How do I change printing paper tray setting default
I wish to use the printer defaults, which include automatic paper tray selection by the printer with tray 1 first and tray 2 as fall back. Firefox forces the use of tray 2. Which parameter on about:config do I change and what is syntax for making Firefox use printer defaults. If I select this in the drop down menu it always reverts to tray 2 before printing. Grateful for some informed help here. Budge2
Modified by Budge2
All Replies (5)
Firefox's page setup dialog is limited, as you've noticed. However, Firefox does extract some other settings from your printer driver. I don't know whether it stores a paper tray setting, however.
Which is the drop-down you are using? After you choose the printer in the Print dialog, if you click the Properties button next to it, what tray shows there?
Hi and thanks for the reply. If I use the Print option from the file drop down menu and select the printer there is no Properties button but just six tabs. If I chose the Page Setup tab there is a Paper Source option and this defaults to Tray 2 (Paper Cassette) even though the printer default is Tray 1 (Multipurpose). There are three choices if I pull down the options, Tray 2, Tray 1 and Printer Default. If I select Printer Default it will not stay selected and as soon as I print it reverts to and uses Tray 2. This was the behaviour I was trying to explain.
Firefox usually picks up the same settings you would get if you examined the printer properties from here:
Windows Start menu > Devices and Printers > right-click your printer
If they don't match, I wonder whether a rogue setting got saved? You can try clearing them here:
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.
(2) In the filter box, type or paste printer and pause while the list is filtered
(3) Find the dozen or so settings for your printer, and right-click > Reset each one. It's faster if you right-click with your right hand and then tap the R key with your left hand. Note: you can skip the header/footer settings, since those are not based on your printer data.
The next time you load the print dialog and select that printer, Firefox should re-read your paper settings.
Does it make any difference?
Hi and thanks for the suggestion. I forgot to say I am running on Linux (openSUSE 12.2) but about:config works the same. I shall try resetting the printer settings but it would be better to know which setting corresponds to the Paper Source. Do you know which it is and waht the setting is for use printer defaults? Regards, Budge2
Hi Budge2, the only one which is vague enough to refer to the paper source or paper tray seems to be "paper_data" but I wasn't able to find clear documentation on it.