Hello,

We use Inkscape to convert image files (normally .jpg) to HPGL files (.plt) to use for engraving.

We run Inkscape on 2 computers - one running Windows XP and the other running Windows 7.

This process fails 100% of the time on Windows 7 and about 30-50% of the time on Windows XP and I'm wondering if anyone can offer some help how to resolve it.

First we import the image, then use 'Trace Bitmap', delete the original image so you're just left with the trace, then 'Save As' the HPGL.

The error message on Windows XP says 'Uniconverter failed'. On Windows 7 it says the same thing, but before seeing that message, we get a Windows error saying that python.exe has stopped working.

The error details are:



This is causing us some problems and Inkscape is the best solution we've found for converting jpgs to plts so would really appreciate any help on how we can solve this.

Thanks.

Screenshots:

Hi

Can you upload the SVG file which causes the export to fail?

RGDS
Ragnar

Sure thing. Attached 3 files here.

1. The image we attempted in this test, but it happens with all images.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6m03reu8eihnssp/Image.jpg

2. The svg with just the image added - we use 'import' then 'embed'

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t1d06r5wmno6i ... Traced.svg

3. The svg with the image after we've used the 'Trace Bitmap' tool

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lr2vb8660t8kb ... Traced.svg

2 of them are larger than the upload limit of 256KiB so I've linked them from Dropbox.

Hi.

Uniconverter fails on the last file (when saving as *.PLT) here as well - using Win7.

A possible workaround which seems to work is to save as HPGL instead of PLT.

A few edits might be necessary to your file;
Resize the page to the content (plus a border?) or - scale the design to fit on your page.
Remove the black fill and set stroke to black (or whatever your laser cut provider requires - some requires the cut line to be; 0.25pt -red).

Edit;
The 'standalone' Uniconverter install contains an updated Inkscape extension. This extension runs without error.
Files are here in zip format.
Unzip and copy to your inkscape_install_dir\share\extensions directory replacing the files already there,
you will get a message stating that the files being copied are older than the existing files.
Just click 'Copy and Replace'.
(It might be an idea to make a 'backup' of the existing files first?
I did not - but I am brave!)

To verify the PLT file - close inkscape and open the PLT file (in Inkscape).

Good Luck
RGDS
Ragnar

Thanks for the suggestions - really appreciate it.

Unfortunately our engraving software - U-Marq Universal Engraving - can only import a .plt, not a .hpgl so the end result for us needs to be a .plt.

http://www.u-marq.com/product.php/850/9 ... 97a8f7a1cd

Just had a test of the updated Uniconverter extension but unfortunately that didn't work either. It generated a different error message though which is definitely progress! It generated a file of 0 bytes.



Were you able to 'Trace Bitmap' then save as .plt when you tried locally starting off with just a blank file and importing the jpg yourself?

Hi.

Unfortunately our engraving software - U-Marq Universal Engraving - can only import a .plt, not a .hpgl so the end result for us needs to be a .plt.

There are a simple workaround, after the file is saved as MyFile.HPGL just rename it as MyFile.plt

I tested it and it works with your engraver software.
Just downloaded and installed the software for testing only. Only problem seems to be the plot is rotated 90 degrees.
This software just reminds me how much I dislike proprietary software. Wold never ever buy an engraver which could not run 'normal' G-Code.
On uninstalling the software it did a 'forced' reboot of my machine without asking! GRRRR!!!

RGDS
Ragnar

My word, do I feel your pain! I've done the forced reboot myself and lost some data and I get daily annoyances with the poorly designed software!

Just tested what you suggested - thanks.

For me, the image had rotated 180 degrees. Neither issue is a roadblock, but it adds 2 more steps which could go wrong - changing the filename and rotating the image once imported.

Appreciate your effort so far, if you get any good ideas on how we can streamline that process - would be awesome.

I know this has been an ongoing problem and I have read all, but I am getting this error and I am unsure on what to do. I would appreciate any assistance in resolving this issue. I am running Windows Vista with inkscape 0.91

UniConvertor failed:

'uniconvertor.cmd' is not recognized as an internal or external command,

operable program or batch file.

Thank you,

C-130 Load Clear

I am also having the same problem 100% of the time. Exporting as .HPGL only works for the trace, but the fill does not export (or at least it does not import into my lasercut software).

I am etching glass with a laser machine using LaserCut 5.3. Horrible software I know...