Page numbering (and duplex) problem

[Kathy]

Not al numbering, but...

Word XP is driving me demented! I have a document with an odd number of
pages set to print duplex (on my Brother 1670N duplex printer). It prints
fine from Word 2000. In Word XP, it prints in reverse order (whether I
select it or not) and prints the pages wrongly so that 2 and 3 are on the
same sheet instead of 1 and 2.

So I decided to experiment and print in smaller chunks - Reverse on with an
even number of pages (eg 1-4) works fine

BUT, when I print from page 1-4, I get Page 1 of 4 instead of Page 1 of 85.
Fine in print preview, but it changes when it prints. WHY?

I can probably fix it with a bookmark pageref and a fake page 86, but I'd
like to know what broke it and a "proper" way to make it work.

I do hope someone can help.

Kathy

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Try printing pages 1-4 in reverse order.

 

[Kathy]

Thanks, Suzanne, I tried that and still got page 4 of 4, page 3 of 4 etc -
the duplex was perfect - but breaks again if I do pages 1-5, for example.

At the moment I have a blank page 86 in a separate section with no numbering
set and a bookmark on page 85, but I don't want to have to do this for every
document with an odd number of pages. Perhaps I'll just have to resign
myself to it...

Kathy

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Duplexing will always be a problem with an odd number of pages. I would
think the trick would be to persuade the printer not to print in reverse
order. Some printers do this by default, but usually setting Word to print
in reverse order will reverse that so that the printer prints in the right
order. As for the Page X of Y issue, see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/PageXofY.htm

 

[Kathy]

Unfortunately, although it works perfectly with Word 2000 and 97 (and other
apps), XP doesn't talk to the printer driver in a way it can understand.
I've had the printer for years and have always printed manuals duplex on it
with no problem - regardless of number of pages (as you say, reverse in Word
+ reverse on printer = perfect forward printing document) Then I printed one
on the Office XP machine...

No idea what it's telling the printer, but the printer doesn't like it and
prints in reverse order whatever you set. Sorry, I'm just ranting.

But if anyone else in Europe has a Brother 1670N and Office 2002 on Windows
2000 and has discovered that the latest driver (1.45) prevents brochure
printing in Publisher and is therefore using 1.35, I can tell them that the
only way to print duplex from Word is to use create an even number of pages.
I'm going to write a macro to add a section with one page and a blank
header and footer to the end of the doc and a bookmark to the last odd page,
as I can see that I'm gong to be going this a lot!

Thanks for your help and for listening to my rant. I LIKE my printer, I
don't want to have to ditch it and buy something else.

Kathy

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I feel your pain. There is nothing more frustrating than having a program or
printer (or combination of the two) that will *not* do what you tell it.
FWIW, there are many known conflicts between printer drivers (especially HP)
and Word 2002/2003, so you're not alone in this scenario--whether it's Page
X of Y or a 2.67" trailing margin or wacky duplexing or whatever.