Microsoft KB Archive/95901

= ACC: &quot;Printer Isn't Available&quot; Error in Preview or Print =

Article ID: 95901

Article Last Modified on 5/9/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Access 1.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 1.1 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 2.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Access 95 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q95901



Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.



SYMPTOMS
When you preview a form or report, you may receive the following error message.

In Microsoft Access for Windows 95 version 7.0:

This document was previously formatted for the printer on, but that printer isn't available. Do you want to use the default printer on ?

In Microsoft Access versions 1.x and 2.0:

An error occurred while attempting to retrieve printer information for the on.



CAUSE
This error occurs when the printer driver that was in use when the form or report was created no longer exists on the system. If you print the form or report rather than preview it, you receive the following error message from Commdlg.dll.

In version 7.0:

This document was previously formatted for the printer on, but that printer isn't available. Do you want to use the default printer on ?

In versions 1.x and 2.0:

This document was previously formatted for the printer on , but that printer is not available. Use the default printer on .



RESOLUTION
NOTE: This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Access 97.

In version 7.0:

When you receive the error message, click OK or Setup. If you click OK, Microsoft Access resets and saves the report using the default printer. If you click Setup, you can assign a new specific printer to the report.

In versions 1.x and 2.0:

Open the form or report in Design view, and make sure that the selected printer is correct. If Specific Printer is selected in the Print Setup dialog box, the printer driver that was in use when the form or report was created must be installed on the system. Save the form or report before you preview or print it.

Selecting Default Printer in the Print Setup dialog box before you save a new form or report makes the form or report more portable, because the form or report will use the default printer on any system when that form or report is previewed or printed.



Steps to Reproduce Behavior
NOTE: The following steps apply only to Windows version 3.x. If you have Windows 95, please search for &quot;Printer drivers, installing&quot; using the Windows 95 Help Index before deleting your printer icon in the Printers folder in My Computer.


 * 1) Create a new form.
 * 2) Before you save the new form, click Print Setup on the File menu. Select the Specific Printer option, and then select a printer.
 * 3) Save the form, and then close it.
 * 4) Open File Manager.
 * 5) Locate the printer driver for the printer you selected in step 2. (Printer drivers are usually in the Windows\System folder.)
 * 6) Rename the printer driver file.
 * 7) Open the form you created in step 1.
 * 8) Preview the form. You should receive the error message noted above.

