14. vpype Integration / Export

DrawingBotV3 allows you to export directly to vpype which gives you quick access to advanced layout tools, pre-visualisation, SVG optimisation, HPGL output and more.

You can even store vpype commands as Presets to speed up your workflow.

14.1. Setup / Usage

To export a drawing to vpype go to File / Export to vpype, you’ll see a new window, from here you can select an inbuilt preset or enter your own command and then trigger use the Send Command button to send it to vpype. Note: You must specify the Path to vpype Executable before you can send a command.

Command:

Any vpype command can be used, note however that there is an implicit read command added automatically so you don’t need to use vpype read <FILE>. So the command entered will be used in this format.

vpype read “temp_vpype.svg” command

Output Wildcard:

You can replace the output file name in your command with the wildcard %OUTPUT_FILE%.

If this wildcard is added, when you press “Send Command” you’ll be prompted to choose the name / directory to save the file. For example this would be a valid command, which would show you a save prompt.

linesort write “%OUTPUT_FILE%.svg” show

Bypass “Path Optimisation”:

Enabling this will bypass DrawingBotV3’s Path Optimisation and therefore use vpype commands exclusively to optimise your outputted drawing. This option is command specific and is saved alongside a command preset.

14.2. Finding the “Path to vpype Executable”

  1. Open a terminal window and activate your virtual environment if you use one

  2. Type where vpype (Windows) or which vpype (macOS and Linux)

  3. Copy and paste the resulting path into the text field

You’ll only need to do this once but if the vpype executable moves you will need to repeat this step.