Duplex Printing With Tray Selector

One of the few printing features that cannot be directly controlled using a Tray Selector profile is duplex or double-sided printing.

There is however a simple solution to this common problem by following these steps and the following instructions that allows you to print Duplex using Tray Selector.

Step 1 > Take note of your printer model and it’s port setting

Step 2 > Install a new 2nd printer driver that points to the same physical printer

Step 3 > Configure this new 2nd printer driver so that it prints everything duplex

Step 4 > Install the printer on the client PC (if required)

Step 5 > Create a new Tray Selector button named duplex that points to this printer

Notes:

• This example is for a network printer that is shared out from a server.
• If the printer in question is shared via a PC or server, then these steps need to be carried out on that PC or server.
• If the printer is either physically connected to your PC, or accessed directly from your PC across the network using it’s IP address, then steps 1,2,3 and 5 only need to be carried out on your PC

 

Step 1
Take a note of your printer model and port setting

• Within the printers folder, right click on the existing printer icon, and choose Properties and then click on the Ports tab

The dialogue box should look something like this:

In this example, the printer is an HP Laserjet 4000 and the port is called laserjet 4000t

 

Step 2
Install a new 2nd printer driver that points to the same physical printer

• Double click the Add Printer Icon

In this example we need to choose the option for installing a local printer, based on the settings noted in the first step.

• Select Use the following port and choose the option to match the one noted from the existing printer.

 

• Choose the manufacturer and printer model from the lists. Again this should match the printer model you noted at the beginning.

 

As this model of printer has already been installed, you will probably see the following message:

• Choose to keep the existing driver.

 

• Give your printer a name that will differentiate it from the existing one. In this example its called  Duplex.

 

• If this printer is to be used by other users, then you need to give it a share name, again I have called this one Duplex.

 

Step 3
Configure this new 2nd printer driver so that it prints everything duplex

• Click on Printing Preferences

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Choose the method of duplex printing you require.

 

The look and position of this option will vary between different printer drivers, but basically what you are trying to achieve is that everything sent to this printer driver will print double sided and in most cases it will be flipped on long edge.

 

Step 4
Install the printer on the client PC (if required)

This process has created a shared network printer that prints all documents double sided.

You then need to set this up as an available printer for all users that require it.

• Do this by clicking Add Printer

• This time choose Network Printer

 

• If the printer has been shared out from a Windows server then you will need to choose Find printer in the directory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Choose Find Now

 

You should now see your printer names Duplex appear in the list, as shown above

• Double click on this printer, to install it.

 

Step 5
Create a new Tray Selector button named duplex that points to this printer

• Within Tray Selector you can then create a profile (button) called Duplex that points to this printer. This will then add single click duplex printing capability to your existing Tray Selector buttons.

You now have a Duplex button on your Tray Selector toolbar.