WD2000: Setting ActivePrinter Changes System Default Printer

ID: Q209722


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 2000


SYMPTOMS

When you specify the active printer using the Visual Basic for Applications ActivePrinter property, the command resets the system-level default printer.

NOTE: This behavior does not occur when you change printers using the Print command on the File menu.


RESOLUTION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Solution Providers, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/mcsp/
For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

To resolve this problem, use a variable to store the current printer name, and then reset the active printer to the stored value after using the ActivePrinter property.

For example:

Sub ChangePrinter()
   Dim sCurPrinter As String
   With Application
      sCurPrinter = .ActivePrinter       ' Store current printer.
      .ActivePrinter = "HP LaserJet 4SI" ' Change Printers.
      ActiveDocument.PrintOut            ' Print the active document.
      .ActivePrinter = sCurPrinter       ' Set printer back to current.
   End With
End Sub 


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.


REFERENCES

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q226118 OFF2000: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Additional query words: vba

Keywords : kbdta kbwordvba wd2000
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: June 15, 1999
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.