Certain Colors of Text Do Not Print on Noncolor Printers

ID: Q110011

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SYMPTOMS

When you print certain colors of text to noncolor printers in Word for Windows 6.0, the text may not print, leaving only a blank space where the text should appear.

This problem occurs when you have text formatted in the following colors:

Cyan
Green
Lt. Gray
Magenta
Yellow


CAUSE

These colors may not print on a 24-pin dot-matrix, noncolor printer or to a printer using the HPPCL5E.DRV printer driver set to Raster graphics mode because the printer driver is mapping color text to white. This problem does not occur in Word 2.0 for Windows because Word 2.0 does not send color information to a noncolor printer. Instead, Word maps all colors to black when printing to a noncolor printer.


WORKAROUND

You can work around this problem by doing one of the following:

  • Changing the color of the text to black.


  • Configuring Word to map all colored text to black.


  • Configuring the HPPCL5E.DRV printer driver in Raster graphics mode to HPGL/2 mode.


Changing the color of the text to black

To change the text color to black:
  1. Select the text.


  2. From the Format menu, choose Font.


  3. In the Color list, select Black or Auto.


  4. Choose OK.


Configuring Word to map all colored text to black

To configure Word 6.0 to map all colored text to black when printing to a noncolor printer:
  1. From the Tools menu, choose Options.


  2. Select the Compatibility tab.


  3. Select the "Print colors as black on noncolor printers" check box. Selecting this option prevents the printer drivers from rendering colors to gray scales.


Configuring the HPPCL5E.DRV printer driver in Raster graphics mode to HPGL/2 mode

If you are using the HPPCL5E.DRV printer driver in Raster graphics mode, switch to HPGL/2 mode. To do this:
  1. From the File Menu, choose Print.


  2. Choose the Printer button.


  3. Choose the Options button, and then choose the Options button again on the next window.


  4. In the Graphics Mode list, choose HPGL/2.


  5. Choose the OK button twice, then choose the Close button.


  6. Choose the OK button again to return to the document.


Additional query words: 6.0 2.0 light lite winword word6

Keywords : kbprint
Version : WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: December 29, 1999
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