Having generated a reconstruction it is important to be able to transfer this file to a standard graphical drawing package. From the main menu the operator can export a reconstruction (‘Animation’ file) in HPGL (.PLT) or Adobe Illustrator (.AI) format. Data are appended to a file-name, hence a complicated picture can be constructed by accessing this routine over and over again, without changing the file-name. The HPGL-Adobe coded file can subsequently be imported and modified in drawing-packing systems such as Corel Draw, Macromedia Freehand and Canvas.
Example 1: ‘HPGL’ format interfacing
In EasyGmap:
Create a reconstruction as in reconstruction example 1 (Note - do not use a high scale/magnification when exporting diagrams)
Use option HPGL-Adobe and Animation and select HPGL Output. Input a file name with extension ‘.PLT’ since this is the usual file extension for HPGL files.
In Corel Draw 8.0:
Select option ‘File’ and ‘Open’ in the main menu
Change filetype to HPGL Plotter File (PLT) format
Select ‘.PLT’ file created in EasyGmap (see above) and click <OPEN>
The plot-file created in EasyGmap can now be coloured, labelled etc. and printed. Cf. CorelDraw manual for details.
Example 2: “Adobe Illustrator” format interfacing
In EasyGmap:
Create reconstruction as in reconstruction example 1
Use option HPGL-Adobe and Animation and select Adobe Output. Input a file name with extension ‘.AI’. This produces a low-level illustrator file that can be read by most drawing packages.
Note: Some drawing packages require an End Of File (EoF) marker. Use option HPGL-Adobe and Adobe EoF to add this marker if needed (not needed for Corel Draw or Canvas, but higher versions of Macromedia Freehand, e.g. 8.0, need this EoF marker)
In Canvas 6.0:
Select option File and Open in the main menu
Change filetype to Adobe Illustrator (.AI) format
Select ‘.AI’ file created in EasyGmap (see above) and click <OPEN>
Printout or Adobe PDF interfacing
For general output to your local or networked printer there are two sub-options in Print:
Send to printer - A COPY OF THE LAST SCREEN OPERATION IS SENT TO THE PRINTER BUFFER. THE OPERATOR CAN BUILD UP COMPLEX PICTURES ON A SINGLE PAGE USING THIS OPTION.
End printing - EMPTIES THE PRINTER BUFFER and STARTS PRINTING
Option Settings and Printer setup adjust default printer settings. If you have an Adobe PDF printer driver (freely available at www.adobe.com) you can change the Printer Setup to Adobe PDF file (rather than print it to your local printer). Page properties should be set to ‘Landscape’. Then,
Create a reconstruction as in reconstruction example 1
Engage options Send to Printer (input file name) and End printing
This procedure creates an Adobe PDF file which can be read in most drawing packages, and naturally with an Adobe Acrobat reader (free at www.adobe.com).
Note: Any other printer driver that can create a plotting file can be substituted for the Adobe PDF driver.