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OT ?: HP 5100tn printer problem (paper size & orientation)

Hello All,

We have a new HP 5100tn laser printer on the company network. When printing from SolidWorks, there is NO problem as long as the letter size paper is specified.

When attempting to send print jobs to the printer's optional 11x17 paper tray, the output is often erroneous and difficult to predict.

I've tried a whole slew of variations with page and printer setups; however, the print preview (for a landscape 11x17) is usually of an undesirable 8 1/2 x 11 portrait.

Print preview works, so to speak, since the actual printed output turns out to be on a letter sized sheet in portrait mode.

Unfortunately, the only times I can get the landscape 11x17 desired is through seemingly random luck. I don't think it's necessarily a problem with SolidWorks, since there's an older HP printer on the network which accepts the large format jobs without a hitch each and every time.

The HP drivers (for the offending network shared 5100tn) are the latest.

Any suggestions for a solution would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Per O. Hoel

Reply to
POH
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Just a dumb question, but have you looked at any logs you might have? This includes SW logs, workstation logs and if the printer has it, the printer's logs? Of course the other question is whether your VAR can offer any help. Historically this has been a blame shifting game, but you might try. At the very least they can ask SW if they have seen any troubles in this area. And if it is new, can you get HP to service it on warranty? There could be a defect somewhere.

Reply to
TOP

We have the same printer installed on our network also and sence it has been installed we have had problems with paper size and layout. Some times it takes us 2 to 3 times at changing the print options for that page size before it takes. But one things for sure if you do a print preview what you see is what you get from that printer as far as size and orientation. Our old HP4V worked just great with no print problem like this one but it is faster printing. If there is a fix I would like to know about it we have tried printer drives with no help.

Reply to
Randy

Damn, I shouldn't have read this thread. I was going to say we have no problems here, unfortunately I can no longer say that. I feel cursed now, as I too cannot print 11x17 automatically.

It's been a few weeks since I had to print 11x17, so today when I did a print preview for 11x17, I was horrified that it was previewed at 8.5x11.

There are 2 issues for me;

1st, getting paper size corrected seems to be a straight forward issue (workaround). After selecting print from Solidworks, select properties button next to selected printer (5100tn), then properties (again), paper/output set it to11x17.

2nd, by changing the properties of the paper/output from 1st issue, the printer insists on using the rear output tray. What a pain.

On a side note, I'm assuming all of you have the 11x17 tray. Out of curiosity, in windows, settings, printers & faxes select the 5100tn. Right click on it and select properties. Select Device Settings, what media size do your trays have set to them?

If you look at the numbers on the physical printer (1) is the manual feed tray, (2) is the 8.5x11 tray and (3) is the 11x17 tray.

For us, tray (3) is grayed out in the Device Settings tab, I never noticed this before.

Reply to
remy martin

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