Learn how to fix the issue of Windows apps overriding the printer form size, even when the printer settings are configured correctly.
If you are using a shared printer on a Windows network, you may encounter a problem where the applications on your workstations do not use the correct form size for printing, even when the printer settings are configured correctly. This can cause unwanted printing errors and waste paper. In this article, you will learn how to fix this issue by changing the default printer settings on your workstations.
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How Windows Apps Determine the Form Size
When you print a document from a Windows application, the application will use the form size that is specified in the printer settings. However, if the printer settings do not match the form size that is available on the printer, the application will override the printer settings and use the default form size that is defined by the Windows system.
For example, if you have a shared printer that only has a custom form size called “checkstock” available, and you configure the printer settings to use only that form size, you would expect the applications to print using that form size. However, if the default form size on your Windows system is set to “Letter”, the applications will ignore the printer settings and print using the “Letter” form size instead.
This can happen even when the printer is shared via a server that has the correct printer settings configured. The reason is that the applications on the workstations do not communicate with the server to get the printer settings, but rather use the local printer settings that are stored on the workstations.
How to Fix the Issue
To fix the issue of Windows apps overriding the printer form size, you need to change the default printer settings on your workstations to match the form size that is available on the printer. Here are the steps to do that:
- On your workstation, open the Control Panel and go to Devices and Printers.
- Right-click on the shared printer and select Printer properties.
- Go to the Advanced tab and click on Printing Defaults.
- In the Printing Defaults dialog, go to the Paper/Quality tab and select the form size that is available on the printer from the Paper Size drop-down menu. For example, if the printer only has the “checkstock” form size available, select that option.
- Click OK to save the changes and close the dialog.
- Go back to the General tab and click on Preferences.
- In the Preferences dialog, go to the Paper/Quality tab and select the same form size that you selected in the previous step from the Paper Size drop-down menu.
- Click OK to save the changes and close the dialog.
- Repeat these steps for any other workstation that uses the shared printer.
By doing this, you will ensure that the applications on your workstations use the correct form size for printing, and do not override the printer settings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: Why do I need to change the printer settings on both the Printing Defaults and the Preferences dialogs?
Answer: The Printing Defaults dialog sets the default printer settings for all users on the workstation, while the Preferences dialog sets the printer settings for the current user. You need to change both dialogs to make sure that the printer settings are consistent for all users and scenarios.
Question: What if I want to use different form sizes for different applications or documents?
Answer: You can still use different form sizes for different applications or documents, as long as the form size that you want to use is available on the printer. To do that, you need to change the printer settings for the specific application or document, instead of changing the default printer settings. For example, if you want to print a Word document using the “Letter” form size, you can go to the Page Layout tab in Word and select the “Letter” option from the Size drop-down menu.
Question: What if the form size that I want to use is not available on the printer?
Answer: If the form size that you want to use is not available on the printer, you will not be able to print using that form size. You will need to either use a different printer that has the form size that you want, or create a custom form size on the printer that matches the form size that you want. To create a custom form size on the printer, you will need to access the printer’s web interface and follow the instructions in the printer’s manual.
Summary
In this article, you learned how to fix the issue of Windows apps overriding the printer form size, even when the printer settings are configured correctly. You learned that the issue is caused by the applications using the default form size that is defined by the Windows system, instead of the form size that is specified in the printer settings. You learned how to change the default printer settings on your workstations to match the form size that is available on the printer, and how to use different form sizes for different applications or documents. You also learned how to create a custom form size on the printer if the form size that you want to use is not available.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The author and the publisher are not liable for any damages or losses that may result from following the instructions or recommendations in this article. Always consult a qualified IT professional before making any changes to your printer settings or network configuration.