Printing Handouts From A4 Poster

[Ann]

I am trying to print some handout leaflets 4 to an A4 page using an A4 poster saved in Microsoft Word using the usual Microsoft Word system of printing. I printed off 50 sheets with 4 on a page last week - no problem. Today I am doing exactly the same but the words on the finished articles are spaced peculiarly - like this - tr ad itio n al mu sic etc

What can have happened please? I have updated my drivers but makes no difference, any suggestions please?

[HansUrbancka]

What Printer are you using?. It would assist respondents to know the make and model. Also your Computer's Operating System (Windows Vista, W7 or whatever)

Hans.

[Ann]

Thanks Hans. I use Windows XP and have an HP Photosmart all-in-one C80 printer.

[HansUrbancka]

Good morning Ann.......I suggest that you download the HP Print & Scan Doctor and see what it finds. It is a free diagnostic tool which surprisingly does find and often fixes problems. I have used it successfully for my own Printer and a few weeks back I employed it to fix a printing problem on my sister-in-laws machine.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?cc=uk&lc=en&jumpid=ex_r4155/hho/ipg/ccdoc/printer_diag/&softwareitem=mp-129932-1

Hans.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah updated a printer driver have you. Hmm sounds like you are not using an optimum one.

It suggests to me a mismatch between a font used on the screen and one used on the printer, and a need for the printer to add space every now and again to retain the correct overall width.

Might be worth ensuring you are using the latest driver for your printer anyway, download from the HP site and see if that fixes it.

[Old_Geezer]

Ah re-reading immediately after posting I see you downloaded to try to fix the problem, rather than it caused it. Nevertheless I'd still suspect the driver. But check the Word setting especially regarding fonts anyway. Ensure you are using a scalable font. (Most are these days I think.)

[Ann]

Many thanks to you both for helpful suggestions.

Hans - I wasn't aware of the HP system Print and Scan doctor, brilliant! I have saved it and run programme and it all seems to be printing fine now. I am hoping that it will also cure another problem I have with printing off pdf files, intermittently they print off all gobbledegook - strange language! Its unpredictable when it happens, so fingers crossed it has cured this too! Many thanks Hans!

[HansUrbancka]

Hello again Ann.......If the 'Doctor' hasn't put right your PDF problem, check that your Adobe Reader is up-to-date, then switch off and completely disconnect all cables to your printer. Leave everything disconnected for about ten minutes and then reconnect. Switch on and see if things alter.

Hans.