Printing FAQ
Q1: When I want to print a graph, I see only one choice for a graphic format. Are there more available formats?
A1. There are many output formats for graphic images in BasinMod 1-D (see list which follows).
| BMP (Microsoft Bitmap) | HP DesignJet, HP Desk Jet 1200C |
| CGM | IBM Personal Page Printer II |
| EMF (Windows Enhanced Metafile) | NovaJet II (HP-GL/2) |
| WMF (Windows Metafile) | PCX (PC Paintbrush) |
| HP Laser Jet III, 4, or 5 (HP-GL/2) | PICT (Macintosh) |
| HP Color LaserJet 4500 (HP-GL/2) | PostScript Level 1 or Level 2 |
| HP PaintJet XL, XL300 (HP-GL/2) | TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) |
To view this list and select a graphic format, take these steps:
Draw any BasinMod 1-D graph.
Go to File/Export Graphics to bring up the Export Graphics dialog.
In the Export Graphics dialog, select <Add> to bring up the Export Formats list.
From the list of graphic formats that appears, highlight a filetype and click <OK>.
You will be asked if you wish to rename the filetype. This is for your convenience and is optional, for example, "Graphs to be printed in poster format". If desired, enter a new name in the box provided and click . To accept the default name, do not enter a new name, but click .
The filetype will be added to the Export Graphics list.
Back to top
Q2: How do I export a BasinMod 1-D graph in a graphics format?
A2. To save a graph as a graphics file, take the steps in the answer above. Then:
Highlight the desired filetype in the Export Graphics list. Click <Page Setup> to select paper size and margins. Also specify Portrait or Landscape orientation. Click <OK> to exit the Page Setup dialog.
Click <OK> to exit the Export Graphics dialog. The Print to File dialog will appear.
Enter a file name, and select a destination directory for your file.
Click <OK> to send the graph in the selected format with the specified file name to the selected directory.
Back to top
Q3: Must I buy additional software to deal with the graphics output files?
A3: No additional software must be purchased. A .bmp or .pcx file can be opened and edited with Microsoft Paint - part of the Microsoft Office Suite. We recommend the use of the Windows Metafile (.wmf) or Enhanced Windows Metafile (.emf) formats. These can be imported directly into Microsoft Word. Some users use PowerPoint to save images as .gif files or .jpg files. Other users prefer screen captures into Microsoft Paint or into Adobe PhotoShop (although this requires the purchase of Photoshop). With Photoshop, the images can be saved as .gif files.
Back to top
Q4: How do I take a screen capture?
A4: To capture the topmost screen (called the "Active Window"), have PRA software running. Generate a graph (or bring up a dialog or a data table). Click anywhere in the topmost screen (click on the desired graph, dialog, or data table) and hit the <Print Scr> key while holding down the <Alt> key. This will copy the topmost screen onto the Windows Clipboard.
Now, open Word for Windows, PowerPoint, Adobe Photoshop, or other software. Click anywhere in the Word document, position your cursor where you want to place the screen capture and hit the <V> key while holding down the <Ctrl> key (a shortcut for the Edit/Paste command). This will paste the contents of the Clipboard into your application.
Back to top
Q5: My burial history graph looks good on the screen, but when I print the graph directly from the PRA software, (File/Print), the background is black in hardcopy. How can I get the hardcopy to resemble the screen?
A5: When users have this type of printing difficulty, we first suspect the printer drivers. Generally, the drivers need to be updated. Take these steps:
To determine the printer driver that is currently loaded, go to Start/Settings/Control Panel.
Double-click the Printer icon to see a list of printers to which your machine has access.
Highlight the icon of the printer you used and click the Right Mouse Button.
Select Properties from the menu which appears.
On the General tab, click the Printing Preferences button.
Click the Basics tab.
Click the About button.
This will bring up a dialog that will supply printer driver information, such as name, version number, build number, and release number.
Current printer drivers can often be downloaded at no cost from the printer manufacturer's website.
For a Tektronix printer, go to http://www.office.xerox.com/
For a Hewlett Packard printer, go to http://www.hewlettpackard.com/
Click on "support & drivers".
Enter the model of your printer (HP Laser Jet 5500GN, for example) and select "download drivers & software".
In the screens that follow, select the printer name and the operating system.
You will eventually get a list of drivers with their release dates and version numbers. This will help you determine if the drivers on the website are newer than the one you have loaded. If they are, download the updated printer drivers (or have your IT Administrator download the appropriate drivers).
Another remedy involves exporting the graph in a graphic file format and sending that file to a printer. Some users have great success with the .TIFF format.
Another user has great success with the following:
Export the graph image as a Postscript file
Embed or import the Postscript file to PowerPoint
Print the PowerPoint file on a Postscript printer.
Back to top
Q6: On some plots, why do lithology patterns appear extremely large?
A6: This has only been observed on Windows 2000 when non-Microsoft printer drivers are used. When the non-Microsoft printer drivers are replaced with Microsoft drivers, the patterns appear normal. This problem has not been observed in Windows 98.
Back to top
