Double-sided print settings on OfficeJet 6600 for Windows 8

[DermotM]

When will HP update the Windows 8 drivers for the OfficeJet 6600 so I can set double-sided printing as the default setting? I used to be able to do this with my old 4500 series, so I don't understand how a newer model doesn't support this feature. When I go into the preferences screen, all I see is a Layout and Paper/Quality tabs and nowhere can I select to print double-sided. It also doesn't let me set monochrome as the default setting (which the old printer did)!

And to add insult, the installation program has a "Do your part" page that even says "print double-sided"! HP should make it easier for customers to "do their part"!

[HevnLgh]

Hello DermotM,

I understand you would like to do double-sided printing on your OfficeJet 6600. Listed in the printing specifications for the OfficeJet 6600, it does let you know a duplexer is not included on this model, that is the main difference between the 6600 & the 6700. This does not mean you are not able to do 2 sided printing, it just means that you would have to do it manually.

I would like you to go ahead and read this document that contains steps to manually print on both sides of the paper. Remember several kinds of paper require a specific orientation when you print on both sides of a page. These include letterheads, preprinted paper, and paper with watermarks and pre-punched holes. The printer prints the first side of the paper first. Load the paper with top edge first and the print side down.

I hope this was helpful and allows you to start duplex printing. If you require more assistance, please let me know.

Thanks,

[DermotM]

sided when printing from Internet Explorer or other applications (w/exception of MS Office which does provide that option).

I looked at the webpage you provided and it doesn't help at all. It says "Click the drop-down list for Print on Both Sides , and then click None ." but in my case that option doesn't exist. I'm attaching a screenshot of the Printing Preferences dialog box from my PC, which clearly shows that option doesn't exist......

My previous printer was the OfficeJet 4500 and the Windows 8 print driver provided that option. I don't understand why the print drivers for a newer model like the 6600 doesn't.

Thanks

[HevnLgh]

Hi DermotM,

When you open up the document are you clicking on the plus sign for Printing on both sides of the paper? See image below:

This is a general document for manual printing, that is why it also shows the option for Printing on both sides of the page for borderless brochures and gives the option to select print on both sides from the drop down, as not all printers have the same software and options.

[DermotM]

I'm sorry - I don't seem to be getting through to you people. I'll try all caps...

WHY DOESN'T THE WINDOWS 8 PRINT PROPERTIES WINDOW FOR THE OFFICEJET 6600 NOT ALLOW ME TO SELECT (manual) DOUBLE-SIDED PRINTING AS A DEFAULT OPTION?

Please refer this to someone who actually knows how to respond to this question.

Thanks,

Dermot

[HevnLgh]

Can I ask where in that document it is requiring you to select the (manual) double sided option?

1. Load the paper into the input tray.
2. Open the document that you want to print on both sides.
3. Click File , and then click Print .
4. Next to Pages , type the odd-numbered pages. For example, type 1,3,5,7 .
5. Click Print or OK .
6. When the print job is done, remove the stack of paper from the output tray.
   • For portrait orientation ( ), keep the print side up, turn the stack of paper 180 degrees, and then reinsert the stack of paper into the input tray.
     Figure 2: Turn the stack of paper 180 degrees

     

   • For landscape orientation ( ), reinsert into the input tray without turning the stack of paper.
7. Click File , and then click Print .
8. Next to Pages , type the even-numbered pages. For example, type 2,4,6,8 .
9. Click Print or OK .

[DermotM]

So your solution is that I print odd pages firest, then turn the sheets around and print even pages? Doesn't that seem like a step backward considering the older OfficeJet print drivers (e.g. for the 4500 series) included the manual duplex printing option in the File->Print dialog box?

Do you get where I'm coming from? All I'm asking is when will HP include manual duplex printing (and monochrome printing, by the way) in the Windows 8 print drivers for the OfficeJet 6600?

[Content Removed]

Thanks,

Dermot

[Sunshyn2005]

Hi DermotM,

Choosing to print odd pages is manual duplexing. If you are expecting to be able to do automatic duplexing within the settings, this will not be an option as it is unsupported on the Officejet 6600.

From what you are describing, although you are using the term manual, it sounds like you are expecting to be able to auto duplex. In order to auto duplex and have such a setting or option in the print diolog box, the printer hardware needs to be able to support this feature. As stated the 6600 does not.

I understand you are referencing an older product and would like to know why a newer product does not have features an older one does. I feel the best way to describe this is to use cars as a metaphor. If you have a 2012 vehicle that has heated seats, mirrors and stirring wheel but a 2013 that does not, it is because the newer one, all though new, is simply a basic model. Most times you can get the same car with all the bells in whistles. The 6600 is a base model, the Officejet 6700 offers the automatic duplexing and the setting you are looking for would be in the print dialog box. The 4500 although an older model was a different class, hence the features it offered.

To summarize, the information provided to you by HevnLgh is absolutely accurate, you need to print odd pages first, turn the sheets around and print even pages, I am not sure what more can be said. You might consider getting a higher class printer that would meet your needs. HP offers many different printers that have different capabilities. My personal preference is the Officejet 8600.

I hope this helps shed some light on the situation. Happy New Year.

[DermotM]

I'm not talking about the OfficeJet 6600 not having the ability to do automatic duplexing (I'm fully aware that  I have to do manually feed turn the pages over as part of the duplexing process).

I'm talking about the fact that the Windows 8 Printing Properties dialog box for the 6600 doesn't allow me to select manual double-sided printing as a default setting.  

The Printing Properties dialog box for the OfficeJet 4500, which also only supported manual duplexing, did have that default option. The 6600 does NOT have that option, despite being a newer/more advanced device. Since I got rid of my OfficeJet 4500, I can't do a screenshot of the Windows Print Properties dialog box for that device, but I presume you can since you work for HP. So do me a favor and compare the Printing Preferences dialog boxes of the 4500 and the 6600 and tell me if you don't see more tabs on the 4500 dialog box, including one that lets you select manual double-sided printing as the default option, that don't appear on the 6600's dialog box. I guarantee thhat you will.

So what I'm asking is this: when will the Windows 8 print drivers for the Officejet 6600 provide the same default setting for manual double-sided printing that the older/less advanced 4500 device provides.

Please take the time to read what I'm asking for before responding next time.

Thank you,

Dermot

[Sunshyn2005]

Hi DermotM,

Before I provide a response I have a questions. Is your Windows 8 32 bit or 64bit? I am doing some research on this with a few colleagues. We are working on reproducing this in our labs to see what we can do to help.