data.$$		
LOG=$PWD/log.$$
DEV=/dev/ihcp0		Output device /dev/lp0 for 116 card
			/dev/ihcp0 for IKON card

echo | tee -a  $LOG	              creates an empty log file
echo log file:$LOG | tee -a  $LOG        appends the log file name to the log file
echo data file:$NM  | tee -a  $LOG       appends the plot file name to the log file
echo start job:`date`   | tee -a  $LOG   appends the start date/time to the log file	


cat - >$NM     makes a copy of input file. This must be done
               because rtl2versa has to read the rtl file 
               four times to extract each plane of data.

$PWD/rtl2versa -pln1 -ikon slp0.1 -mg -sd/tmp $NM $DEV  2>> $LOG

echo end job:`date`   | tee -a $LOG    appends the end time to the log file
echo | tee -a  $LOG
rm $NM	                              removes the copy of the rtl input file

exit 0

rtl2versa Command Line Syntax

rtl2versa <options> <source> <target>

where

 
>dt/source  	is a RTL bitmap file

 target  	is the destination output - in most cases it will
		be /dev/lp0 or /dev/ihcp0

 options
	-pln1: 	        specify direct device output, e.g. /dev/ihcp0
	-DD  	 	double dot output 200 dpi to 400 dpi
	-ff  	 	enable initial reset
	-hdr 	 	disable header preambles

	-hdrx	 	disable ACS extended header
	-ikon	 	use for ikon card (defaults to 116 support)
	-mg  	 	disable merge tick marks (used for 8900 family)
	-lpf 	 	enable last pass flag
	-sd=DIR   	use DIR as lock file directory (default /tmp)
	-slp#: 	        delay # seconds per inch in length, default 1.0

Spool Directory Setup

/var/spool/printers/ce3444
	rtl2versa.sh
	rtl2versa
	.null

Test the Installation

You should be able to send the rtl file called colors.rtl to the Versatec by typing:

$ lp -d acslp0 colors.rtl

This is just an estimate. For each square foot of plotted area the required area to store the bitmap is:

12 x 12 x 400 x 400 x 4 color planes/8 bits per byte= 11.5 Mbytes
divide by 4 for typical RTL compression = 2.88 Mbytes
Multiply by 2 since RTL2VERSA needs an extra copy of the rtl file = 5.76 Mbytes.

Therefore to plot a 42 x 120 inch strip at 400 dpi you need a minimum of:
5.76 x ( 42 x 120) / (12x12) = 201 Mbytes of spool area.

If you do not have this much space then your maximum strips should be smaller.

You can download the RTL2VERSA executive for SunOS and related tools here:

rtl2versa.sunos.v112.zip [0.54 Mbyte zipped password required]