How to change default print setting to duplex

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Level 2

165 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

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Matt Broughton

Level 5

4,997 points

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

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Answer 2

Clinto Author

Level 2

165 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?

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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

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Answer 4

Clinto Author

Level 2

165 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?

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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!

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