HP K8600 default page problem

I have a K8600dn connected via network.
I have installed the latest drivers off HP web site on 5 different Macs, 2x MacPro, G5, 2x macmini and running either 10.5.5 or 10.4.12. I use only A4 sheets atm.
Now for some reason it keeps defaulting to A4 banner in the page size. If you send a print to the printer it won't print, error saying no paper (guessing because it expects A4 banner). You have to manually set A4 in the print setup (you get 3 sub choices when you select A4. A4, A4 border less or A4 banner). Once set that job will print fine.
The next job will go back to A4 Banner.
I can't seem to fine a way to make just "A4" the default on this printer (no problems on other printers).
If you go to Print and Fax it will say A4 but you don't see the extra sub menu option to select what type of A4 you want.
All Macs do the same thing.
I have tried 127.0.0.1:631 to see if I can change something in CUPs but nothing worked.
Does any one know how I could set the page default for this printer to A4 and not A4 banner?
Thx for any ideas.

Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 27, 2008 8:12 PM

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4 replies

Oct 28, 2008 7:29 AM in response to Glo8al

The size default is setup as a line entry in the PPD file. I "thought" that on 10.5 using the CUPS interface would make that change for you in the PPD (using the configure printer area).
If you're sure you tried this already, then an alternative is to edit the PPD manually using a text-only editor. The PPDs for currently-Added printers (printers in the printer list) are found in /etc/cups/ppd. The change is easy to see and make. As long as you save a backup for safety, making changes to the PPDs shouldn't be dangerous in any way. You need to restart CUPS or the computer for the change to register.

Let us know how it goes.

Oct 28, 2008 3:40 PM in response to greg sahli

Thank you 🙂
It worked. No more A4 banner or edge to edge.
HP support have been emailing me, but they keep telling me to reinstall the driver 😟.
I had tried a edited PPD, then manually selected it when installing the printer, but I guess I didn't restart CUPS and it remembered old settings as it sort of worked.
Thank you again, now I know where and how.

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HP K8600 default page problem

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