Incorrect Bin Selection with Some Windows 3.1 Printer Drivers

ID: Q84910

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, version 2.0

SYMPTOMS

If you are running version 2.0 of Microsoft Word for Windows with Microsoft Windows version 3.1, you may be unable to print from mixed bins on many printers, including Hewlett-Packard (HP) LaserJet Series II, III, and Series IV printers and PostScript printers.


CAUSE

If you cannot print correctly from mixed bins, you are probably experiencing a problem with Word version 2.0.


RESOLUTION

You need to upgrade your Word installation.

To obtain new or updated Microsoft products, call Microsoft End User Sales at (800) 426-9400. If you are outside the United States, contact the Microsoft subsidiary for your area.


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word 2.0. This problem was corrected and does not occur in later versions of Word.


MORE INFORMATION

When you choose Page Setup from the Format menu and select the Paper Source option button, you can select different settings for the First Page and Other Pages options. Word pulls all sheets from the tray selected for the First Page option and ignores the setting for the Other Pages option.

Mixed-bin printing problems have been confirmed in Word 2.0 on the following Windows 3.1 printer drivers:

HPPCL5A.DRV, version 31.3.89 (HP LaserJet Series III)
HPPCL.DRV, version 1.1 (HP LaserJet Series II)
PSCRIPT.DRV, version 3.5 or 3.51 (PostScript)
NOTE: This list may not be exhaustive.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

  1. When you are running Word 2.0 with Windows 3.1, activate one of the printer drivers listed above. Verify that you are using the Windows 3.1 version of the printer driver.


  2. Create a two-page document.


  3. From the Format menu, choose Page Setup, and select the Paper Source option button. In the First Page box, select Upper Tray; in the Other Pages box, select Lower Tray.


  4. From the File menu, choose Print, then choose the OK button.


NOTE: To illustrate this problem, it is helpful to put colored paper in one of the paper trays.

Both pages of your document are pulled from the upper paper tray. If you install Word 2.0a, the paper will be pulled correctly from the upper and lower tray.

NOTE: Word 2.0 correctly pulls paper from the upper and lower paper trays if you use the Windows version 3.0 HP IID or IIID drivers (HPPCL.DRV version 3.4 or HPPCL5A.DRV version 3.85 or 3.86). However, using Windows version 3.0 printer drivers with Windows version 3.1 causes other problems and is not advised as a workaround. For additional information on mixed-bin printing, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
mixed and bin and printing and paper and source


REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 122-123

Additional query words: 2.00a w4wprint wrong 3.1 3.10

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:2.0,3.1
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: December 2, 1999
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.