Printer Default in Color Sync

Hi, WillL.

I presume since you have only one printer connected, the "Make Default Printer" button for the CX4800 is unavailable (greyed-out) in the "Devices" tab under "Printers"? If not, what happens if you click "Make Default Printer" when viewing the CX4800 under Devices?

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

1. When you print to the CX4800, is the color correct? If that's the case, then this may just be an interface glitch and not worth bothering about.

2. A bit of exploring finds that the default device for monitor, printer, etc. in ColorSync appears to be saved in the hidden and invisible file .GlobalPreferences.plist in the /Library/Preferences directory. This file also saves numerous other system-wide preferences for your Mac, e.g. languages,time zone, country, etc.

I'm not sure you'd want to remove this file and have to reset all of the preferences it defines just to fix the blue dot. However, if you want to go that route, I can provide you with the necessary Terminal commands.

3. The default devices do not appear to be saved in the preferences for the ColorSync Utility itself. However, they had to get into .GlobalPreferences.plist somehow, and ColorSync Utility would be the way I'd expect. You could try removing ColorSync Utility preferences and recreate them to see if it changes the blue dot:

1. Quitting ColorSync Utility if it is open.
2. Drag com.apple.ColorSyncUtility.plist to your desktop.
3. Launch ColorSync Utility and make any changes necessary.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

1. Is the "printer test" you ran a self-test or does it involve printing something from your Mac? If it is a self-test, that sounds like a problem with the printer, not the Mac.

1. Have you contacted Epson?

2. Have you deleted the ColorSync Utility preferences and reset them per my earlier post?


Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

The about the only other thing I can suggest is pulling the /Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences.plist file.

Using your Admin account, you can do this without using terminal and save a copy of the current file for backup. As an extra precaution, you may want to make a complete backup of your startup disk before proceeding.

Here are the steps:

1. Quit (Command-Q) ColorSync Utility if it is open, then delete its preferences as before.

2. Download the freeware app TinkerTool and install it in your Applications folder.

3. Launch TinkerTool. In its Finder tab, select the option to "Show hidden and system files." Click the Relaunch Finder button. Hidden and invisible files now show up in Finder.

4. Quit (Command-Q) TinkerTool.

5. Open your Macintosh HD > Library > Preferences folder and perform a Get Info on the now-visible .GlobalPreferences.plist file.

6. Open the "Ownership & Permissions" panel in the Get Info window, then open the "Details' panel within. Take a screen shot of the Get Info window so you know the permissions set on that file for later.

7. Move (Command-Drag) .GlobalPreferences.plist from its folder to your desktop to save it.

8. Restart your Mac , then log back in to your account. Note that hidden and invisible files will still be displayed.

9. Launch ColorSync Utility and see if your CX4800 is the default printer. If not, see if you can set it as such.

If step 9 works, then:

• Reset the following additional preferences in System Preferences, if applicable:

• Default language.

• Sound.

• Security: automatic logout delay, i.e "Log out after __ minutes inactivity."

• Time zone city.

• Energy Saver perferences.

• Whether or not Fast User Switching is enabled (System Preferences > Accounts > Login Options)

Note: That list is based on what I see in my copy of the file.

• Launch TinkerTool, de-select "Show hidden and system files", click Relaunch Finder, then Quit TinkerTool.

Otherwise, i.e. if step 9 failed, you can undo the previous changes as follows:

• Replace the new copy of .GlobalPreferences.plist in /Library/Preferences with the copy you saved on your desktop in step 2 (Command-Drag desktop copy to /Library/Preferences), check the permissions of the restored copy in /Library/Preferences against the screen shot you made in Step 6, and make changes accordingly. If prompted to authenticate at any point, provide your Admin password.

• Launch TinkerTool, de-select "Show hidden and system files", click Relaunch Finder, then Quit TinkerTool.

• Restart your Mac.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

That's up to you. The procedure I outlined really isn't difficult, though if you're a novice I can understand your trepidation.

If you have a friend or colleague with more Mac experience, perhaps they can help you with the steps. Unfortunately, one can only do so much through the Discussions. Sometimes hands-on assistance is required.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X