Problems with booklet printing

[Minister86]

Until August of 2020 my PC was Windows 10 Home and I was using Word 2010. When writing notes to be printed in booklet form I used 18 point type on A4 paper and then told my printer to use booklet format with left-hand fold. The finished product was 2 pages per side in, basically, A5 format, which, when held to the light, showed the printing both sides in perfect alignment - each left and right edge of text aligned with the one at the rear. Since then I have upgraded to Windows 10 Pro, still using Word 2010 and hey-presto, the back to back printing is no longer in alignment, with the centre column space slightly to the left of centre, meaning the back to back pages did not match. Even upgrading to Word 2019 did not correct this issue. I am assuming the fault lies with the printer but I have no idea how to resolve this issue. Can anyone help please. Thank you.

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@Minister86 

I cannot offer anything "obvious" - I can suggest a couple of places to look...

Is the printer also "new" in addition to the changes made to Office Word and your Windows Pro Operating System?

If yes, then it is conceivable that the printer responds differently than a previous printer model.

That said, there is nothing obvious in the specifications for this printer that indicate the printer forces a larger margin on one side (some printers force the bottom margin to be larger than the sides and top).  That is good news since without one margin being forced to be larger, most other settings should work as expected.

 Product Specifications for the HP OfficeJet Pro 8024 All-in-One Printer (1KR66B)

Printer smart software features

Orientation: Portrait/Landscape; Print on Both Sides: None/Flip on Long Edge/Flip on Short Edge; Page Order: Front to Back/Back to Front; Pages per Sheet: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 16; Quality Settings: Draft/Normal/Best; Printing Shortcuts; Print in Greyscale: Off/High Quality Greyscale/Black Ink Only; Pages per Sheet Layout: Right then Down/Down then Right/Left then Down/Down then Left; Print in Max DPI: No/Yes; HP Real Life Technologies: Off/On; Booklet: None/Booklet-Left Binding/Booklet-Right Binding; Pages to Print: Print All Pages/Print Odd Pages Only/Print Even Pages Only; Borderless Printing: Off/On; Page Borders: Off/On

Other considerations...

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Printer Software

If you have not done so, download-save-install the Full Feature Software

If you install printer software, Restart the computer and log in

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Printing from within Word

Open Word document

File > Print >

Page Setup

In section Pages > Select Booklet

Check the margin settings; the printer likely tolerates "Narrow" margins (0.5 inches).  Most likely, you set the margins for the document in Layout > Margins - the print setup can override but it is usually not necessary (or desired) to do so.

Check the gutter setting - - normally, assuming the paper is full size (A4 in your case), a gutter setting of 0 (zero) should suffice to align the pages front and back and set the printed area close to the binding edge (center of book).

Change the gutter to widen that center piece (the gutter) - this does force the printed area away from the center - and should still allow the printed area to "center" itself on each 1/2 sheet.

Click OK save your "booklet setup" and to leave the Page Setup Menu

Back on the main print menu

Set to Print on Both Sides - short side turn

When done printing,

File > Print > Page Setup

Set Page Setup back to Portrait and Normal (NOT booklet)

On the main print menu, set Print on both sides back to the Long edge (for two sided printing).

Exporting the Word document to PDF saves the various margins and other characteristics of the document.

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Adobe Reader DC – Needed Whether You Use It or Not

If you have not done so,

Reinstall / Update your PDF Reader (Adobe Reader DC /Optional  Foxit Reader)

HINT:  Watch out for and UNCHECK unwanted extra software

NOTE:  Adobe Reader DC software should be installed even if you do not normally open / view / print PDF files directly from the Adobe Reader DC software.

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Optional / Additional Information / FYI

Printing from Adobe Reader DC uses a different approach - it should still be possible to align the pages front/back as long as you don't try to force the print size smaller than say full size sheet - folded to 1/2 page (booklet, single fold).

Reminder:  Let Adobe Reader DC > booklet settings control the output.  In other words, except as noted, do not fuss overmuch with the Printing Properties settings.

Example - Single fold card "tall"

Booklet_Print_9025_PDF_2

Printer  Home Page - References and Resources – Learn about your Printer  - Solve Problems

 “Things that are your printer”

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories:  Alerts, Access to the Print and Scan Doctor (Windows), Warranty Check, HP Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, Lots of How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, User Guides / Manuals, Product Information (Specifications), more

When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

HP OfficeJet Pro 8024 All-in-One Printer 

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[Minister86]

Thanks for the info Dragon-Fur.

I have tried the suggestions within Word but they do not seem to work. I shall try the pdf route tomorrow, when I have more time. I will update this thread after that. Rgds

[Minister86]

Hi Dragon-Fur,

I have tried the pdf route and it works - well, almost! The back-to-back printing is out of alignment by about 1/4 inch, but hey, that's good enough for me.

Many thanks for your help.

[Dragon-Fur]

@Minister86 

You are welcome.

Not sure about what has changed that caused this particular difference - certainly changing anything can result in the unexpected. 

IF you have not done so, consider creating a new booklet document as opposed to using any piece of a document from the older Office 2010.  New structure might better accommodate any differences in the new printer and the newer Office.  ?

Keep an eye out for Firmware updates.  If your idea that the printer is at fault is correct, there will (at some point) be an update to correct the issue.  Why?  Because if it is the printer, you won't be the only one with the problem.

Good Luck.

Stay Safe.

Thank you for participating in our HP Community.

We are a world community of volunteers dedicated to supporting HP technology

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You for the help.

If the answer helped resolve your issue, Click "Accept as Solution" .