• Printing problem in Xubuntu Linux

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    #111651

    Over the years, I have found that a good workaround for printing problems is to first print to PDF, and then print the PDF file. This gave me a good, serviceable workaround for the printing problem I am currently experiencing in my 64-bit install of Xubuntu Linux.

    About a month ago, my Linux computer developed a printing problem — whenever I try to print anything, the printout is shrunk way down so that it prints only in one small corner of the page. However, I noticed that PDF files always print correctly.

    I haven’t yet found a solution, but I have found a workaround. My workaround adds just one step to the printing process, so it isn’t bad. Basically, I “print to PDF”, then I print the resulting PDF file.

    This is a really easy workaround, because saving any document or image in PDF format is very easy in Ubuntu (and therefore Xubuntu) Linux — it is built into the OS! In whatever program you are in, you tell it to “save to file”, and it will save it as a PDF file. It’s that easy! You then open the PDF file and print it.

    Although I would like to find a true solution to the printing problem, the PDF workaround is so easy, and it works so well, that it’s not a problem for me at this time.

    Group "L" (Linux Mint)
    with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server
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    • #113768

      I have used a similar work around in both Windows and Linux when printing a webpage. I have an older PDFCreator 1.73 in Windows that gives a faithful page print, and have used the save as PDF when transferring a word doc to the Linux machine for reference.

      Have you checked with your printer manufacturer for a Linux driver? I had a ‘distorted’ printing problem with Ubuntu 12.04 on my older HP laser AIO. I was able to resolve it by using the repositories to find a generic HP laser printer driver for older HP lasers.

      Unfortunately, since it was so long ago, I cannot remember the details other than I used the generic Linux LaserJet 4 settings and installed it without the printer attached, and then selected the HP4, reattached the printer, and it worked. The printer did not have all the settings that it did in Windows, but was reliable.

      It is why I have stuck with HP B&W Laserjets.

      Other than that, I have found the Linux CUPS works.

    • #113828

      This sounds like printer drivers are the culprit here.

      Windows 10 Pro 22H2

    • #118235

      I fixed the printing problem last night, and it was easier than I thought it would be. In fact, the answer was right there all this time.

      I went to Settings / Printers and added a printer. It found my printer and then installed the driver for it. So now I have two printers to choose from — the “old” one, which printed small, and the “new” one, which prints perfectly.

      I then made the new one the default printer, and I deleted the old one.

      Group "L" (Linux Mint)
      with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server
      1 user thanked author for this post.
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