Positioning on small forms

rbuser

When I set the form size in PrinterSetup to Height = 3.5", Width = 8.5",
and Orientation = poLandscape, it prints landscape but positions it as
if it were printing in the upper left hand corner of an 8.5 x 11 form.
My HP LJ 2100 feed tray positions paper in the center of the feed path.
(Using RB 6.03.)
Where should I look for help on this?
Thank you.

digitalmetaphors

Have you set the BinName to something like 'Manual Paper Feed' so that the
printer knows that it should print with this configuration? Set
Report.PrinterSetup.BinName in the object inspector. Read
Report.PrinterSetup.BinNames[i] to set this property at runtime.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

It was feeding from the correct tray but I set the BinName to Manual Feed as
you suggested, and the results are the same as before.
As a "work around" I can get it to print correctly by setting
Height = 8.5 instead of 3.5
Width = 11 instead of 8.5
MarginTop = 2.75 instead of .25
MarginLeft = 2.75 instead of .25
but this does not seem to be a "correct" way to do it, and I am concerned that
it may not work correctly on other printers.

digitalmetaphors

How are you handling the custom paper size? Are you using Win9x or NT/2000
or XP?


-----------------------------------------------
Article: Custom Paper Sizes on Windows 2000
-----------------------------------------------

Win 2000 (and Win NT) have a completely different printing architecture from
Win 9x. This is particularly apparent when it comes to custom paper sizes.

Windows NT handles paper sizes via Forms that are defined at the operating
system level.

1. Open the Windows 2000 printer panel
2. Select File | Server Properties. The Print Server Properties dialog is
displayed.
3. From this dialog you can view all of the Forms currently defined for your
machine.

There are basic forms installed by the operating system. Additional forms
may be added by printer driver installations or applications.

ReportBuilder defines a Custom paper size as one that is NOT already defined
and known to the printer driver. There are Win API calls ReportBuilder uses
to retrieve a list of available paper sizes known to the printer driver.

When printing a report, ReportBuilder first tries to find a pre-defined
paper size it can use - one that matches the paper dimensions of the report.
If it cannot find one, then it uses a Win API call to add/modify a Form
named 'Custom'.

Security Issues:
----------------

Each printer installed to Win 2000 has security rights associated with it.

1. Open the Windows Printer panel
2. Select the printer icon for the printer
3. Press the right mouse button to display the popup menu and select
Properties.
4. From the properties dialog select the Security tab
5. From the Security tab, press the Permissions button
6. A list of user groups and their associated rights will be displayed.
7. The rights are: No Access, Print, Manage Documents, Full Control.

*** A group must have at Manage Documents or Full Control in order to update
forms.

By default Administrators have full control. However Users by default have
only Print rights.


Troubleshooting Tips:
---------------------

1. To test paper sizes you can run demo 121 in the main reports demo app.
This demo displays a printer settings dialog and is very useful for
testing printer drivers with various paper sizes.

To test a paper size:

a. Selecting the printer
b. Specify the paper size
c. press preview
d. Press print to display the print dialog.
e. From the print dialog press the Properties button to display the
printer driver's built-in dialog. You should be able to verify the
printer setting from here.

These are the values communicated by RB to the printer. If
these are set correctly then RB has done its job, the rest is up to the
printer.

2. Open the Windows printers panel. Select File | Server Properties. The
Print Server Properties dialog is displayed. Select the Form named 'Custom'
and check that its dimensions are set to the correct values for your report.

3. Try printing to this same paper size using other apps such
as MS Excel and MS Word. If they cannot do it, then it is likely
a limitation of the printer.

4. Try downloading the latest printer driver from the manufacturers
web site.

5. Try testing with another printer.

If test number 1 above works properly then e-mail
support@digital-metaphors.com with the exact configuration
you are using: Delphi version, ReportBuilder version,
OS (2000, NT4.0, Win98), and printer model.

We can download the driver and try it out here.



Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors