Common Spires Printing Problems and Possible Solutions
On this Page:
Overview
This page lists common Spires printing issues and possible solutions and workarounds. If you encounter a Spires printing issue that is not listed here, please let us know by submitting a HelpSU request.
Print Options
Most of the suggested solutions for printing problems listed on this page involve making changes to print options. If you are attempting to print from within Prism, you can specify the print options on the print options screen. If you are attempting to print and you are not using Prism, you may specify the options at the command line.
Note: You can set up a SUNet-connected department laser printer to print Spires data. more information
Problems
- Blank pages
- Cannot print landscape orientation
- Printed output contains "garbage" characters or code
- Job sent to printer not printing; no output
Problem: Blank pages
"I've sent a Spires print job to my printer and it's printing blank pages."
Possible Solutions:
- Add the word NODUPLEX (or DUPLEX) to the print options line or
- Add the word NOPS to the print options line.
Problem: Cannot print landscape orientation
"I've specified landscape orientation for my output but it prints in portrait mode."
Possible Solutions:
- If you're printing to an ATTACHED printer, try selecting DEPARTMENT printer instead if that option is available to you or
- Add the word PS to the print options line.
Problem: Printed output contains "garbage" characters or code
"My printed output looks as if it's some kind of code, starting with "%!PS."
Possible Solutions:
- Add the word NOPS to the print options line.
Problem: Job sent to printer not printing; no output.
"I sent a print job to the printer but it's not printing anything."
Possible Solutions:
- Add the word PS to the print options line.
Other Suggestions
- Make certain you're using the latest version of Samson, available from the Essential Stanford Software site.
- The LPRINT option which was available on the Forsythe computer is not available on Spires.
- If you're still experiencing difficulties printing, you may want to consider emailing the document you're trying to print to yourself and printing it from your email application.
- If your printer supports it and you're attempting to print two-sided copies, remember to specify DUPLEX in the print options.
