No Paper Size option in Print command

[new OO user]

In Version 3.3.0 I see no "Paper Size" option in the Print command window. If necessary, I must manually change the default paper size in System Preferences/Print & Fax every time before I print. Is this normal? Thank you.

[Villeroy]

It's in the printer properties. The button under the printer selection.

[new OO user]

It's in the printer properties. The button under the printer selection.

Thanks but in the Print dialog that button says "Presets".

[lgusaas]

It's in the printer properties. The button under the printer selection.

Thanks but in the Print dialog that button says "Presets".

You want "Paper Handling"
It is in the drop down menu that says OpenOffice.org (depending on model of printer). I've attached a screenshot using a Canon printer.

[new OO user]

this is what I see

I find it confusing but it seems that this window is only for scaling to fit paper size & the destination paper size shown in it may not match the size shown in the Summary...which is what counts, isn't it?

[lgusaas]

I find it confusing but it seems that this window is only for scaling to fit paper size & the destination paper size shown in it may not match the size shown in the Summary...which is what counts, isn't it?

The Summary will show the size of paper you have selected from the drop down menu after you select "Scale to fit paper size".(screenshot below}

Why do you need to change paper size all the time?
The default paper size in System Preferences/Print & Fax should be the paper size you usually have loaded in your printer.
The default format for you OpenOffice.org documents should be the same as your default paper size set for your printer. (On your menu bar go to "Format>Page...>Page")

If you have a document formatted in a different size, either load a different size paper in your printer, or use the method below to print it to your default paper size.

[JohnV]

I find this thread confusing.

My answer would have been that you don't set the paper size at print time or in the Print dialog but in the document itself at Format > Page > Page tab.

Does this help or am I missing the point?

[new OO user]

Obviously, I print to various paper sizes. The method I found that works for me is to click on the double arrows next to "Printer:" which gives me an option to go directly to "Print & Fax Preferences" and change the default paper size at this point. For some reason (possibly my printer), the suggestions given above don't work: I either still see the wrong "Destination Paper Size" in the "Summary" or the document prints out scaled down in size...which I don't want. Maybe this thread will help another user.
Thanks. new OO user

[juliandroms]

I can confirm the original poster this behavior using OSX 10.6x and OO3.x. I have the same problem and it's very annoying, despite being next to impossible to figure out how to change the page size for printing (without my having stumbled on this thread I may never have figured it out).

There are many reasons why one would be switching between printing on different sizes of paper. I have two printer trays on my printer for example, one which is a multipurpose tray which is good for example loading envelopes, and another paper tray where I usually keep standard letter size paper.

In most OSX applications, one has the choice to select the paper size to print at the time of printing, as well as choose the source tray (multipurpose tray vs. regular tray). On OSX with OO3.x, you can easily change the source tray at the time of printing (options under "paper feed"), but you can't specify the paper size for that tray.

In OO3.x, you cannot change the paper size either in the print dialog or in the page format dialog. If you follow the suggestion above of lgusaas to select the paper size under "paper handling", the only way to change the paper size is to first select, "scale to fit paper size", which results in a standard size page being shrunk to fit for example an envelope, whereupon the text is shrunk to be very small and the margins / formatting of the page area are not appropriate for the envelope.

JohnV's suggestion, to change the page size at Format > Page > Page tab, while sounding appropriate, does not achieve the desired results. I have tested myself. Changing the paper size to #10 envelope in this dialog, does not change the page size in the subsequently printed page. It looks like the default paper size specified in OSX Print & Fax preferences is over-riding the selected paper size in OO 3.x under Format > Page > Page tab. The only way I can find to change the paper size as actually printed to paper, is to change it the default paper size for the printer itself at OSX system preferences -- very strange behavior, particularly when you have more than one printer tray.

[annoyed]

I confirm the annoying behavior.
There should be a "Paper size" line in the "Print" menu, as shown in the printer documentation (that includes custom sizes).

