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Article #: 15328
Editing Printer Settings
To edit settings for the printer used for printing tax returns:
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From the menu bar of the Home window, go to Setup > Printing and Device Setup > Printers.
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Enter setup changes as needed. Details on each tab are provided in the table below.
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Click Save. (If making changes to printer settings on the F8 tab, click Update, then Save.)
Printing Setup
| Tab | Field | Description |
|---|---|---|
| (F5) General Setup | Displays the current default printer for Tax Forms, Reports, Labels, and Checks, and the default setting for the Letterhead source tray (which allows you to print letters from a printer tray other than the tray used for tax returns). | |
| (F5) General Setup | Tray | Default is “Main paper source.” Change the default setting if you have a multiple-tray printer and will not be printing from the main tray. |
| (F5) General Setup | # Copies | Number of copies to print (not available for labels or checks). |
| (F5) General Setup | Duplex | Directs printer to print duplex. Only forms that are approved for duplex can be printed as duplex. See Drake Tax – Duplex Printing in Drake Tax. |
| (F5) General Setup | Show dialog | Causes the Print dialog box to be opened before each print job. |
| (F6) ‘Sets’ Setup | Displays the current default printer and the different types of sets that can be printed – EF Signature, Estimates/Extensions, etc.; see Drake Tax – Pricing, Print Order, Sets Setup, and Fee Settings. | |
| (F6) ‘Sets’ Setup | Tray | Default is “Main paper source.” Change the default setting if you have a multiple-tray printer and will not be printing from the main tray. |
| (F6) ‘Sets’ Setup | Duplex | Directs printer to duplex-print. Only forms that are approved for duplex can be printed as duplex. |
| (F6) ‘Sets’ Setup | Duplex all | Directs printer to duplex-print all forms (approved or not). (Not available for sets to be mailed to the IRS or a state.) |
| (F6) ‘Sets’ Setup | Print set | Indicates which sets should be available for printing after a return is calculated. |
| (F6) ‘Sets’ Setup | Watermark text | Watermarks to be displayed on the Client and Preparer copies, respectively. Default settings are “Client Copy” and “Preparer Copy.” Delete and type in new text if desired. See Drake Tax – Watermarks Available in View/Print for Documents and Sets. |
| (F7) Options | Used to set up advanced printing options not related to a specific printer. | |
| (F7) Options | Classic print mode | For preparers who prefer Basic View, Drake Tax’s “Classic Print” mode is displayed when in Print mode. |
| (F7) Options | Shading Options | If the GDI shading method does not produce acceptable results, mark this box and the program will attempt to print forms using a solid gray background. |
| (F8) Edit Printer Settings | Used to edit print settings for a selected printer and to test printers for compatibility with Drake Tax. | |
| (F8) Edit Printer Settings | Select printer | Select the printer. The fields listed below are activated when a selection is made. (If you select Drake PDF Printer, you are given the option to launch Adobe after printing to the Drake PDF Printer and to convert a color letterhead image to a more manageable black-and-white image.) See Drake Tax – Drake PDF Printer FAQs. |
| (F8) Edit Printer Settings | Printer type | Select the printer type from the drop list. |
| (F8) Edit Printer Settings | Additional Settings | (Varies by printer; use to change Tray drop lists on the F5 General Setup tab.) |
| (F8) Edit Printer Settings | Check adjustment – vertical | Use this field if text is being printed too high or low on checks. Enter whole numbers to adjust the printed text 1/4-inch at a time. Enter 1 to move the type 1/4 inch; 2 to move 1/2 inch, etc. Positive numbers move the placement down; negative numbers move the placement up. |
| (F8) Edit Printer Settings | Main paper source | Select the tray that is to be the main paper source for the selected printer. |
| (F8) Edit Printer Settings | Alternate paper source | Select the paper source to be used when the main paper source is not available. |
| (F8) Edit Printer Settings | Opt. large paper source | Select the tray to be used as the optional large paper source. |
| (F8) Edit Printer Settings | Manual feed | Select the tray to be used for manual feed. |
| (F8) Edit Printer Settings | Adjust margin | Select this option if printed forms are running off the lower edge of the paper. |
Edit Printer Type and Compatibility (F8 Tab)
From the Drake Tax home window, go to Setup > Printing and Device Setup > Printers and complete the following steps:
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Select the F8 “Edit Printer Settings” tab.
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Select the printer and printer type from the drop down menus.
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Click Update > Save.
Note If your printer is a LaserJet, you may need to also check the Use PCL when printing tax forms box. See Common Issues below for indicators that the PCL print method may be needed. PCL settings are no longer available starting with Drake Tax 2024.
Common Issues
If you have any of the following issues when trying to print from Drake Tax, try toggling the Use PCL when printing tax forms option (shown above 2).
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Line descriptions missing on printed form.
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Forms will not duplex.
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Only if the printer supports duplex printing.
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Return will not print.
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Ensure that the printer functions outside of Drake first.
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Extra page printing with or without a “PCL XL error warning.”
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Having to click the Start button on the printer before a print job will process (may show as resume or manual feed on certain printers).
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Note that you may need to select No Tray Codes as the Tray on the F5 and F6 tabs as well.
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Page or Form is printing blank, or partially printing, but without all data. May also appear as strange characters printing.
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Install Fonts (see Drake Tax – Unusual or Strange Characters Printing).
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If the issue seems to be limited to vouchers and extension forms, see Drake Tax – Vouchers or Extensions – Text Missing, Strange Characters, or Amounts Differ.
Bottom of Form/Return Cutoff
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This is a limitation of the printer itself. Since margin adjust does not work, you will have to adjust printer properties and change the paper to “legal” size instead of “letter” size, but leave the 8 ½ X 11 paper in the tray. This will trick the printer into thinking it has more room to print.
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Steps for adjusting printer properties may vary depending on your operating system and printer.
Blank Pages Printing between Printed Pages.
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Your printer may lack duplex printing capabilities. Confirm the printer’s duplex capabilities in the printer user manual or at the vendor web site. If the printer cannot print duplex, make sure the Duplex option is not selected on the (F5) General Setup and (F6) ‘Sets’ Setup tabs.
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Go to Setup >Printing and Device Setup > Printers > F8 > select your printer in the Select Printer drop list. Under Printer Type, select Laserjet and then check the box Use PCL when printing tax forms option. Click Update and Save.
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Run the print job again to see if the blank pages are eliminated.
Important Some states require a blank page to be printed after a single page document to prevent a form from being incorrectly grouped with an unrelated form when duplexing a group of forms. This is by design and may occur with a variety of states, including Colorado (for example, Form 8454).
Note If you have not resolved a printer issue after exhausting printer settings and Drake Tax settings, install the latest printer driver available for your operating system. Review your printer instruction manual or your vendor website for more information.