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How can I select paper size while in print preview ?

MichalB
MichalB
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I have a printer with four different paper trays, and each one is loaded with different size of paper: A3, A4, Legal, envelopes. When I use IE 11, I can easy go to print preview, click on page setup (little gear icon), select paper size , margins, etc.. there, and when i hit OK, the page is adjusted to the settings I selected and its ready to print, and printer selects the proper size of the paper automatically

In Firefox v32, I can almost do this same, but I'm stuck with printing only on A4 style paper, as I don't see where to select the paper I want to print on !

I tried to select A3 and legal paper in the printer driver, but then firefox used the selected paper, but printout on the paper came out as set to A4 size, and rest of the page was empty ! Also I was not able to see the page preview of the selected paper either. How do I then print on other size papers than a4 ?

I found only one workaround which does not suits my needs but works: First: Go to printer driver and select legal or A3 paper as default, and then open firefox. If I do that i can print on any paper I select, but thats a horrible workaround, because then I often forget to change the default paper size back inside the printer driver, and i print my documents on wrong paper, wasting paper, ink and time...

Please let me know if there is a way to fix this printing feature somehow.

Thanks.

I have a printer with four different paper trays, and each one is loaded with different size of paper: A3, A4, Legal, envelopes. When I use IE 11, I can easy go to print preview, click on page setup (little gear icon), select paper size , margins, etc.. there, and when i hit OK, the page is adjusted to the settings I selected and its ready to print, and printer selects the proper size of the paper automatically In Firefox v32, I can almost do this same, but I'm stuck with printing only on A4 style paper, as I don't see where to select the paper I want to print on ! I tried to select A3 and legal paper in the printer driver, but then firefox used the selected paper, but printout on the paper came out as set to A4 size, and rest of the page was empty ! Also I was not able to see the page preview of the selected paper either. How do I then print on other size papers than a4 ? I found only one workaround which does not suits my needs but works: First: Go to printer driver and select legal or A3 paper as default, and then open firefox. If I do that i can print on any paper I select, but thats a horrible workaround, because then I often forget to change the default paper size back inside the printer driver, and i print my documents on wrong paper, wasting paper, ink and time... Please let me know if there is a way to fix this printing feature somehow. Thanks.

All Replies (2)

CoryMH
CoryMH
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Hello,

When you get to the Print dialog box, beside the printer name dropdown menu should be a button that says "Properties". After selecting the printer you want to print on, click that button. Under one of the tabs there you can select your paper source. If you don't see any box that allows you to select the paper source, try finding an "Advanced" button in one of those tabs. Normally the paper source is set to whatever the printer is defaulted to, which you are currently using as your workaround.

Hope that helps.

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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MichalB,

Sorry, IMO there is no real "fix" for what you are experiencing. Printer prefs set or changed in the operating system won't affect Firefox printing [IMO, either ancient code in Firefox or a "cross-browser thing".] Firefox has its' own settings for prefs and it defaults to the "last used" for all printer preference setting. And there is no way to set a pref as "use now and return to my defaults after this print job is completed".

As you have found out, there is no way of changing paper size from the Print Preview screen. Other prefs - Margins & Header/Footer can be changed via Page Setup and you can see changes in the Preview window, but not for paper size. As CoryMH mentioned, paper size is selected thru what called the "native print dialog" box using the Properties button which shows a window provided by your printer software for the Printer which is selected in the "native print dialog" window, and accessed after you hit the Print button in the Print Preview screen.

Problem is that you can't "preview" what is going to be printed when you change paper size. If you go back to Print Preview without printing from the "native print dialog" the change for Paper Size isn't saved for viewing in Print Preview!

IMO, it would be nice if Firefox recognized each "tray" as a separate printer, so that a user could set Margins & Header/Footer prefs AND paper size per tray. IOW, a feature sort of writing a completely new print module that would reflect "today's" environment with multiple tray printers; rather than to continue using the print module that was built by Netscape back in '94 - '95, which we are stuck with almost 20 years later.

As I sit here shaking my head after composing this reply, wondering why the issues I had back in 2002 with printing from Firefox / Firebird / Phoenix haven't been corrected in the last 14 years. I do like "old stuff", and have a vehicle sitting my driveway that rolled out of the showroom 30 years ago come October 1 - a 35th birthday present I purchased for myself. [85 Corolla GTS TwinCam coupe - aka Sprinter in GTA] But as far as computer software, I prefer it to be compatible with hardware made in this century.