HP Color LaserJet Flow 6800 can't staple TOP-LEFT-LANDSCAPE

[AkamaiRBS]

Our clients need to print and staple presentation handouts that are in landscape mode with the staple in the top left corner, but the 6800zfsw with the internal stapler refuses to staple in this location and simply produces unstapled sets and outputs them to the lower tray. I do understand that the stapler on this lower-level unit is stationary so it can't physically move, however a software update could produce prints in a reverse order that would then have an outcome of the staple being on the top left of a landscape document.

I noticed that according to the most recent firmware update dated "20240723" with "Firmware Revision: 2508048_049310" the release notes state:

ENHANCEMENT:

Base:

 Added support for direct FTP protocol printing.

 Added support for Landscape Top Left stapling.
 Added Vietnamese language support for the control panel.
 Incorrect job printing order may occur when a print job is interrupted for a Copy job.
 Added Basque language support for the control panel.

I was so pleased to see this but even after the firmware update, the feature does not work when printing even though landscape-top-left stapling is selected. It continues to dump the prints into the bottom stapler-less tray.

I have figured out a weird work-around by copying printed originals in a face-down double-sided-to-double-sided method that staples the back-side of the landscape document and results in the staple being in the correct top-left corner, but the staple is punched from the back so visibly it is not the best and it also results in having to copy in duplex even for single-sided documents. And again this only works in copy-mode, resulting in lower quality documents as a result of copying printed documents.

[Repairatrooper]

What driver are you using? 

[AkamaiRBS]

I'm not at that location at the moment but it is the most current version driver that HP provides via the HP Easy Install method for Macs this past week so it's the most recent driver and it does LOOK like it will staple them as desired through the print menu selections, but the prints are dumped into the stapler-less tray none-the-less. Note that I first came upon this issue from a customer that was using the MFP 6800 from a Windows machine so it doesn't seem to be a Mac-only issue.

[Repairatrooper]

Always good to include as much info as possible in your initial post to save valuable time. 

The best driver, at least for PC devices is the Smart Universal Printer Driver. We have one in shop I can test sometime this week to confirm if this is a problem for you or a problem with all devices.

[AkamaiRBS]

Thank you, that would be a great help. I have 2 of these units and neither of them is able to do it so I was really hoping the recent firmware update resolved it since it specifically stated that it added support for Landscape Top Left stapling. Unless it's for the MFP 6800 with the attached collator/stapler and not the all-in-one MFP 6800zfsw?

[Repairatrooper]

My demo unit is an X677Z so it has the external finisher. That said, it should not make a difference. Just to make sure we are completely clear. Landscape mode, like printing a powerpoint. Staple in the left corner. The kicker, flip over to read or flip up to read the back side. Think in terms of binding, bound on the left side to open like a book or bound on top to open like a calendar?

[AkamaiRBS]

If your demo unit has an external finisher that stands on the floor and is attached to the left side (rather than an internal finisher), then I wound expect that to easily work as it should as typically those staplers are not fixed but on a rail that can move and staple multiple places. We have multiple Canon copiers with internal staple finishers that do this with their moving staplers. The stapler in the 6800zfsw is fixed and does not move so for it to staple a landscape document in the top left corner, it needs to do a unique order of reverse printing in order for the top left corner to be in the position of the stapler once the document has been printed. I was hoping HP engineers figured out how to make it so with the recent firmware update.

Your description of the layout is correct and yes, a landscape PowerPoint print is what is usually printed and requires the staple in the top left. 

[Repairatrooper]

The stapler on this external finisher is fixed in one position. Testing a power point it correctly oriented and stapled the document. This using the Smart UPD 4.01 driver with the current 5.8 firmware.

[AkamaiRBS]

Thanks for trying this for me. I was able to test one of my 6800zfsw units yesterday which has the latest firmware, and installed the Smart UPD driver that's the most recent one available from HP.com for Windows. I created a 2-page landscape (normal) Powerpoint document and went through the steps of printing it single-sided with the staple in the upper left hand, and it failed and dumped the 2 pages in the bottom staple-less bin as it has done ever other time. To truly test this issue, it needs to be tested from this same machine with the internal finisher that ships with all 6800zfsw units which is a built-in internal finisher.

[Repairatrooper]

Sorry, I do not have an endless supply of demo models, if I ever happen to come across one I will tests but we usually sell the external finisher.