"Error 21" Print Overrun on HP LaserJet 4 Printer

• Microsoft Publisher for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a
• Microsoft Publisher for Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.1

SYMPTOMS

An "error 21" Print Overrun may be displayed on the printer when you use the Hewlett-Packard (HP) LaserJet 4 printer. This error is most likely to occur when you use a lot of Picture or BorderArt images opn a page.

STATUS

Microsoft has reported this problem to HP. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

WORKAROUNDS

Method 1: Switch from HP-GL/2 (Vector) Mode to Raster Mode

1. From the File menu in Publisher, choose Print Setup.

2. Make sure the LaserJet 4 printer is selected

3. If you have Publisher 2.x:

         Choose the Options button.
   

   If you have Publisher 95:

         Choose the Properties button.
   

4. If you have Windows 3.x:

         In the Graphics Mode list box, select Raster instead
         of HP-GL/2.  Choose OK to return to Publisher.
   

   If you have Windows 95:

         In the Graphics Tab, select Use raster graphics.  Choose 
         OK to return to Publisher.
   

Method 2: Use the HP LaserJet III Printer Driver

Print to the HP LaserJet 4 printer using the HP LaserJet III printer driver:

1. From the File menu in Publisher, choose Print Setup.

2. Select the LaserJet III printer. If you do not have a choice for a LaserJet III, you will need to install the driver. Consult your Windows user's guide for instructions on installing printer drivers.

Method 3: Use the Add-on PostScript Option

Print to the HP LaserJet 4 printer using the add-on PostScript option, if it's available:

NOTE: You can try this workaround only if your HP LaserJet 4 printer came with the PostScript Option.

1. From the File menu in Publisher, choose Print Setup.

2. Select the LaserJet 4 PostScript printer driver and choose OK. If you do not have a choice for the LaserJet 4 PostScript printer, you will need to install the driver. Consult your Windows user's guide for instructions on installing printer drivers.

MORE INFORMATION

The HP-GL/2 printer language is vector based. It defines a curve using a recursive algorithm creating a series of very short lines. Some basic objects such as a circle in BorderArt are printed by defining thousands of lines. This may overflow the printer's memory. Adding memory to the printer does not necessarily resolve the error message.

In Raster mode your image is interpreted as a bitmap, so the printer memory does not become overloaded with an untold number of line descriptions.

NOTE: Other memory issues could be considered--for example, making sure that you have a valid SET TEMP= statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, and that the directory it points to exists.