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Corel X3 Application Launcher
Hi everyone.
Until recently I was running Corel Draw 12. I’ve now uninstalled that and installed X3. Ever since I’ve not been able to send jobs to my CE5000 using cut/plot from the application launcher. I can export to Illustrator and cut from there. I can even create a new file within Illustrator and cut from within it but not X3! I’ve got the latest version of X3 the up to date patches, service packs etc. The software retailer thinks it might be a script problem but is looking into it but I wondered if anyone in the meantime might be able to help.
Thanks, Mark
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25 Replies
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Not sure I understand here, but I use the print dialogue in X3 to send jobs to the graphtec.
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The cutting application may need reinstalling to ensure it writes itself into Corel.
Alan D -
Thanks for the input guys.
Harry – I tried using the print command but bizarrely the cutter tries cutting the file name not the file! I couldn’t believe it when I saw it cutting "C://Windows/All Users…" etc etc" in the tiniest font i’ve ever seen!
Alan – tried uninstalling and reinstalling Cutting Master 2 both from the CD (Version 1.2) and also version 1.5 from the Graphtec site but still no joy.
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i dont use the controller but seem to remember you need to load visual basic or something like that from the corel disk.
also the plotter has to be in the graphtec language not hpgl.
there was a issue with x3 latest stuff cured
sorry a bit vague
chris
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Thanks Chris – that rings a bell with something the retailer mentioned about visual basic but I haven’t heard back from him yet. If you do find out any more information on the issue I’ll be eternally grateful.
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quote Harry Cleary:Not sure I understand here, but I use the print dialogue in X3 to send jobs to the graphtec.
harry there are 2 ways to drive a graphtec from corel
as you and i do (and others) via a printer driver.
or by the hard way imo cutting master and the controller.chris
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found it VBA is auto install on X3 so that should be ok. not on V10 which is why i know about it.
the little letters being cut is usually the wrong language setting on the plotter. should be GPGL
chris -
I’ll check the language in the morning Chris but thanks for the tip. Having only ever used Cutting manager I haven’t tried printing directly – is this an easier method and as versatile?
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sorry cant see how you use the word versatile it just gets in the way.
the driver just does what you tell it not what it thinks it ought to do, no layers etc. cut what you select where it is on the page.
there is a cut limit of 3mt only draw back.chris
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Cutting Master has far more cut friendly features ie auto weld and tiling than a print driver, it must use gpgl as the plotter language and with the version I tried the resolution in the software had to match the plotter or there were sizing issues. I don’t think the language would affect the way it appears in Corel and I’m not sure about the VBA. V12 didn’t instal VBA by default but X3 does. I would first start X3 with an F8 start and accept the default workspace and then reinstal Cutting Master (I an assuming it is the latest one) failing that a quick word with Graphtec maybe in order.
Alan D -
Kind of got the problem sorted. My version of X3 doesn’t have VBA included hence It’s refusal to cut/plot. Corel suggested manually removing the program and all registry values. You’d have thought with my serial number they could have just told me there was an absence of Visual Basic!
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Acedemic versions of X3 I don’t think have VBA nor do some oem versions. All versions of X4 do. If you have X4 you will need the latest version of Cutting Master (1.5) available for download from Graphtec USA
Alan D -
You’re right Alan. I got the OEM copy. It wasn’t until I googled "X3 Visual Basic" that I found out the limitations.
Not to worry. X4 is looking a likely option for Christmas!
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strange… i think the academic version does that vba, pretty sure it does
it might be an option in the install process -
I tried that Dave. Went into advanced options during install but the only "advanced" options were three other languages. Don’t suppose there’s such thing as a VB plug in is there? Or some other way to initialise Cutting Master?
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two ways of looking at it Allan loves it i hate it, i just found it a total pain.
yet the driver is so straight forward and easy to work over the network, as long as you don’t use the controller .don’t know if cutting master still has the fault of insisting on loading the complete drawing then displaying only selected, instead of just loading selected items.
then i never got my head around the way it separates colours when you dont want it to.
i can’t work in layers. makes my brain cell explode.
