posted
I need some advice about a cutter and software I bought a few weeks ago. It's a lynx24", vinyl express software (apprentise), and I am trying to hook it up to my mac (g3 beige mini tower, 233MZ, 4gig hd, 384mb ram, old sereal ports (8 pin round plugs) for modem and printer.
I finally got everything connected right, had to get the correct cable and key for my machine (why it's been 2 weeks)
I can't install the software, easy install is my only choice (not what the manual says), the dialogue box says i dont have enough hard drive space (i got 600mb free left and it only requires 130). YES i am sort of frustrated. The set up cd is for windows, haha thanks, VE. The test floppy is also for windows. And the 4 ten dollar bonus bucks coupons was only one.
Sorry if i seem like i'm venting here, and i can imagine i will get razzed about getting a pc with windows, but this really sucks.
Anyone out there thats had this problem? I would rather use magisign directly with adobe illustrator, but cant seem to get it to work either ( demo crashes bad even at 200mb ram alotted for ai).
I dont know what to do now, hope i didnt waise a lot of money. Dang, seems easier to cut stuff by hand.
posted
Just a stab at it... Try installing the software with extensions off (restart and hold the shift key down). This might allow you to install on the hard drive. Also what system version are you running? Some of the old Beige G3's had a problem with the harddrives being formatted with a bad version of HFS+. Just some ideas
-------------------- Eric Patzer A.S.A.P. Design Lafayette, CO epatzer@earthlink.net Posts: 208 | From: Lafayette, CO USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Rick,I can't help you, but I know exactly how you feel. I bought a Lynx 24'too and installation with Windows is not much easier. Afer trouble came up I was told, it works best with Windows 95 and 98, I have XP...I meant to cut directly from Corel and got nothing but grief.It's especialy funny when you're a total computer nut like me. Right now I'm thinking about buying Signpal software and install it on the old Pentium that runs Windows 98, and dump Corel Draw, but is it another mistake? Who knows? Sorry, Rick didn't mean to take away from your problem or discourage you. There are terrific people here who seem to know everything. They'll give you all the help they can. Hang in there it wil work out.
posted
i'm running VE "Expert" (the mid-level package) on a blue/white G3 and on a iMac DV. both of these are running system version 9.0 or 9.1. i'm not sure if this will help you or not, but here's what i found: plotting a large item can take a LOT of RAM up. the (older) G3 sometimes has problems because once you send a file to cut, it generates the cutting file and then runs out of memory. I only mention this because you might want to consider upgrading your G3 before you get much farther. unless you're only going to be cutting a few words here and there, you may soon get frustrated with the computers limits. The only installation problems i had were that I had to figure out that the reg number and the password was printed on the hardware "key" (it doesn't say that anyplace in the manual, but that's where it it is). Not sure if that's helpful... but that's what i learned. Oh, the other thing i had trouble with was finding the correct "port" (there's the port the computer has, and then there's the ID number for the serial-converter, and they aint the same thing).
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
More questions about your tests of MagiSIgn • is your cable connected on the modem port or on the printer port ? • have you selet the right plotter model and the right port in the "port" dialog ?
-------------------- Philippe JACQUES info@magisign.com
Take a look at our NCS MagiSign plug-in for Adobe Illustrator : Posts: 185 | From: Ottignies Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium | Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Thanks Eric, haha it's been so long since iv'e had to turn all the extensions off to install something (back when i had an old performa). That did the trick to get it installed. Scooter, yea, it took me a while to find the password, found where it is from the help software, wasnt in the paper manual. I thought maybe it was on the wrapper for the key (that was thrown away), and i was out of luck. What do you know about the serial port along with an ID number for a serial converter? I didnt see anything about that.
I like the way the software works so far, is similar to AI.
I am wondering though, is there supposed to be a driver software for the cutter? sort of like for printers and everything else? I didnt see anything like that unless it installs with the ve software from the cd.
Philippe, I tried downloading the demos from your website of magisign and sign of NCS again. couldnt get sign of NCS (for ai6) to unstuff after downloading, and magisign (for ai9) still makes me crash when i hit the plot button, I think I downloaded the demo version, I dont know for sure. I'm not sure what to do there, but the idea of cutting directly from ai sounds interesting to me. Ya got any ideas what i can do? I've turned off virtual memory and still have a lot of ram (200mb) allocated to ai9. Also tried both printer and modem ports (along with changing the ports in the dialog box).
I am using os 8.6, think i forgot to mention that in my earlier post.
Also, I wonder if using a wacom tablet might have something to do with it? since it's in a chain with the key on the adb port.
Any help would be much appreciated.
[ March 17, 2002, 10:08 PM: Message edited by: Rick ]
posted
You are right, there was an error in th demo version of MagiSign. It will be fixed in the next hours. Check your mailbox or MagiSign website within few hours.
-------------------- Philippe JACQUES info@magisign.com
Take a look at our NCS MagiSign plug-in for Adobe Illustrator : Posts: 185 | From: Ottignies Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium | Registered: Mar 1999
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i would switch the Wacom tablet for a "regular" mouse and get the dongle out of the chain -- (unplug everything you don't need).
then you can add the other stuff piece by piece.
i looked at using Illustrator and Magisign, and i opted not to go that route because i prefer setting up my files in feet, and not having to design in some scale in illustrator and then remember to convert the scale, etc. it just seems easier to set up a 4x8 and not have to set up a 4"x8" and then "enlarge" it 1200 percent. that, and i'm really not a big Illustrator fan anyway (i prefer Freehand).
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
The maximum workarea of Adobe Illustrator is larger than you need for your example !
It means you could still scale your 8*4 inches more than 2500 percent using the Transform palette of Adobe Illustrator without exceeding the limits !
Sure, if your project exceed those limits, you would have to draw it on scale. But MagiSign goes far over those limits once you need to cut your drawing : enter the scale of your choice and you will just have to look on the palettes info to know the size of your drawing at this value. Not so difficult.
-------------------- Philippe JACQUES info@magisign.com
Take a look at our NCS MagiSign plug-in for Adobe Illustrator : Posts: 185 | From: Ottignies Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium | Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Want to produce signs in [HOW MANY?] easy steps directly from Adobe Illustrator?
Sorry, Phillipe...just having some fun. Please don't take any offence.
[ March 18, 2002, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: Jon Aston ]
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Are you going to be exhibiting at ISA? My schedule for the show is getting pretty booked up, but I should still be able to swing by your booth for a demo if you are.
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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posted
woo hoo !!!!! tech support called me today and got me all straitened out, thank you very much sign warehouse!!!! Everthing seems to be working good, I am impressed. I made a new group of extensions in the extension manager just for cutting and it works great.
posted
woo hoo !!!!! tech support called me today and got me all straitened out, thank you very much sign warehouse!!!! Everthing seems to be working good, I am impressed. I made a new group of extensions in the extension manager just for cutting and it works great.
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