Q: Printer dialog page doesn't give me landscape/portrait Orientation option
When I try to print something, and bring up the printer dialog window, I no longer have the option of swapping between landscape and portrait.
I used to be able to hit command-P, then select Layout, where I was given a choice between Orientation: a graphic up for Portrait and sideways for Layout. I would also get a small print preview window where I could see each page formatted.
Now all I get it is a small icon with the digit 1 where the preview used to be, and no Orientation option. Layout Direction is there, as are other options, but not that one. And now things only print in Landscape; I can't change print jobs to Portrait.
I deleted (really renamed) my ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.print.PrintingPrefs.plist file, and then restarted my application, as I saw that as a suggestion in a different thread, alas no joy.
Background: I'm running Mavericks OS 10.9.1. I have an old Macbook on the same OS level; it works on that machine. The screen is failing on the old one so I'm trying to get the new one up & running. When I bought this new one I tried to clone it using Time Machine but that failed (very long story) so I had to manually copy over User and Library directories to get this one going. I'm guessing something didn't get copied over right, but regardless I should be able to select this as an option on any print.
To make matters more confusing, it didn't work on ANY app at first, but as I've poked around on it tonight (3-4 hours) it started working on some apps but not others. I have no idea why. Weird.
I really need help; I'm desparate!
Thanks.
Posted on Feb 9, 2014 10:49 PM
Confirmed, problem is solved.
To review: originally my relatively new Macbook was printing everything in landscape mode. I could not make it change, and any changes I attempted did not "stick".
I think the thing that really fixed it was the printer system reset above. But compounding my problems was that I did not recognize that different applications have different ways of setting the Orientation, in particular Safari allows you to do it right on the printer dialog box, whereas Firefox and other applications change the Orientation via the File tab -> Page Setup -> then orientation options.
I knew it was in a different place in my tax software, but I had already tried it there, and it didn't "stick" (until the print system reset). Now it does stick.
Thanks PAHU. You were a Godsend.
Posted on Feb 10, 2014 8:10 PM




