Any HPGL binary to ASCII converters out there?

[Fred R]

All,

For a (hopefully) quick setup problem investigation I need to take a
look at some binary HPGL files to see what they are saying to my DGI
plotter to make it so angry. While there are thousands of viewers to
display the picture, I'd like something that just reads binary HPGL and
writes or displays ASCII HPGL as text.

Does anyone know of such a utility? Writing one sounds fun but even this
setup problem just doesn't fit in my schedule right now.

--
Fred R
"It doesn't really take all kinds; there just *are* all kinds".
Drop TROU to email.

 

[John Jardine.]

"Fred R" <"spam "@columbus.rr.com> wrote in message
news:%rLyg.59136$Eh1.21660@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com...

All,

For a (hopefully) quick setup problem investigation I need to take a
look at some binary HPGL files to see what they are saying to my DGI
plotter to make it so angry. While there are thousands of viewers to
display the picture, I'd like something that just reads binary HPGL and
writes or displays ASCII HPGL as text.

Does anyone know of such a utility? Writing one sounds fun but even this
setup problem just doesn't fit in my schedule right now.

--
Fred R
"It doesn't really take all kinds; there just *are* all kinds".
Drop TROU to email.

I'm puzzled by this "binary HPGL". Always thought HPGL -had- to be ASCII
numeric text and two char command strings. Indeed, the ascii ";" character
is critical.

 

[Fred R]

John Jardine. wrote:

I'm puzzled by this "binary HPGL". Always thought HPGL -had- to be ASCII
numeric text and two char command strings. Indeed, the ascii ";" character
is critical.

There is also a binary format that presumably maps from&to the ASCII but
uses binary tokens for tags and commands and binary integers for the
values. It generates significantly smaller files but sacrifices readability.

I imagine the format description is available but haven't really looked
for it, since that would tempt me even more to spend/waste time on
writing a translator.
--
Fred R
"It doesn't really take all kinds; there just *are* all kinds".
Drop TROU to email.