Print Preview Missing

[Bill]

I'm using an Epson R320 printer and recently converted from Windows
XP to Windows 7. Somewhere along the line, I appear to have lost the
setting for a print preview. It does not appear to be a driver problem
since it prints OK - I just don't see a "Print Preview" and there is
no option in the "Printing Preferences > Print Options window!
Suggestions, please!

Bill

 

[Char Jackson]

I'm using an Epson R320 printer and recently converted from Windows
XP to Windows 7. Somewhere along the line, I appear to have lost the
setting for a print preview. It does not appear to be a driver problem
since it prints OK - I just don't see a "Print Preview" and there is
no option in the "Printing Preferences > Print Options window!
Suggestions, please!

Are you using the Epson driver (if there is one) or the Microsoft
driver? The MS driver usually includes only the basic settings, while
the manufacturer-specific driver provides the bells and whistles that
you're looking for.

A few programs, such as MS Word, include a print preview function
within the program, but most programs don't have that.

 

[Gordon]

I'm using an Epson R320 printer and recently converted from Windows
XP to Windows 7. Somewhere along the line, I appear to have lost the
setting for a print preview. It does not appear to be a driver problem
since it prints OK - I just don't see a "Print Preview" and there is
no option in the "Printing Preferences> Print Options window!
Suggestions, please!

Bill

Print Preview is a function of whatever application you are using - not
usually of the printer itself.

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Print Preview is a function of whatever application you are using - not
usually of the printer itself.

While I don't use it myself, my Canon MP560 printer has a configuration
option to "Preview before printing."

 

[Allen]

I'm using an Epson R320 printer and recently converted from Windows
XP to Windows 7. Somewhere along the line, I appear to have lost the
setting for a print preview. It does not appear to be a driver problem
since it prints OK - I just don't see a "Print Preview" and there is
no option in the "Printing Preferences> Print Options window!
Suggestions, please!

Bill

Bill, go to Devices and Printers in Control Panel. Does your printer
show as being installed? If not, you may have the same problem that I
have, in the thread "Where is print queue?"
Allen

 

[Bill]

Thanks to all - I just received a response from Epson saying that "As
the driver is part of Windows 7, features such as the print preview
and status monitor is not available." This is just one of the problems
I've encountered with the transition to Windows 7 - the lack of older
software not be compatible! I think they call it "planned
obsolescence"!!!!

Bill

 

[Ken Blake]

Thanks to all - I just received a response from Epson saying that "As
the driver is part of Windows 7, features such as the print preview
and status monitor is not available." This is just one of the problems
I've encountered with the transition to Windows 7 - the lack of older
software not be compatible! I think they call it "planned
obsolescence"!!!!

Bear in mind that it's the hardware manufacturer who has the
responsibility for providing drivers for their hardware. If the driver
you are using comes with Windows 7, it's *Epson* who hasn't provided
what you need, not Microsoft.

 

[BillW50]

In

Thanks to all - I just received a response from Epson saying that "As
the driver is part of Windows 7, features such as the print preview
and status monitor is not available." This is just one of the problems
I've encountered with the transition to Windows 7 - the lack of older
software not be compatible! I think they call it "planned
obsolescence"!!!!

Every time Microsoft comes out with a new OS, it is buggy, mostly
unsupported, etc. for years after its release. And the people who jump
on the newest early, has to deal with all of these frustrations.

I have both Windows 7 and XP. And I still use XP far more than Windows
7. And that is because Windows 7 isn't ready yet for my tastes.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Bill.

As Ken said, drivers are the responsibility of the hardware makers.
Microsoft has gathered up a tremendous number of drivers and including them
on the Win7 DVD - but those are not actually a "part of Windows 7". So
Epson might be a little less than honest with you here. (Many vendors
bundle WLM with their Windows computers, so some buyers think that WLM is a
part of Windows.)

I have only a single printer, which recently replaced a 10-year-old printer,
both from HP. I use Print Preview often. I've noticed that the Preview
screen looks different in different applications. Print Preview is not even
offered here in WLM. It is available in IE9, but it looks much different
from the one for printing PDF files in Adobe Reader. Since I'm not a
developer or other techie, I don't know just where the dividing line is
between features in applications versus those in drivers. I would guess
that hardware manufacturers include "hooks" in their drivers that software
developers can use to provide features such as print preview.

When I search Win7's Help and Support for "print preview", I see how to use
the feature in IE9 and in WordPad, but not in other apps. Both IE and
WordPad ARE integral parts of Win7.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2011 (Build 15.4.3508.1109) in Win7 Ultimate x64 SP1


"Bill" wrote in message
Thanks to all - I just received a response from Epson saying that "As
the driver is part of Windows 7, features such as the print preview
and status monitor is not available." This is just one of the problems
I've encountered with the transition to Windows 7 - the lack of older
software not be compatible! I think they call it "planned
obsolescence"!!!!

Bill

 

[BillW50]

In

Usually, yes, with Windows 7, no. MS had to make Win 7 right after the
fiasco with Vista.

