Force printing sizes

goramba · 10-19-2005, 08:40 AM

Hey I've got two different printers hooked up to the network and each of them use a separate paper size. One is 9x7 and the other is the usual 8.5x11. The 9x7 is on a cheapo old dot matrix printer.

I've already set up a custom paper size in the "Server Properties" area in the Printer setup page to allow the 9x7 paper. The only issue is whatever default I set for one printer automatically goes to the other printer too. Such as if I choose the cheap dot matrix printer to default to this custom size, my other printer will also be forced to print on that size.

Of course I could always just hit the properties link every time I want to print something and set it up each time, but this is very time consuming considering my need to print upwards of 100 pages a day at about a 50/50 split between the two printers.

I get the feeling this is just a program specific setup issue, but is there a way to FORCE the printer to default to a given paper size no matter what the program settings are? Or maybe I'm just over thinking this and skipping a simple step.

xTraz · 11-01-2005, 08:10 AM

Have you tried "Printing Preferences-Paper Quality-Paper Options-Size"?
Might work.

goramba · 11-01-2005, 06:30 PM

Yeah as far as setting it initially it's not a problem. I added a custom size with no problem. When I print with printer A using size A it'll print fine. But once I decide to print using printer B I have to reset it to use size B because it's still using size A...Make sense? I'm looking for a way to make printer A ALWAYS use paper size A and printer B to ALWAYS use paper size B no matter what. As if that's all they're capable of printing on. Might be a tall order to avoid a bit of inconvenience, but over time it'll add up.

I don't really get why when I set the paper size on one printer through print preferences it transfers over to the other, but it does.

**oldmn** · 11-01-2005, 06:52 PM

That just a Win2K thing. I had an old okdata working with mine for a while. Can't remember how we got it to work.

I'll have to look through my desk (at home) tomorrow.

goramba · 11-01-2005, 08:05 PM

Ahh well it's good to know I'm not just skipping a step and you hit it right on, it's a Win2k system. I'm excited to read what you did to 'fix' it. Thanks!

**oldmn** · 11-02-2005, 10:45 AM

Sorry it took so long to get Back. What I did was to go into Printers, right click to properties, advanced tab, at the bottom of the page there is a check box for advanced printer features (check it) onder that there is a button for printing defaults open this and set the defaults for each printer.

10-19-2005, 08:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
goramba Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Win2k	Force printing sizes Hey I've got two different printers hooked up to the network and each of them use a separate paper size. One is 9x7 and the other is the usual 8.5x11. The 9x7 is on a cheapo old dot matrix printer. I've already set up a custom paper size in the "Server Properties" area in the Printer setup page to allow the 9x7 paper. The only issue is whatever default I set for one printer automatically goes to the other printer too. Such as if I choose the cheap dot matrix printer to default to this custom size, my other printer will also be forced to print on that size. Of course I could always just hit the properties link every time I want to print something and set it up each time, but this is very time consuming considering my need to print upwards of 100 pages a day at about a 50/50 split between the two printers. I get the feeling this is just a program specific setup issue, but is there a way to FORCE the printer to default to a given paper size no matter what the program settings are? Or maybe I'm just over thinking this and skipping a simple step.

11-01-2005, 06:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
oldmn TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,150 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	That just a Win2K thing. I had an old okdata working with mine for a while. Can't remember how we got it to work. I'll have to look through my desk (at home) tomorrow. __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems.[/center]

11-02-2005, 10:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
oldmn TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,150 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	Sorry it took so long to get Back. What I did was to go into Printers, right click to properties, advanced tab, at the bottom of the page there is a check box for advanced printer features (check it) onder that there is a button for printing defaults open this and set the defaults for each printer. __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems.[/center]

11-01-2005, 08:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
xTraz Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 102 OS: XP	Have you tried "Printing Preferences-Paper Quality-Paper Options-Size"? Might work.

11-01-2005, 06:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
goramba Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Win2k	Yeah as far as setting it initially it's not a problem. I added a custom size with no problem. When I print with printer A using size A it'll print fine. But once I decide to print using printer B I have to reset it to use size B because it's still using size A...Make sense? I'm looking for a way to make printer A ALWAYS use paper size A and printer B to ALWAYS use paper size B no matter what. As if that's all they're capable of printing on. Might be a tall order to avoid a bit of inconvenience, but over time it'll add up. I don't really get why when I set the paper size on one printer through print preferences it transfers over to the other, but it does.

11-01-2005, 08:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
goramba Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Win2k	Ahh well it's good to know I'm not just skipping a step and you hit it right on, it's a Win2k system. I'm excited to read what you did to 'fix' it. Thanks!