excel can't print files from older versions

[mr garth]

The mysterious mystery of the phantom printing error!

Synopsis:
Recently upgraded to new G4 mac minis running Mac OS 10.3.9, and MS
Office for Mac 2004 educational edition. (Updated to version 11.1.1)
The printer (networked to all office computers) is an HP LaserJet
5000N, five or six years old.

We carried over many documents from the previous computers (G3 towers,
MS Office for Mac 2001). Excel files carried over from the older system
open and save in the new excel with no problems. But when trying to
print old files from new excel, causes the printer to freeze and show
this message in its display:
"79.00FE
Printer Error"
We would occasionally see this printer error message even with the old
computer system, usually when trying to print the occasional PDF file
downloaded from e-mail or web. Usually pdfs printed with no problem for
the most part though; just the odd one would hang up.

Now, NO old files can be printed from excel at all. Not sure yet if all
PDFs will work or not.

Here are things I've tried that *don't* fix the problem:
- restoring the printer's default settings.
- installing the newest latest driver for the HP printer.
- cutting and pasting information out of the old .xls document into a
new one and saving with a different name.

There a few ways to get the documents to print that I have discovered
so far:
- saving the .xls file as .rtf or .txt and printing the resulting file
from MS Word (results not always satisfactory)
- saving as Excel 4.0, then re-opening, exporting as a PDF, and then
printing from Acrobat. (annoying at best, and not infallible)

My theory:
there is some sort of formatting or other file information hidden
inside the excel file that is not compatible with the printer. By
either saving the file in a format that strips away some file or
formatting information (such as .rtf or .txt files) or converting it
through a few other formats, the offending bit that the printer hangs
on gets erased or overwritten.

The solution? Probably one of the following:
- a software patch for the driver for the HP Laserjet 5000N printer
- a software patch for MS Office for Mac 2004
- buy a new printer (not preferred)

Suggestions welcome.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

My theory:
there is some sort of formatting or other file information hidden
inside the excel file that is not compatible with the printer. By
either saving the file in a format that strips away some file or
formatting information (such as .rtf or .txt files) or converting it
through a few other formats, the offending bit that the printer hangs
on gets erased or overwritten.

The solution? Probably one of the following:
- a software patch for the driver for the HP Laserjet 5000N printer
- a software patch for MS Office for Mac 2004
- buy a new printer (not preferred)

First, XL uses the system print routine, so if XL prints new files, it
should print old files - i.e., it's connecting to the printer driver.

Second, XL98, 01, v.X and 2004 all have exactly the same file format
(which is also the same as WinXL97, 00, 02 and 03). So unless the files
are pre-XL98, it's not likely to be the file format.

I'm baffled by the copy/paste problem - as long as you're copying cells
rather than entire sheets, I would expect that to work just as if a new
workbook was created.

What version were the files created in?

What happens if you select an area and just try to print the selection?

 

[mr garth]

I have discovered that the problem is with the firmware in the LaserJet
printer. The file formats may be the same, but the print routines must
be different enough that the older firmware can't handle it.

Mystery solved!

Garth