[ms office - 2003] Word 2003 issue

[sippo]

Can anyone please please help me with regards to an issue in word.

 

This happens very randomly on different PC's to different users. If JBloggs logs onto a pc and starts typing a document in word all goes well as expected. As soon as they go to print the document it bunches all the letters up on top of each other as if the font has changed (but obviously hasn't).

 

If JBloggs logs off and then logs back in it'll be fine. If someone else logs on it will be fine. This happens so inconsistently its difficult to find a resolution or start to problem solve!

 

Please help!!

[CESIL]

Have you checked the default printer setting?

 

I have had problems here sometimes where the users starts working before the system has finished processing the login script that sets up the printer(s) assigned to the workstation.

 

The most common error here is that Publisher announces that there is no printer installed and won't print.

 

Often the printer has not been assigned to the computer but logging off and then back on does sort out the printer correctly.

 

I have seen this most often in our computer suite where 19 users login at the same time and some don't get any printers installed. This has sometimes corrupted their profile so that no printers are loaded at all. recreation of the profile sorts it out.

[mrtechsystems]

is it like heart shapeds and gobbled letters

 

I would recommend updating the drivers for the printer does this happen in every room

[sippo]

It happens in random suites. Its not a printer issue as I thought of that first of all. They are connected to different pc's anyhow.

 

As for the script if they print from say, excel, it will work fine. It is very very strange and confusing!

 

I have just looked at Word support site and they charge £46 for an e-mail!!

[sippo]

is it like heart shapeds and gobbled letters

 

 

No its just as if all the letter are placed onto of each other and looks like loads of I's bunched together ie ||||||||| but squezzed in.

 

This is really difficult to explain!

[craiglay]

Do you assign printers in the logon script or are they machine set? Sounds like a driver problem to me

[sippo]

I've just been told this only happens in text boxes and headers/footers.

[Michael]

I would try updating to the latest drivers (as already suggested), apply the latest Office 2003 Service Pack 3, and I would also check what font(s) users are using when the problem happens.

 

It could also be a sign that the memory within the printer is on its way out and is corrupting data.

[SYNACK]

It could very well be a driver problem, we had something similar with one of our photocopiers. If they are hp's try using a different driver like the universal one to rule the driver out, also update the firmware on the printers if there is a new one avalible.

 

Excel and Word may both be part of Office but the way they handle printing output is different. You could also try printing to the Microsoft document image printer to make sure that it is not a bug with Word itself.

[sippo]

See I don't think it really is a printer issue as it happens in a suite which has a printer that is less than 1 month old.

 

And it even happens when they don't click print!

Edited June 12, 2008 by sippo

[mrtechsystems]

Bit a of long shot restarting the print spooler aswelll

 

But I agree I think it is a print driver issue

 

What is the make and model of the printer might be able to define more

[sippo]

One of the printers is HP P2015n, the other is a HP LaserJet 4250 which we have the PCL 5e driver for both.

[sparkeh]

See I don't think it really is a printer issue as it happens in a suite which has a printer that is less than 1 month old.

 

And it even happens when they don't click print!

 

I don't think either of those effect whether its a printer issue.

 

I believe that as you work, Word (as a WYSIWYG editor) is showing what it is going to look like when printed. To do this it needs to know how the printer works and it gets this from the driver. If the driver has an issue then it could effect what comes up on screen. Have you ever noticed that sometimes when you change printer, the look of the document changes slightly?

[sippo]

To be honest I've never seen happen but various teachers and students have.

 

What I'll do is upgrade to Office sp3 and see if that has any effect. thanks for everyones help!

[MyDejaVu]

ok, I will suggest something

 

we have some HP printers and I got some problems with laserjet 1200 and 1150,,,, if you send to print 6 pages the printer only prints everything in ONE page,,,, another situation with a Laserjet 4350 , when printing and excel spreadsheed, the top part (1 centimeter) was not printed (not included the obvious margins that printers cannot print) .

 

so I found out by searching on the internet, that these and other inconsistences are because of Windows updates that corrupts the print processor from HP.. the resolution is to change the print processor, you open the printer properties, then choose advanced, and then click on "Print Processor" by default HP uses its own print processor (it starts with HP...) well you change it to lets say WinPrint and RAW as default data type. sorted.

 

so that change got rid of my problems, it would be good for you to give it a try.

 

 

Regards.

 

Ricardo

[sippo]

Thanks Ricardo, I'll do that and wait for the outcome!