Pages per Sheet Fails no Matter OS, Format, or choices

[davidrebar]

ALL1 OfficeJet Pro 6970 using any of the following networked OSes; OSX High Sierra 10.13.6, Win 7 Enterprise, Android and Ubuntu 16.04 (hplip):

I'm trying to print 4 pages to a sheet of a 1 page document, 2 x 2 in portrait, B&W, draft. The HP software will let you select any combination of choices to include " pages per sheet", However it NEVER displays or prints 4 pages per sheet.

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the software on ALL OSes, downloading my Google document as a PDF and using the native HP print software instead of through Chrome Browser.

Nothing works. The HP software reduces the size of the page by 50% to fit 4 on a page, only displays a single smaller page with 3 blank spaces for the missing 3 pages, and prints exactly what it displays. I've also tried to change "collate", "fit", "scaling" and changing the margins of the original page. A single 100% size page prints PERFECTLY by itself but it NEVER prints multiple pages to a single sheet. I've also tried different documents with the same results.

This is OBVIOUSLY a driver issue! Please help, I can't even work around the issue.

[Kumar0307]

Hi @davidrebar

Welcome to the HP Support Community. I'd be happy to assist you.

Is the printer installed using AirPrint driver?

Let us try these steps:

Update the printer firmware

Click here to know different methods of updating printer firmware.

Also, check for any software updates on MAC

Click here to know how.

Check the print settings:

1. Open a document, photo, or webpage, click File, and then click Print to open the print dialog.

2. If a Show Details button displays at the bottom of the dialog, click it to reveal all available menu options. The button changes to Hide Details when clicked.

   

3. Select your printer in the Printer menu.

4. Select an option in the Presets menu that applies to your print job or paper type.

5. Click the unnamed print options menu at the separator bar to display more settings options. Select 'Layout'

6. 

7. Look for pages per sheet and change it to 4

8. 

9. Click on print.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Have a great day! 

[davidrebar]

Updated driver is the FIRST thing I checked and rebooting all of the hardware involved. I keep all of my hardware updated. No airprint because the printer is not used solely with a MAC, and is networked using a network cable. WiFi is OFF.

Kumar, please RE-read my original description and escalate this if it matters. I've been a professional Software Tester and wouldn't bother posting if it were within my control or "User Error".

This is not just with a MAC. I have reproduced this on EVERY MAJOR OPERATING SYSTEM, even using HPLIP on LINUX. I've tried your instructions BEFORE posting, at least a dozen times on each OS with variations. I'm obsessive like that, it comes with my second degree, Computer Science. I've been using computers since punch cards, and converted my first Okidata printer to print pictures instead of just single font text by upgrading to an IBM chip, attached to my Commadore 64 back in the day.

I now have it narrowed down to any document made with Google Docs as the source, even if it's converted to PDF first. Normal single page to a sheet prints fine. It's not just printing directly from Chrome Browser. I've also tried the option to "Print using System dialog" with same results. I've downloaded and converted the Google documents to PDF two different ways, "Save as PDF" and CutePDF. I've tried printing multi pages from Adobe Reader, Adobe DC on different OSes, PDF Converter and PDF Viewer in LUBUNTU 16.04.

I have not yet tried converting to JPGs or printing as a picture. I can't get any Google Document, Spreadsheet, or Drawing to print multi pages to a single sheet even if I download and convert the native file to something else. I have not yet tried browsers, other than Chrome, but considering that a converted download doesn't work, I doubt that will work.

I did manage to print multi pages to a sheet from other sources. It's not something I do frequently any more as I'm mostly digital and in the cloud, except for working with children as a Technology Teacher now.

If this sounds like a "Tall Tail", I'll gladly send you a list of hardware and OSes or let you remote into any or all of my PCs if you can't reproduce it at HP. Email me directly with proper credentials and contact info if that's the case and I'll verify you.

I'm just as shocked and surprised as you. I'm not a novice or a newb. I've been printing multi pages to a sheet since around 1995 or so when WYSIWYG became popular. It's not rocket science, it's just printing using the choices available, which aren't working properly with Google Sources.

[Kumar0307]

@davidrebar, thank you for the detailed information.

As the issue happens on different operating systems, the issue might be with the printer hardware. Resetting the printer to its factory settings may help.

• The reset instructions are specific for your printer and performing those steps on a different printer may corrupt the device.
• I've sent you a private message with reset instructions, follow the reset instruction to perform a full reset and re-initialize the printer.
• In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Forums profile, next to your profile Name or simply click on this link: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/notes/privatenotespage

Let me know how this goes.