Canon iP4200 ignores feeder-or-cassette spec

[Burt]

On this fairly new Canon iP4200, I can tell the printer to use the sheet
feeder (above the machine) or the paper cassette (under it). Except for
occasional envelopes, I always want to print from the cassette.

It disagrees. For no apparent reason, it sometimes refuses to print from
the cassette, instead insisting I load paper in the feeder.

This happens even when the exterior button is set to the lower position
(cassette); it simply moves the light to the upper position & then demands
paper in the feeder. And it happens no matter what's specified for Paper
Source in the Properties dialog (Paper Feed Switch or Cassette). Rebooting
the PC makes no difference, nor does powering the printer off/on.

It resolves just as mysteriously, but not usually for several hours or
days.

It's driving me mad. What on earth am I doing wrong? I'm using ordinary
inkjet paper, and both the paper and the printer area are clean and
ventilated.

WinXP SP2, plenty of RAM and HD space.

Grateful for any clues.

Mark

Although our ip5000 printer has the same function, we always use the top
feed - just more convenient for my wife. I have had experience, however,
with HP Laser printers that have multiple cassettes and drop-down trays for
special paper or envelopes. Word processing programs - I use MS Word for
compatability with people to whom I send documents, and Wordperfect for its
ease in reformatting forms and documents - direct certain print jobs to one
paper source or another. When I format a new document for envelopes,
Wordperfect automatically selects the drop-down tray for feeding envelopes
and refuses to print from the cassettes. Could it be the program from which
you are printing?

 

[Mark Tangard]

On this fairly new Canon iP4200, I can tell the printer to use the sheet feeder
(above the machine) or the paper cassette (under it). Except for occasional
envelopes, I always want to print from the cassette.

It disagrees. For no apparent reason, it sometimes refuses to print from the
cassette, instead insisting I load paper in the feeder.

This happens even when the exterior button is set to the lower position
(cassette); it simply moves the light to the upper position & then demands paper
in the feeder. And it happens no matter what's specified for Paper Source in
the Properties dialog (Paper Feed Switch or Cassette). Rebooting the PC makes no
difference, nor does powering the printer off/on.

It resolves just as mysteriously, but not usually for several hours or days.

It's driving me mad. What on earth am I doing wrong? I'm using ordinary inkjet
paper, and both the paper and the printer area are clean and ventilated.

WinXP SP2, plenty of RAM and HD space.

Grateful for any clues.

Mark

 

[Michael Grey]

Do what I did.
I added a printer through the control panel and set its defaults to the
bottom tray.
I called mine IP4200 lowertray.
Now when I am in word or whatever I use this as the printer of choice.
Knock on wood no problems since.

 

[Mark Tangard]

Although our ip5000 printer has the same function, we always use the top
feed - just more convenient for my wife. I have had experience, however,
with HP Laser printers that have multiple cassettes and drop-down trays for
special paper or envelopes. Word processing programs - I use MS Word for
compatability with people to whom I send documents, and Wordperfect for its
ease in reformatting forms and documents - direct certain print jobs to one
paper source or another. When I format a new document for envelopes,
Wordperfect automatically selects the drop-down tray for feeding envelopes
and refuses to print from the cassettes. Could it be the program from which
you are printing?

Not likely. I've noticed this happening while printing from both Word and
Acrobat, and when the problem resolves, it resolves for both programs. And
these are ordinary documents (not labels, envelopes, etc.) that I print frequently.

MT

 

[Phil Pickard]

Mark,
I suggest you look at the Profile Settings when setting the Printer
Preferences Button which generally appears on the application's Print
dialogue. If you choose your settings and make these the current settings
things should be OK.
Phil.

 

[Mark Tangard]

Mmm, that sounds just sleazy enough to be meritorious.

But, when you say you added a printer, do you mean you added a generic printer,
or you installed another copy of the Canon?

When I try the latter, I don't get a separate printer definition. And I'm kind
of at a loss as to how to do the former. Can you give me a hint at the steps?

Thanks
MT

 

[Mark Tangard]

Hi Phil,

The Profile settings are set correctly and they don't change. Only the behavior
changes.

MT