We want to print the layout of a circuit done using cadence IC5.0.33, we use a the plot command but it gives us a file with the following extension ".hpgl2", is there any way to define this extension on windows or there is a way to convert this extension to another familiar with windows ?
also possible to use hp2xx under cygwin or linux - is open source and not need pay for use it.
is more tricky if you want vector (editable) version of picture in windows
open source program is god to make bitmap-picture and Postscript, but windows can not view or handle postcript, and DFX and other windows vector-based program and editors has closed protocols and bad or non exists support in open source world
if covert to PS wit hp2xx, is possible to make different vectorformat with 'psedit' and one of them is Xfig and possibel to edit and convert back top PS or hpgl.
I not really uppdate, but possible to make primitive version of 'svg'-format on this Unixtools and newer version of ms-visio can import it and export to more windows usable vectorformats.
hpgl is very compat format and selectable resolution - to micrometers if needed (and uses for example to make IC-masks for silicon industries and more, but depend of near nonexist support in windows is hard to handle.