Multiple documents, multiple printers, one big headache

[Gregory J. Banchy]

I am attempting to convert a WordPerfect shop to Word XP. We have a
number of printers on the network. Each printer has been defined and
seem to work properly when selected in Word. The problem occurs when
a user has several documents open. Example: Let's assume we are
using a "Draft" printer (high speed, low quality) and a "Final"
printer (lower speed, but higher quality). Let's further assume we
want to always start out by using the Draft printer. The default
printer is set to Draft (and does initially get set accordingly). If
I was working, for example, on 4 documents, all in draft, and I
changed the printer selected (not with a macro, but just using the
file/print selections) to "Final", what I am finding is that ALL of
the documents would now print to the Final printer. In other words,
changing the printer for one document changes it for all of them. It
is NOT changing the system default (I am familiar with that problem
when using macros) - it is just making the printer the same for all
documents for the duration of the session (or until a different
printer is selected - then same problem, only with a different
printer). This is causing people to inadvertantly send documents to
the wrong printer (e.g. letterhead) when not intended. How do you
stop Word from changing the active printer for all documents when you
only want it changed for the current document (e.g., the one you are
ready to print in Final)?? Thanks

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

Hi Greg,

See the article "Changing the selected (current) printer in Word without
changing the system default printer" at:

http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/MacrosVBA/ChangeCurPrinter.htm

Please post any further questions or followup to the newsgroups for the
benefit of others who may be interested. Unsolicited questions forwarded
directly to me will only be answered on a paid consulting basis.

Hope this helps
Doug Robbins - Word MVP

 

[Mary Gudobba]

I put buttons on the toolbar for each printer.

Hi Greg,

See the article "Changing the selected (current) printer in Word without
changing the system default printer" at:

http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/MacrosVBA/ChangeCurPrinter.htm

Please post any further questions or followup to the newsgroups for the
benefit of others who may be interested. Unsolicited questions forwarded
directly to me will only be answered on a paid consulting basis.

Hope this helps
Doug Robbins - Word MVP