printing letter and B-size in same document

[Steve C.]

I have Word 2000, section breaks in my document to separate 8-1/2x11 pages
from 11x17 pages. I want to print the file and have the printer
automatically choose the correct paper for each section based upon the Page
Setup settings (portrait/ landscape/ paper size, etc.)

When I print it all comes out on 8-1/2x11. 11x17 page only prints portion
of 11x17 page and on 8-1/2x11 paper at that.

Can this be accomplished and if so, how? TIA
Steve C.

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

I'm not exactly sure I understand the extent of your problem. I suspect that
you need to make very specific settings within each section (File - Page
Setup), paying special attention to both the Paper Size and Paper Source
tabs in the Page Setup dialog.

 

[Steve C.]

Thanks for the response Herb,
I DO have specific settings within each section regarding Page Steup, Paper
Size, etc. When the file is displayed on the screen during editing AND
during Print Preview it shows the 11x17 section appropriately and as
expected. However, when printing the entire file it all comes out on Letter
size 8-1/2x11. I created a test document with only 1 page, setup as
Landscape, 11x17 and printed it. It printed on 11x17 paper. This tells me
that Word CAN correctly pass along the page settings to the printer. My next
test will be to create a 2 page document, each page a different size (in both
combinations, 11x17 as 1st page, 11x17 as 2nd page) and will report results.
In the meantime if you have other comments please feel free. Thanks again.

 

[Steve C.]

I created a 2 page document. 1st page was letter, 2nd page 11x17 (B-size).
Bothe pages printed as letter size.

Tried again, this time 1st page was B-size, 2nd page was letter. Both pages
printed as 11x17.

Conclusion: Word uses whatever 1st page format is for ALL subsequent pages,
ignoring (during printing anyhow) the Page Setup settings.

There is a setting in there for Paper Source. It's set to Default (Auto
Select), which clearly implies "let me choose for you, since I am Word and
you told me which settings you wish in Page Setup".

What am I missing?
Regards and TIA,
Steve C.

 

[Margaret Aldis]

Hi Steve

I can't help with the specifics, but this is basically a printer driver
issue (or Word's understanding of what the driver is telling it) and you
might find you need to download an update from your printer manufacturer's
site. Note that you can install any number of printer drivers on your
machine (indeed, this can be a useful way of presetting printer preferences
for different purposes) - you don't need the physical printer to prepare a
Word document for a particular printer.

Before you change driver, though, make sure you explore *all* the properties
the driver is making visible to Word (from Properties button on the Print
dialog, where you can select the printer driver Word uses). You might find
that you have options there which control whether the printer will change
trays automatically. Another option might be to try a setting for an
operator prompt when specified paper size isn't loaded, which would at least
tell you whether Word is passing on the paper size information to the
printer.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

To add to what Margaret has said, the printer Properties accessed from the
Printers folder often offer more choices than the Properties accessed from
Word's Print dialog.

Hi Steve

I can't help with the specifics, but this is basically a printer driver
issue (or Word's understanding of what the driver is telling it) and you
might find you need to download an update from your printer manufacturer's
site. Note that you can install any number of printer drivers on your
machine (indeed, this can be a useful way of presetting printer preferences
for different purposes) - you don't need the physical printer to prepare a
Word document for a particular printer.

Before you change driver, though, make sure you explore *all* the properties
the driver is making visible to Word (from Properties button on the Print
dialog, where you can select the printer driver Word uses). You might find
that you have options there which control whether the printer will change
trays automatically. Another option might be to try a setting for an
operator prompt when specified paper size isn't loaded, which would at least
tell you whether Word is passing on the paper size information to the
printer.

--
Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP
Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk

I created a 2 page document. 1st page was letter, 2nd page 11x17 (B-size).
Bothe pages printed as letter size.

Tried again, this time 1st page was B-size, 2nd page was letter. Both pages
printed as 11x17.

Conclusion: Word uses whatever 1st page format is for ALL subsequent pages,
ignoring (during printing anyhow) the Page Setup settings.

There is a setting in there for Paper Source. It's set to Default (Auto
Select), which clearly implies "let me choose for you, since I am Word and
you told me which settings you wish in Page Setup".

What am I missing?
Regards and TIA,
Steve C.

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[Steve C.]

Suzanne, you're correct. However, all of those wonderful properties do
nothing to help me. Additionally, since I am on a network, most of the
properties are disabled except for administrators. But not to worry, HP DOES
have a newer driver that addresses this specific problem (among others). I
was able to send this same file to another and different model printer
successfully. So it's definitely a printer driver issue. Currently awaiting
a new driver and all should be good in the universe again . Thanks to all.
Regards,
Steve C.