How to change default print setting to duplex

Question

Level 2

166 points

How to change default print setting to duplex

I have an Oki printer that has duplex (two-sided) printing. I use two-sided printing for virtually everything I print - to save paper. Every time I print, I have to go through the steps of bringing up the "Layout" window in the print dialog box, then selecting "Long-edge binding" from a drop down menu.

I figure there must be a way to make two-sided printing the default, but I can't find it. I've read manuals, searched this forum, etc. Can anybody help? It shouldn't be extra work to save paper! 🙂

(Note: I'd like to make two-sided printing the default for the "Standard" print pre-set. I.e. no extra mouse clicking required to get two-sided printing.)

MBP C2D 17", Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Apr 1, 2009 5:26 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Apr 1, 2009 6:03 PM in response to Clinto

Use a web browser to access the web interface for the printing system. Go to _ http://127.0.0.1:631/printers_ and find your printer. Click on the button *Set Printer Options*. You should select duplex printing and the orientation that you want to make default. Be sure to click the *Set Printer Options* button when you are done. You will have to supply your administrator's short user name and password.

Matt

Reply

Answer 2

Clinto Author

Level 2

166 points

Apr 1, 2009 6:39 PM in response to Matt Broughton

Hi Mark - very helpful, thanks. I did what you said, clicked on the Set Printer Options button, then entered my user name and password. I checked the printer options again on the CUPS web page, and confirmed that 2-sided printing was turned on. Then I tried printing from a couple of different applications, and 2-sided printing was not turned on. I still had to turn it on manually.

Any idea what I should do next?

Reply

Answer 3

Apr 1, 2009 6:49 PM in response to Clinto

Try restarting your computer. That should clear out any memory the applications currently have of the printer settings. It will also restart the printing system.

Matt

Reply

Answer 4

Clinto Author

Level 2

166 points

Apr 1, 2009 7:21 PM in response to Matt Broughton

Restart - that did the trick. Thanks. D'oh! I should have thought of that.

BTW, how come you knew about CUPS and I didn't? Or, more specifically, if this forum didn't exist, how/where would I find out about that?

Reply

Answer 5

May 5, 2009 11:37 AM in response to Matt Broughton

Thanks for this very enlightening answer.

I was a fool to think that to change the printer settings, I should go in system preferences in the printer settings page. Of course, it is MUCH MORE user-friendly to have to go in my browser, at an address that I could have never guessed by myself.

Thanks Apple for simplifying our life to the maximum!

Reply