Printer Paper Templates

[lasergecko]

I've got an old machine that I'd like to replace that is used to print with a dot matrix printer but there are some paper templates (in addition to the standard ones like letter, legal, etc.). I need to know how to transfer these to the new machine.

Anyone know?

 

[Lord Evermore]

I believe that it's controlled by each printer's own driver. For instance, with the Epson drivers for mine, if I create a user defined page size, it stores it as a file with UCF for the extension (the filename unrelated to what I named the new page definition). What little I found on that extension makes me think it is a sort of universal file type for such definitions, so you may be able to find your own such as that. But it may depend on which version of Windows, and which drivers.

If nothing else, just write down the format information and define them manually.

 

[lasergecko]

Thanks for the information.

Here's what I found which seemed to contain the information I needed:
Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
Select the icon that represents the printer that you want to use.
On the File menu, click Server Properties.
Click to select the Create a New Form check box.

From MS KB 826357

 

[Lord Evermore]

That's specific only to MS Publisher, and all it does is use the driver for your printer to make a new form, with Publisher's interface to step through it. The format is still saved by the driver software in whatever format it uses, just as if you used the Properties for the printer to bring up the paper type page.

 

[lasergecko]

Maybe, I'm confused then because you don't have to have any printer selected to enter the server properties box and create a new form. Also, you don't have to have MS publisher.

(I didn't mean to mislead but the article was a Publisher article when it really doesn't need to be.)

 

[Lord Evermore]

Don't know what version of windows you use, but there is no "server properties" item in any of the menus for any printers in XP. I do see that the KB article seems to indicate there is, but I've never seen that in any version of Windows, and they still don't specify what version it applies to, making me think it only shows that when Publisher is installed (but that'd be weird).

It does however specifically state that you're adding it to the printer driver's list of available paper sizes, so it's still just using the driver to specify a size. That still doesn't help you to "export" the sizes so you can easily copy them.

Ugh, nevermind, I found the server properties page (I forget I use the expanded menus). This is creating the forms directly in the "print server" subsystem. Don't know where it would save that information. The list stored there seems to be what the print server makes available for a specific driver to select from. However it seems to only be applicable to "generic" drivers built into Windows. When I create a new form, it doesn't show up in the Epson list. The article does mention it's for if you use a generic driver; generic drivers won't have any special formatting options so the print server can supply all the formatting.

 

[lasergecko]

I think I know where the confusion is. Open up Printers and faxes from the start menu. Then look at the File menu at the top of the window that comes up. There should be the server properties menu. (I've seen the menu on NT 4 workstation & Server, XP Pro & XP Tablet Edition).

Do you see it?

 

[Lord Evermore]

Edited my last post, I found it.