Allan says its good so i may be missing a trick.if you have a older version of corel may be worth trying it on that
chris
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I just select the bits in Corel that I want to cut. I like Cutting Master and the latest version looks pretty slick. It is from Scanvec so I’m guessing its a Flexi cut down. I still prefer Signlab’s cutting but for a freebie it’s as good as you’ll get.
Chris does the printer driver have autoweld?
Alan D -
well just loaded cm2 v1.5, they have not fixed the real problem.
if you are working on a small un-complicated drawing its ok i suppose.there are some nice bits in there but really its rubbish, and if that is part of flexy they can keep that as well.
thats the problem with plug ins they think they are more clever than they are.
i had a good look at sign something 3 for corel same problems.i will just stick to the driver thank you
KISS
chris
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I’m curious now Chris, which bits don’t you like? I’m not suggesting you’re wrong or anything I’m just interested and I wouldn’t mind taking a look at the printer driver you use.
Alan D -
perhaps its the way we work in corel.
import a van outline
draw all over it.
all welding etc done in the design.
set up page normally 585×2000
drag and copy what you want to cut on to the page add weeding box lay out as you want apply hair outline and cut.
what you put on the page and selected it cuts immediately.with a complicated design CM still loads the whole drawing taking ages but then just displays what you selected. buy this time i am half way through the cut.
the colour separation only waists a lot of vinyl, with some thought its quicker and cheaper, to separate it manually.
as we may use the same art work for cutting and printing we may put more effort (time) into it to start with. doing it with the driver may require more for-thought, but you are in total control.
just my view suits me and my son.
i showed him the new cm and after 20 mins he said chuck that in the bin.
its down side is a 2750 mm max cut length only one i can think of.having said all that you may not get on with it at all cos its not what you are used to.
chris
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That’s interesting Chris and I must admit I’ve only used simple thing for cutting, I’ll try with something a bit more involved. Can you point me to where I can get the printer driver you use?
Cheers
Alan D -
does this link work, loads like a printer
chris
http://www.graphtecamerica.com/OPS662V200E2.ZIPshould have asked which plotter but that driver covers most
chris
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Chris, I’ve not tried your driver yet but just for interest would you mind trying this with CM as it should significantly speed things up.
Import your outlines (I used Brian’s eps) these came in as a group.
Open Corel’s object manager docker and drag the outline into the Desktop layer (this is not printable as default).
Drag layer 1 above the Desktop and design your layout as normal
Select item to be cut
Providing CM has the selection only option ticked CM should load alot faster (1st load may not be too quick but subsequent ones should be better)
I always have the object manager open and once this is set and saved dragging objects is very quick, incidentally there are some weed and quick weed macros about for the weed boarders if you want to do them manually.
Alan D -
see a possibility but still missing the fact of cutting what you want where you want, cm does not like grouped objects.
layers are a pain to me but moving object to the front or rear of layer 1 says which order they are cut.
weeding boarders we draw manually using them sometime as registration for other colours and distance off sets for ease of fitting.
when doing drop shadows the top weed line will be the top of the main lettering, instant alignment.
i cant see in cm how i can cut 2 sides and a rear of a cheap builders van out of 4ft material in one go, as apposed to move on to page if it fits press cut.power weeding controls are just a gimmick very rarely have there uses except for poorly set up cutters.
you have the option to still use the controller if you wish, i don’t,
sorry i am being a bit awkward about this cm program but it just gets in the way of doing the job.
enjoy
chris
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Chris I don,t think you are awkward at all, I fully appreciate different work flows and I will try the print driver. If loads of people use this I can suggest more cut friendly features are added to Draw.
I personally tend to do much of my design in Draw (if I’m not doing it in Signlab) and then export or cut and paste the whole lot into Signlab. I find that Signlab has a very good and very quick cut interface, I was using CM for convenience and I use it for the smaller jobs but Signlab does beat it hands down.
I do see what you mean regarding CM and groups – that has to be a bug or we’re doing something very wrong.
Alan D
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