It is still far from being ready for me to make heavy use of.

I haven't encountered a single one. Care to site one of these
"frustrations"?

You don't listen too well. You even quoted it. Poor Bill doesn't have
print preview under Windows 7, but did under XP.

I find Windows 7 to be much better and more pleasant to work with than
XP . I only use XP nowadays for gaming. For that matter, I use Linux
Mint more than either of them and find XP looking like last century's
OS in comparison. Out of curiosity what does XP have that 7 doesn't
have that satisfies your "tastes" beside being able to run games?

I don't care what an OS looks like. I don't care about eye candy, as I
leave that for the Star Trek movies. Funny when Scotty traveled back to
our time and was talking to a computer and it wasn't responding. Bones
picked up the mouse and said try this. Scotty grabs the mouse and starts
talking to it. lol

1) Windows XP runs 100% of what I want to run

2) Windows 7 runs 95% of what I want to run

3) Linux runs 5% of what I want to run

Now guess why I use XP more than the other two?

 

[BillW50]

In

Mine does but, then again, I know how to find the printer's drivers
and software.

Well quit your bitching and get your head out of your ass then! If you
are so good about finding them, prove it by helping Bill here.

This is one of your frustrations that doesn't satisfy your "tastes"?
Or are you just trying to lamely be cute and clever?

Nope, nothing frustrating about eye candy. I just don't require it to
get work done.

You have listed one frustration and some meaningless percentages that
you got right out of your ass. Care to enumerate them or do you really
want to know how to use Windows 7 properly? I think you just want to
bitch, bitch, bitch.

Nope, I got them by counting all of the software that I want to run and
then finding out which ones will run on which OS.

 

[Tester]

Your application should have it. Word has print preview; Excel has
print preview; most applications have print preview.

Which application are you using to print from?

Good luck.

 

[Bill]

I didn't realize that submitting a relatively simple question would
create such a "discussion" but I appreciate all of your responses!
Yes, I am aware of the "Print Preview" in Word and Excel, but I was
strictly referring to the lack of its selection option in the "Print
Options" window of my Epson R320. It was there in XP.

Bill

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I just looked. The print dialog for my Canon printer has the preview
button right there on the first tab. Oddly enough, I never noticed it
before. It works, too...

Win 7 Home Premium 64.

 

[BillW50]

In

I didn't realize that submitting a relatively simple question would
create such a "discussion" but I appreciate all of your responses!
Yes, I am aware of the "Print Preview" in Word and Excel, but I was
strictly referring to the lack of its selection option in the "Print
Options" window of my Epson R320. It was there in XP.

Bill

This might be a long shot Bill. But in my experience printer drivers
work well among different Windows versions generally. Although there is
a chance that something could go very badly wrong.

So at least setting a System Restore point would be the least I would
do. Making backups would be far better. But once you are covered from
disaster I would try the XP printer driver and see what happens.

 

[Char Jackson]

I didn't realize that submitting a relatively simple question would
create such a "discussion" but I appreciate all of your responses!
Yes, I am aware of the "Print Preview" in Word and Excel, but I was
strictly referring to the lack of its selection option in the "Print
Options" window of my Epson R320. It was there in XP.

I think what I would do would be to try a different driver. Epson has
some drivers available for other members of the Stylus Photo line, so
you might try one of those. Try to stay within the Stylus Photo Rxxx
series. I'm currently running an R220 but I'm using the R300 driver,
which works fine and provides the print preview function. You may get
as lucky.

The main point is to use a driver that you download directly from
Epson, rather than a driver that's bundled with Windows. The bundled
drivers usually seem to be stripped down, feature wise.

 

[relic]

Thanks to all - I just received a response from Epson saying that "As
the driver is part of Windows 7, features such as the print preview
and status monitor is not available." This is just one of the problems
I've encountered with the transition to Windows 7 - the lack of older
software not be compatible! I think they call it "planned
obsolescence"!!!!

Epson is one of the worst. If you remember, they didn't provide updated
drivers for any of their pre Windows XP products either.

 

[Bill]

I will try downloading another of Epson's Rxxx series drivers and see
if it works but as long as I get the PP in Word and Excel, I'm
content. I couldn't believe how many different printers Epson
makes!!!!

Bill

 

[Bill Gator]

I will try downloading another of Epson's Rxxx series drivers and see
if it works but as long as I get the PP in Word and Excel, I'm
content. I couldn't believe how many different printers Epson
makes!!!!

Don't waste your time because printers have never had print preview
facility. How can they have this facility? How does it know what you
are trying to print? You have to use an application to send it to the
printer. You don't load a document to a printer!

Adobe acrobat/reader has an icon to show you what you are printing but
it is not a proper print preview.

 

[BillW50]

In

In

Well quit your bitching and get your head out of your ass then! If you
are so good about finding them, prove it by helping Bill here.

We are still waiting. If you are so good, where is the help that Bill
needs? As you claim to know the secret and all. Or are you just talk and
nothing more?