Microsoft KB Archive/63231

Works: Printing on Dot Matrix Printers with Sheet Feeders

PSS ID Number: Q63231 Article last modified on 06-12-1996

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MS-DOS

= SUMMARY =

Margin changes may be necessary to allow Microsoft Works to print properly on a dot matrix printer with a sheet feeder. Some symptoms include footers printing on a separate page, top margins being too small, bottom margins being too large, and printouts “creeping” down the page (the first page has a 2-inch top margin, the second page has a 3-inch top margin, etc.).

= MORE INFORMATION =

When Works prints to a dot matrix printer, Works expects the printer to be using continuous form paper, sometimes called fanfold or tractor feed paper. Also, Works expects the bottom wire of the print head to be just above the perforation on the paper.

Works expects to be in control of the printer from the top of the physical piece of paper to the bottom.

When a sheet feeder is used, the sheet feeder inserts the paper one half to one inch above the print head, then releases control of the printer to the computer. Therefore, Works is not in control of the printer until the paper is one half to one inch below the top of the page.

As far as Works is concerned, it is as if the top part of the piece of paper no longer exists.

The solution is to tell Works that the page length is different for a dot matrix printer. For example, suppose 11-inch long sheets are being fed using a sheet feeder and the feeder feeds the paper one-half inch above the bottom of the print head. Choose Page Setup & Margins, from the Works Print menu and set the page size to 10.5 inches. This workaround should correct the problem.

The top margin may need to be adjusted as well. Works receives control of the printer when the page has already advanced one to one-half inches. Then Works will advance the page for the top margin. If the top margin is one inch, then the printout will begin one and a half to two inches below the top of the page.

In the previous example, setting the top margin to 0.5 inches will print a one inch top margin on the physical piece of paper.

KBCategory: kbprint KBSubcategory: dworkskb Additional reference words:

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================================================================ Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1996.