Printing occasionally envelopes, changing the default all the time is not an option.

[lgusaas]

JohnV's suggestion, to change the page size at Format > Page > Page tab, while sounding appropriate, does not achieve the desired results. I have tested myself. Changing the paper size to #10 envelope in this dialog, does not change the page size in the subsequently printed page. It looks like the default paper size specified in OSX Print & Fax preferences is over-riding the selected paper size in OO 3.x under Format > Page > Page tab. The only way I can find to change the paper size as actually printed to paper, is to change it the default paper size for the printer itself at OSX system preferences -- very strange behavior, particularly when you have more than one printer tray.

and

I confirm the annoying behavior.
There should be a "Paper size" line in the "Print" menu, as shown in the printer documentation (that includes custom sizes).

Printing occasionally envelopes, changing the default all the time is not an option.

Changing the paper size in the Format/Page/Page is the proper place to set the size. However,there is a bug in OOo 3.3 that keeps this from working properly , especially with envelopes. It will be fixed in a future release.

A workaround is to export the document as a PDF, then open it in Preview to print it.

[annoyed]

The better workaround (that I did) is to revert to the 3.2.1 version - if you still have it on your HDD... (can it be downloaded from the OO site?)

Took me 2 hours to figure out that there was a bug in 3.3.0 - after changing many settings, updating the printer firmware etc...

Talking about bugs: the "Check for Updates" on the 3.3.0 "failed" all the time (Mac OS Snow Leopard)

[RoryOF]

If you need various paper sizes a useful shortcut is to install multiple instances of the printer on the same port, each with a different paper size.

"Check for Updates" is unreliable. Ignore it. Next update may be early 2012 - keep an eye on the list for information.

[lgusaas]

The better workaround (that I did) is to revert to the 3.2.1 version - if you still have it on your HDD... (can it be downloaded from the OO site?)

Took me 2 hours to figure out that there was a bug in 3.3.0 - after changing many settings, updating the printer firmware etc...

The printing bug, at least for envelopes, was introduced in OOo 3.2.0 - see http://openoffice.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=116063

Talking about bugs: the "Check for Updates" on the 3.3.0 "failed" all the time (Mac OS Snow Leopard)

Of course it does. Oracle is not developing OpenOffice.org any longer and have donated the code to the Apache Software Foundation it is undergoing incubation.

[johngalt]

I can confirm the original poster this behavior using OSX 10.6x and OO3.x. I have the same problem and it's very annoying, despite being next to impossible to figure out how to change the page size for printing (without my having stumbled on this thread I may never have figured it out). ...

In OO3.x, you cannot change the paper size either in the print dialog or in the page format dialog. If you follow the suggestion above of lgusaas to select the paper size under "paper handling", the only way to change the paper size is to first select, "scale to fit paper size", which results in a standard size page being shrunk to fit for example an envelope, whereupon the text is shrunk to be very small and the margins / formatting of the page area are not appropriate for the envelope.

JohnV's suggestion, to change the page size at Format > Page > Page tab, while sounding appropriate, does not achieve the desired results. I have tested myself. Changing the paper size to #10 envelope in this dialog, does not change the page size in the subsequently printed page. It looks like the default paper size specified in OSX Print & Fax preferences is over-riding the selected paper size in OO 3.x under Format > Page > Page tab. The only way I can find to change the paper size as actually printed to paper, is to change it the default paper size for the printer itself at OSX system preferences -- very strange behavior, particularly when you have more than one printer tray.

You are completely correct. The paper size option and in particular, #10 envelope printing simply does not work properly in OO 3.3 and OS X 10.7. Before researching it here I tore my hair out trying to print a #10 envelope. I think the problem is that OS X automatically detects correct page orientation, and OO is trying to second-guess OS X.

The workaround I finally used was to use a sufficient "shift down" offset which puts the address in the right place for my printer and its expected paper path: