Printing to an Installed Printer
To print an open document to an installed printer, click on the File menu and select Print. A popup window appears which allows users to choose to print the entire document, the current page or a range of pages, the number of copies, modify the layout, and alter the characteristics of the printer output.

Changing the Default Printer from Windows Installed Printer List
One way to change the default printer or add a new printer is to click on the Start button, go to Settings, choose Printers, and then select Add Printer. The Add Printer Wizard is displayed. Follow the screen commands to add the printer.

Select local or network printer. Click on the Next button. Select the printer port. The LPT1: port is the default port. Click on the Next button. Find the manufacturer and printer model from the list. Click on the Next button.

Name the new printer. It could be left as the model name or given a name like "Tim's printer" or "Floor2West" especially if there are many printers being used on the network or in the office. It is also necessary to indicate whether or not this is the default printer for Windows-based programs. Click on the Next button.

To share this printer with others on the network, give it a share name, such as "Floor2West" or "Accounting", and click on the Next button.

The next screen suggests printing a test page. This will demonstrate if the printer is hooked up correctly and has the correct drivers installed. Choose Yes and then click on the Next button.

If the printer was added successfully, a similar window will display. To complete the process, click the Finish button.

Networks will probably have several printers to choose from. To change the default printer, right-click on the new default printer. From the popup menu, select the option to set the printer as the default.

View the Progress of a Print Job from a Desktop Print Manager
The desktop print manager displays the print job as it starts, progresses, and finishes. The print manager may be accessed by double clicking on the printer icon on the taskbar of the desktop. It can also be accessed by going to the Printers folder in Settings on the Start menu. Double-click on the printer to see the current jobs. Figure shows the options available in the Printer menu including Pause printing, Cancel all documents, and the properties of the printer.

Figure shows that this document is experiencing an error in printing. A popup window appears showing the nature of the problem.

If the wrong document was being printed, or the document was too long, it can be deleted from the print queue by selecting Document and then Cancel. A popup window will appear with an option to cancel the print job.

Worksheet  (PDF, 6 KB)   Managing Printers