Printer default page size
I'm having a very peculiar issue with printer default page sizes with a web based app.
The PCs (Windows 7) are connected to both an OKI MicroLine 9-pin label printer containing 8"x12" fan-fold paper and a HP LaserJet containing A4. The printers are installed locally to the PC rather than a print server and have the correct paper sizes set as default in all the requisite places.
The application we're having issues with is web-based (I know it uses Silverlight in places) and contains a document template that is set to 8"x12" to match the paper in the OKIs.
If the OKI is set as the default printer for the user, all is well when they print this document.
If the HP is set as default and the user manually chooses the OKI, then the output is wrong! They have to go in and re-select the paper size in the OKI's printing preferences which is mysteriously now showing as A4 (ie the default here in the UK)!
Despite the document being from an 8x12 template, why is the app somehow taking notice of the default paper size of the user's default printer even when they tell it to print to the OKI printer whose paper size is correct??
This is driving us nuts, so any advice would be very well received! Thanks.
The PCs (Windows 7) are connected to both an OKI MicroLine 9-pin label printer containing 8"x12" fan-fold paper and a HP LaserJet containing A4. The printers are installed locally to the PC rather than a print server and have the correct paper sizes set as default in all the requisite places.
The application we're having issues with is web-based (I know it uses Silverlight in places) and contains a document template that is set to 8"x12" to match the paper in the OKIs.
If the OKI is set as the default printer for the user, all is well when they print this document.
If the HP is set as default and the user manually chooses the OKI, then the output is wrong! They have to go in and re-select the paper size in the OKI's printing preferences which is mysteriously now showing as A4 (ie the default here in the UK)!
Despite the document being from an 8x12 template, why is the app somehow taking notice of the default paper size of the user's default printer even when they tell it to print to the OKI printer whose paper size is correct??
This is driving us nuts, so any advice would be very well received! Thanks.
I found this info here
If you choose auto select in your software for the paper source, the printer will take paper from whatever tray has that size paper and from the way you configured the manual tray if it has paper. Generally when you say first for the tray and have the default paper size only in the manual tray, it will take it from it, however, if the default paper size is in the tray and you want to use that size and you have paper on the manual tray and it is selected as first, it will take the paper from the manual tray no matter what size paper is there and will sometimes give you a paper size error.
If you choose auto select in your software for the paper source, the printer will take paper from whatever tray has that size paper and from the way you configured the manual tray if it has paper. Generally when you say first for the tray and have the default paper size only in the manual tray, it will take it from it, however, if the default paper size is in the tray and you want to use that size and you have paper on the manual tray and it is selected as first, it will take the paper from the manual tray no matter what size paper is there and will sometimes give you a paper size error.
ASKER
All trays on each printer are set correctly to the right size that each has - A4 on the HP and 8x12 fanfold on the OKI.
If the OKI is set as the windows default printer, then everything prints fine. As soon as the HP (or anything else) is the windows default, then selecting the OKI from the list of printers within the app to print to it appears to make it revert to A4 - (it prints anyway but the layout is wrong). If you look at the OKI properties afterwards in the Printers applet, everything is actually still set to fanfold.
If the OKI is set as the windows default printer, then everything prints fine. As soon as the HP (or anything else) is the windows default, then selecting the OKI from the list of printers within the app to print to it appears to make it revert to A4 - (it prints anyway but the layout is wrong). If you look at the OKI properties afterwards in the Printers applet, everything is actually still set to fanfold.
If the OKI is set as the windows default printer, then everything prints fine.This is probably the newest printer and can cope better with your demands.
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Good luck
ASKER
thanks for looking :)
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ASKER
Unfortunately it's a third-party web-based app that I know uses Silverlight and various custom DLLs. It has its own print buttons in different parts of the app. I don't know if this gives any clues as to how it may be working, but if .NET 3.5 is missing, the print button is missing in some places and throws an error in others.
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Maybe this will help?
http://www.computedsynergy.com/products-automatic-printer-switcher.html
http://www.computedsynergy.com/products-automatic-printer-switcher.html
Possibly :) ^^
On the machines with the LaserJet[s] set as the default, try clicking the 'start' orb, then Devices and Printers, right-click on the OKI printer there and choose Printing preferences (not Printer properties), set the paper size there, Apply and OK. See if that doesn't save the paper size properly for you.
Many printers have an Auto Size option ... Do You?
If you have multiple trays with different paper sizes you will still have to choose which tray to use, which is just as troublesome as changing the paper size.
This is of no use to you, but it is an example of another printer setup that would do what you need.
http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/BSC/public/us/us/en/faq/faq/000000/002900/000091/faq002991_000.html?reg=us&c=us&lang=en&prod=hl5470dw_us_eu_as&Cat=112
I have an old HP laserjet 5P myself and I have this option.
Perhaps you could use the same methodology that was used on the Brother.