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Print using system dialog

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Is there any way to set a preference for system print dialog box to open as a default, rather than Firefox's print dialog box?? (86.0 Firefox Release February 23, 2021)

I have looked thought the preferences and have not been able to find it (if there is one)

Thank-you

Ken

Is there any way to set a preference for system print dialog box to open as a default, rather than Firefox's print dialog box?? (86.0 Firefox Release February 23, 2021) I have looked thought the preferences and have not been able to find it (if there is one) Thank-you Ken

Chosen solution

Hi Ken, your post is under Firefox for iOS for iPhone/iPad, but I think this question is about your Mac. A moderator can move it to the Firefox forum.

Firefox 85-86 have a preference you can use to return to the classic print experience where Command+P opens the MacOS print dialog instead of the new combined preview/setup/print overlay. But I'm not surprised the name didn't jump out at you when you went looking for it.

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.

(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste tab_mo and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the print.tab_modal.enabled preference to switch the value between true (new experience) and false (classic)

(4) If there is another preference named app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.print.tab_modal.enabled and it's set to true, you can double-click that one to switch it to false as well. If you do not have that one, no need to create it.

But while you're here, could you describe the features of the classic MacOS dialog that are missing from the overlay? It's not too late to get more things added before that preference is removed.

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All Replies (10)

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Dear Kenwolf, The dialog box is predefined, it cannot be changed.

I hope I have been helpful

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Thanks. Can a preference setting to chose the system print settings as a default be included as a feature request for the next update?? Is there a link specifically for feature requests??

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Chosen Solution

Hi Ken, your post is under Firefox for iOS for iPhone/iPad, but I think this question is about your Mac. A moderator can move it to the Firefox forum.

Firefox 85-86 have a preference you can use to return to the classic print experience where Command+P opens the MacOS print dialog instead of the new combined preview/setup/print overlay. But I'm not surprised the name didn't jump out at you when you went looking for it.

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter/Return. Click the button accepting the risk.

(2) In the search box in the page, type or paste tab_mo and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the print.tab_modal.enabled preference to switch the value between true (new experience) and false (classic)

(4) If there is another preference named app.normandy.startupRolloutPrefs.print.tab_modal.enabled and it's set to true, you can double-click that one to switch it to false as well. If you do not have that one, no need to create it.

But while you're here, could you describe the features of the classic MacOS dialog that are missing from the overlay? It's not too late to get more things added before that preference is removed.

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Thank-you jscher2000!

That was the solution.

Ken

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jscher2000 said

But while you're here, could you describe the features of the classic MacOS dialog that are missing from the overlay? It's not too late to get more things added before that preference is removed.

What's missing for me is the ability to designate which paper tray I want to use.

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enzymee said

jscher2000 said

But while you're here, could you describe the features of the classic MacOS dialog that are missing from the overlay? It's not too late to get more things added before that preference is removed.

What's missing for me is the ability to designate which paper tray I want to use.

Oh, if selecting the Paper Size under More Settings doesn't trigger the printer to automatically use the relevant tray, then I guess it's essential to use the system dialog.

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jscher2000 said

But while you're here, could you describe the features of the classic MacOS dialog that are missing from the overlay? It's not too late to get more things added before that preference is removed.

Thanks for the solution to this... I thought this preferences would be in the Firefox->Preferences tab.

One thing missing for me in the new print dialog is the PDF menu. I use it all the time.

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Eric F said

jscher2000 said

But while you're here, could you describe the features of the classic MacOS dialog that are missing from the overlay? It's not too late to get more things added before that preference is removed.

Thanks for the solution to this... I thought this preferences would be in the Firefox->Preferences tab.

One thing missing for me in the new print dialog is the PDF menu. I use it all the time.

If you get time, you might experiment with the built-in "Save to PDF" printer in the new print experience. Not being a Mac user, I don't know what differences there are.

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The issue I have with the Firefox print dialog v. the macOS system dialog is the ability to direct a PDF to another application. I usually don't physically print, but instead direct a PDF to another app for storage (e.g. DEVONthink Pro Office). This can be done directly from a pulldown menu in the system print dialog.

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dwight4 said

The issue I have with the Firefox print dialog v. the macOS system dialog is the ability to direct a PDF to another application. I usually don't physically print, but instead direct a PDF to another app for storage (e.g. DEVONthink Pro Office). This can be done directly from a pulldown menu in the system print dialog.

Hmm, these programs don't show up as a "printer" in Firefox's Destination drop-down? I guess this is a unique feature of Mac (I can't think of anything like it on Windows).