Copying database resets printer settings (repost)

[Nelson]

I have two network printers with (IP addresses). Whenever I copy an Access
2000 database from my computer to the server, the settings for those two
printers are reset and need to be set again on each computer. I have
carefully made sure the port names for the printers on all the computers are
the same per KB article 208912, "Changing Printer Port Resets Printer Setup
Information". I am not able to use prtdev because some of the features I
need to set are not available in prtdev (duplex printing for example). What
I have done to correct the problem is bring up the page setup dialogue and
change the settings using SendKeys every time I print -- a very scarry and
time consuming proposition. Any suggestions on handling this problem in a
safer way?

TIA

 

[SA]

Nelson:

The printer names, ports, drivers etc. must be identical for Access to
recognize the printer. If you save the report to use the specific printer,
you'll always run into this problem. Your better bet is to set up the
duplex printing for the report specifiying the target printer on your box,
save it, and then set the report to use the default printer. (It will save
the duplex spec in the report.) Then before outputting the report either in
preview or in print, set the target defaut printer (for the users machines
in Access 97 and 2000, or for Access itself in Access 2002/2003) to either
of the network printers you are targeting at run time.

If you need code to manage setting the printer, then take a look at our On
the fly printing classes (on our web.)

At the same time, the duplex option is available as part of the prtDevMode
property of a report. The values are set in the element dmDuplex and are:

1= Simple Duplex
2=Horizontal Edge
3=Vertical Edge

Make sure that you also set the dmFields option to recognize the duplex
option is being used by setting

dmFields = dmFields OR &H1000

HTH

 

[Nelson]

Steve,

I tried setting the report to use the default printer but the settings
changed when I copied the database anyway. I have the report set to a #10
envelope and it changes to letter. I cannot access the paper type in prtdev
for this printer although I can access the paper type for other printers
with the same code. I suspect the printer driver (Xerox Phaser 860) may not
support the prtdev.

Nelson