Printing 11x17 PDF to 5100 from win 7 and win 10 workstations

[Splinter29926]

Hi,

I recently acquired a 5100 DTN printer and am having difficulty printing full size (11x17) prints of .PDF's. The printer will continually select tray 1, which is loaded with 8.5"x10 paper even though TRAY 1 MODE=CASSETTE has been selected through the printer interface.

Printing PDF's through Adobe Acrobat Reader. The setting appear correct within the program. I have spent a lot of time trying different options with no change to output.

PCL6 drivers were installed. Should I have used PCL5?

The workstations printing to this printer are win 7 and 10 all 64.

I thank you in advance for your help.

[Repairatrooper]

Do you have a tray configured with 11x17 and have you confirmed by printing the configuration page that the paper source shows as 11x17. HP printers will default to tray 1 and ask for paper if the correct paper is not already loaded. This will happen regardless of how tray 1 is configured.

[Splinter29926]

Thanks for the reply.

I understand the printer will pull from tray 1 first and then move on if the tray is empty by default. That is why I selected TRAY 1 MODE=CASSETTE, according to the manual to prevent that from happening.

Tray 2 is loaded with 11x17 and it is physically set on the tray to tell the printer that.

The printer is not in this office, so I cannot verify that the config page confirms this. I will do that first when I return.

 Tray 1 is a flip out tray, not a standard tray. Are there settings for that one as well?

I am able to print with other applications to the paper size that I desire, but Adobe Acrobat Reader will not use the second tray no matter what settings I change. This printer will mainly be used for printing architect's drawings on 11x17 from PDF's.

[Repairatrooper]

You can set paper size and type for the MP tray. If you have access to the EWS remotely you should be able to check the setup of the trays and confirm what the printer "thinks" it has. We have had cases where the paper size detection switches failed and printer would not know what paper it had regardless of settings.

[Splinter29926]

I agree; the plastic pieces that are used for selecting paper size do seem kinda flimsy.

I do not know the address of the printer. However, if I did... I would be able to check it from anywhere? Even from outside the local network? That would be cool.

You keep stressing paper size indicators. Do you think that this is the problem? If it is the problem, according to the config page - can it be corrected manually within the config?

If the config page is correct - where do I go from there?

[Splinter29926]

UPDATE:

I went by and now have a copy of the printer config.

It correctly states the paper that is loaded.

I tried removing the paper (8.5x10) in the flip-out tray and it would not print at all. (as it was supposed to do.) When I changed the TRAY 1 MODE=CASSETTE mode to TRAY 1 MODE=FIRST it prints tiles to be assembled with the small paper. (which it is also supposed to do.)

For whatever reason Adobe Reader will not use the 11x17 to print. I double-checked within Adobe Reader that 11x17 was selected.

Pulling my hair out here.

[Splinter29926 · Accepted solution]

SOLUTION:

Use the Postscript driver.

I had been using the PCL5. I tried the PCL6. Both had worked, so it wasn't immediately apparent that the driver was the issue. I finally spoke with an HP tech. He suggested the PS Driver.

With the PS Driver (and maybe playing with a couple of the settings within Adobe Reader) it prints beautifully.