Envelope Printing / Duplex Printer

rbuser

I have an HP LaserJet 2300 that has duplex printing capability. It also has
two bins - one of which is used for special printing like envelopes. The
printer is nomally configured to print in duplex. I am using ReportBuilder
7.03.

The problem I have is that when printing #10 envelopes with TppReport
(PaperName = Envelope #10, Duplex = dpNone), the printer will print in
duplex mode. It does select the proper bin and prompt for insertion of the
envelope. The only solution I have found is to manually reconfigure the
printer before printing to avoid the duplex action.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Tom

nicocizik

Hi Tom,

ReportBuilder uses the DEVMODE structure in the Windows API to control the
printer device as you can see in the TppPrinter.PrinterSetupToDevMode method
inside the ppPrintr.pas file. We have not had any issues like this before
where these properties were not working. Are you able to print successfully
to another printer? Which event are you setting Duplex = dpNone? If you
are setting it at design time, be sure you are not resetting any of the
printer properties in code.

--

rbuser

Hi Nico:

I have tried setting PrinterSetup.Duplex = dpNone immediately before the
Print method and it seems as though this proeprty cannot change the
pre-existing printer configuration. There are no event handlers specified
for TppReport.

I can print to other printers but none of these have duplex options so that
test does not prove anything.

Regards,
Tom

nicocizik

Hi Tom,

Are you printing from the Archive Reader? Does the LaserJet 2300 default
printer setup have duplexing turned on? We have never seen an issue like
this with setting the duplex settings. On our duplexing printer, there is
no way (using software) to turn duplexing on for all documents unless you
alter the printer settings manually after printing a document.

--

rbuser

Hi Nico:


I am printing with two possible options:

DeviceType := dtPrinter;
ShowPrintDialog := false;
Print;

or

DeviceType := dtScreen;
ShowPrintDialog := true;
Print;

We have never seen an issue like

Yes, the default printer setup has duplexing turned on. My assumption was
that the software command would override the default. Is that incorrect?

Tom

nicocizik

Hi Tom,

I installed the driver for the LaserJet 2300d printer and was able to
confirm the behavior you are experiencing. It appears that HP has decided
not to use the standard Windows API to control duplexing with this printer
driver. I am unsure why this would be but it is not uncommon for the
writers of device drivers to make custom additions to the DevMode structure
in the Windows API containing a printer's specific settings. Please see the
article below for more information.

-------------------------------------------------
Tech Tip: Configuring Printer Specific Options
-------------------------------------------------

The Report.PrinterSetup properties can be used to set the properties that
are common to all printers. Internally RB applies these to the Windows
DevMode structure.


Report.PrinterSetup <----> Windows DevMode <-----> Printer Driver <--->
Printer


Printers often contains additional features, such as output bins, media
types, etc. The Windows DevMode structure can contain a private area that is
used the printer driver to store printer specific options. These can be
configured by using the Printer Driver's built-in properties dialog. These
options can theoritically be set programmatically, the trick is that you
have to know where in the structure to store the option and what values are
valid.

The following example shows how to display the printer properties dialog and
save the devmode for use within RB...

http://www.digital-metaphors.com/tips/SavePrinterDevMode.zip

--

rbuser

Hi Nico:

Thanks for the update; at least I know I am not crazy - at least in this
instance.

Tom