Printing
Be able to print from an installed printer.
To print from an application Normally you will
be printing from an application, such as a word-processor or spreadsheet
to your printer. To print your document or spreadsheet simply click on
the printer icon in the applications tool bar.
If you click on the File drop down menu of an application and select the
Print command you will have more control over your printing options, such
as how many copies to print which printer to select besides the default
printer and printer properties.
Change the default printer from an installed printer list.
To change the default printer First Click on the Start icon - then printers, or in XP control panel printers. A box will be displayed, similar to that illustrated. In this case we have the choice for printing to a number of different printers. However when we click on the Print icon with an application such as Microsoft Word or Open office Writer, then only the default printer will be displayed which is the one that has been set up as the default (or active printer). If you have a number of printers installed, as in the example shown, the active printer is illustrated by a tick. To change the default printer to another printer listed here, select the required printer, by clicking on it. Then right-click to display a popup menu. - Select the Set as Default. The new printer will now be the default printer for all your applications - as below
You will notice that if you look closely at the icons, within the Printer
dialog box, some of the icons have a horizontal line under them. This
indicates whether the printer is connected directly to your computer,
or via a local Area Network (LAN).
Networked printer. Local, non-networked printer.
To install a new printer · To install a new printer driver first select the Printers folder from My Computer OR click on the Start button and select Settings followed by Printers.· Double click on the Add Printer icon to launch the Add Printer Wizard. · Select the Next button.· Select Local Printer or Network Printer whichever is appropriate, followed by Next.· From the Manufacturers list choose the correct manufacturer of your printer.· From the Printers list select the correct model.· Select Next followed by the prompt for each Wizard dialog box and then your new printer is installed!
To configure a printer · To open the Printers folder, click on
the Start button and select Settings followed by Printers.· Select
the printer you wish to configure, click once using the right-hand mouse
button and then select Properties. The exact options available to you
will vary depending upon the particular printer you have installed. Example
configuration tabs are illustrated below.
Option Function
General Comments, Separator Page, Printer Test Page.
Details Port Selected. Current print driver in use. Capture a port to
a network printer. Release a network printer.
Sharing Share name to be used. Access permissions allowed.
Paper Paper Size. Orientation (e.g. portrait or landscape). Source tray.
Unprintable area control. Number of copies to be printed.
Graphics Resolution. Dithering control. Intensity of shading. Graphics
control (e.g. raster graphics or vector graphics).
Fonts Installed cartridges. Font control.
Device Options Print quality options. Installed memory. Printer memory
control (calculates the maximum size of document the printer can handle).
View a print job’s progress from a Desktop print manager.
To view print jobs Once you have started printing if you double click on the small printer icon (in the status bar at the bottom-right of your screen), you will open the Printer dialog box and will be able to see the progress of any printed jobs that you have sent to the printer.