Default printer

In general, it is a good idea not to choose a specific printer. Even though the printer may be identical to the default printer, how the printer is recognized can still vary for different operating systems.

For example, an HP Laser III printer is being installed on three different operating systems.

• With Microsoft Windows 95 and 98, the printer name can be changed so that HP Laser III is Front Reception Printer, but the printer driver will be listed as HPPCL5MS.DRV.
• With Microsoft Windows NT, the printer name is also referenced and can be changed by the user, but the printer driver is always WINSPOOL.

If you select a specific printer, Seagate Crystal Reports looks for that printer by name. If the printer you selected cannot be found, the default printer is chosen, resulting in the possibility of printing inconsistencies.

When selecting a specific printer, such as a label printer or a printer dedicated to printing invoices, the printer name must be the same as the name of the printer the report was designed on. Be aware that anyone printing the report must use that same printer or they could encounter problems.

Note:    If your report is part of an application that you are distributing, you can provide a Select Printer dialog box. Using this dialog box, users of your report can choose the correct printer or rename the printer accordingly.