Unable to print via rear feed slot of HP Photosmart 8700

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Unable to print via rear feed slot of HP Photosmart 8700

Does iPhoto 6 support the rear feed slot on a HP Photosmart 8700? Adobe Album on our Windows machine works fine. However it has a setting for turning on the rear feed slot. Doesn't seem to be a similar feature in iPhoto.

When we try to use the rear slot, paper is pulled into starting position, printing sequence starts but print heads don't move; instead blank paper is pulled through and discharged. Machine prints find using front tray but rear tray is required for larger sized, stiffer paper.

Walked HP support through this. They sent a replacement machine. It acts the same way! New MAC user Help!!

iMAC Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.4.6), HP Photosmart 8700 & Epson RX620

Posted on Apr 25, 2006 4:24 PM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

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Apr 27, 2006 4:09 PM in response to Paamul

Paamul:

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Will any of your Mac applications print via that real slot? When you get the print window in iPhoto click on the Advanced button. Then go to the bottom drop down menu and check each selection, particularly Paper Feed or Paper Handling if those are available and see if there's something you have to set there before it will function.

If no other application can use it then it may not be supported on the Mac platform. If If you haven't tried other apps, do a print to pdf from iPhoto and then print that pdf file via Preview.

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Answer 2

Paamul Author

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May 2, 2006 2:52 PM in response to Old Toad

Thanks for responding. We have tried most of our applications and we have tried various combinations under the advanced button. (We find interactions with "Page setup" somewhat inconsistand and confusing). Nothing we try has worked so far. For the moment we are going to try a lighter weight paper that should, we hope, go through the front feed tray without jambing...

I will try printing a pdf file, that is one approach we didn't think of! Thanks for the suggestion.

If Apple is not suppoting the rear feed slot of the HP 8700 that is too bad. It would be nice to know if that is a fact and if it is, if there is any plan for support in the future. Is there anything to stop other software vendors from supporting this feature?

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Answer 3

Old Toad

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215,754 points

May 2, 2006 2:58 PM in response to Paamul

If there's a newer driver for that printer at the manufacturer's site download and install it. it just might have the needed support. The manufacture needs to include the necessary support in the drivers rather than Apple having to write it for each printer. Apple will provide the support for the basic printer protocols but special protocols are the responsibility of the manufacturer.

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Answer 4

Paamul Author

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May 3, 2006 2:02 PM in response to Old Toad

Yes we have installed the latest driver off the HP web site. Still need to try your pdf file idea. Will let you know if that gets us anywhere. Will also keep a lookout for new drivers from HP. Thanks again.

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