Troubleshoot printing publications on a desktop printer

I receive an error message when I print.

First, note the error message. Try to reproduce the actions that cause the error message.

If the error message appears on your printer, consult your printer manual or printer manufacturer.

If the error message appears on your screen, write it down for future reference, and then continue to troubleshoot.

Check the printer driver

A printer driver is the device that communicates between your software program and your printer. When you’re using Microsoft Publisher, the printer driver tells Publisher what the printer can do and also tells the printer how to print the publication. To print correctly, you must install the correct printer driver. We recommend that you get the most recent driver available from the manufacturer of your printer. If your publication doesn’t look right when you print it, you might not have the correct driver installed.

To be sure you are using the correct printer driver in Publisher:

  1. On the File menu, click Print Setup.
  2. Check that the selected printer is the one you want.

    If the selected printer shown is the one you are using, you are probably using the correct printer driver.

    If you continue to receive an error message, consult Microsoft technical support. For contact information, click About Microsoft Publisher on the Help menu.

Check the printer you have selected

If the selected printer is not the one you want, click the correct printer, and try printing your publication again.

If the correct printer doesn't appear in the list, then you might need to install it.

  1. On the Microsoft Windowstaskbar, click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
  2. Double-click Add Printer.
  3. Follow the instructions in the Add Printer Wizard. 

Note   The files that are needed to load your printer driver are often already on your machine. If you have to load your driver from disks or a compact disc, make sure that these files match your current version of Windows.

I cannot print my publication.

A complex publication can be difficult to print. Print a simple publication first to see if you can print from Microsoft Publisher at all.

Print a simple publication

  1. On the File menu, click New.
  2. In the New Publication task pane, click Blank Publication.
  3. In the publication, type your name.
  4. On the Standard toolbar, click Print .

    If you cannot print this publication, go to the topic below called "Print from another program."

    If you can print this publication, your original publication might be too large. Remove all graphics and objects from the original publication, and then try printing again.

Print from another program

To determine whether your printing problem is specific to Publisher, print from another program.

  1. On the Microsoft Windows taskbar, click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Notepad.
  2. Type your name.
  3. On the Standard toolbar, click Print .

    If your file does not print, your printing problems may be related to the Windows operating system. Consult Windows Help for assistance with Windows printing problems.

Part of my publication is cut off or missing.

If elements in your publication are cut off, make sure you've selected the correct paper size for printing.

How?

  1. On the File menu, click Page Setup.
  2. Click the Printer & Paper tab.
  3. Under Paper, select the paper size you want, and then click OK.

If elements in your publication appear to be missing, make sure that your printer's memory settings are right for HP LaserJet printers (or equivalents). The memory setting on your printer driver influences your printer's ability to reproduce your publication. If your printer driver's memory setting is too low, your publication may not appear complete when printed.

To check your printer's memory settings, run a printer self-test to find out exactly how much memory your printer has. If you’re not sure how to do this, see your printer manual. If you have problems with the self-test, contact your printer manufacturer.

The self test prints a page from your printer that lists the amount of memory your printer has installed. On laser printers, the amount of memory can vary greatly, so it is important to find out exactly how much memory is present. Make a note of the amount of memory listed on the test page, and then enter any changes you need to make to your printer's settings.

How?

  1. On the Microsoft Windows taskbar, click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
  2. Right-click the icon for the printer you want, and then click Properties.
  3. Consult your printer manual to locate your printer driver's memory setting.
  4. Click the tab specified by your printer documentation.

    On many laser printers, the memory setting is on the Device Options tab. If your printer manual doesn't specify a location, you may need to examine the different tabs to locate the memory setting. 

  5. Enter the amount of memory that matches what is stated on your printer's self test.

    If you are still missing part of your printed publication, consult technical support for Microsoft Publisher by clicking About Microsoft Publisher on the Help menu.