User profile for user: jodij
jodij Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

How do I disable EconoMode in my Standard Presets for my printer?

Ever since we upgraded to Mac OS X, our printer has been printing in EconoMode. The printer itself has EconoMode turned off, but the printer's Standard Presets have it checked automatically. Is there anyway to change the Standard Presets without having to create another preset that we would have to use? The fact that we either have to click it off everytime or create a new one that we have to switch it to (since we can't make a new preset the default) is rather annoying. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

Dual 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4, Mac OS X (10.4.7), 1.5 GB DDR SDRAM

Posted on Jul 7, 2006 11:26 AM

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11 replies
User profile for user: jodij
jodij Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jul 7, 2006 11:51 AM in response to Mike-N-nahyunil

EconoMode is basically Economy, where it uses less toner to print and the lasers come out very light. We have an old HP LaserJet 4MV that Hp no longer supports. It's a workhorse and has never let us down, therefore there hasn't been a reason to upgrade to a newer one. When we upgraded to OS X, I immediately downloaded the new drivers for it. I've already emailed HP about the issue.

Their response:
We understand from your e-mail the Economode preset is set to be ON automatically when using the HP LaserJet 4MV printer. The Economode is disabled on the printer itself, but by default remains ON when using Macintosh OS X.

The default preset cannot be changed as this preset is implemented by the Macintosh OS. However, a new preset can be created to make any changes you would like.

Basically, that's what I wanted to new from Apple... Is the only way around this creating a new preset? Is there no way to change the Standard Preset?
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User profile for user: Matt Broughton
Matt Broughton
User level: Level 5
4,997 points

Jul 7, 2006 5:37 PM in response to jodij

Is there no way to change the Standard Preset?


The preset is set in the printer PPD. It might be possible to change the printer's PPD to eliminate the EconoMode or at least make your choice the default. This seems to one of those printers that can use multiple drivers. What driver/PPD are you using?

I would be willing to take a look at the PPD to see if it is any easy change that I can lead you through.

Matt
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User profile for user: Matt Broughton
Matt Broughton
User level: Level 5
4,997 points

Jul 10, 2006 8:32 AM in response to jodij

It appears the PPD that is being used is the HP
LaserJet 4V. We have a HP LaserJet 4MV. Hopefully
this will help you determine if it can be changed or
not.


Unfortunately, I have at least 3 PPDs available for the LaserJet 4V. They are all slightly different and not interchangeable. None of them include the "EconoMode" setting. They contain words like "Draft", "Normal", and "Best".I should have been more explicit in my directions for the obtaining the information I needed. My apologies.

Let's try another tactic. Please use your favorite browser and go to <http://127.0.0.1:631/printers>. This is the web interface for the printing system CUPS. Find your LJ 4 in the list of printers. Highlight the entire line in the darker shaded box and include the information in a reply post. It will look something like this:

HP LaserJet4V HP LaserJet 4V Foomatic/hpijs

Second, let's try the obvious. While you are in the web interface, click on the button "Configure Printer" in the listing for your LaserJet. You will need to enter your short user name and password to gain access to the control page. When you get to the configuration page, choose the output setting(s) that you want to be the default settings and click "Continue". That should automatically change the appropriate PPD and hopefully solve your problem.

Matt


Mac Mini; B&W G3/300
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User profile for user: jodij
jodij Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jul 11, 2006 1:08 PM in response to Matt Broughton

Matt-

Here's what I found at the website you directed me to.

HP LaserJet 4V/4MV PostScript
Description: LaserJet 4V
Location: Local Zone
Printer State: idle, accepting jobs.
Device URI: pap://*/LaserJet%204V/LaserWriter

I thought for sure that the configure printer method you suggesting while there would work, but it didn't. It's funny, because that EconoMode setting is under the JCL Category where it's showing up in my Print Dialog Window. I changed it to Off, since it was set to On and clicked continue. It said it had been configured successfully, but when I got to print, EconoMode is still checked under Printer Features, Feature Sets: JCL.

Just so you know, when I go to my Print Setup Utility, it shows that my LaserJet 4V is printing using: HP LaserJet 4V - Gimp - Print v5.0.0-beta2. That doesn't seem right to me. Could it be using the wrong PPD? When I delete it and add it again, it gives me three different options to choose from when I have to select a driver or printer model. Besides the one above, the other two are simply HP LaserJet 4V/4MV Postscript, but even if I select one of those and add a new one, it defaults back to the first one.

When we upgraded to OS X, I went and downloaded new drivers for this printer from the HP site. Is there anyway to delete what I have for this printer and reinstall them? Hope I haven't made this even more confusing. Thanks for your help and suggestions!
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User profile for user: Matt Broughton
Matt Broughton
User level: Level 5
4,997 points

Jul 11, 2006 7:13 PM in response to jodij

OK. I think I now see what is happening, and I hopefully have a solution. I had never thought to check to see if HP had any software for this printer due to its age.

I downloaded the "Driver" "HP LaserJet Printing Software and Utility" from HP's website. This "Driver" was released 11 March 2005. There are definitely problems with the PPD. That is also the reason changing the printer configureation via the web page did not work. I was able to change the PPD so that it didn't have EconoMode enabled. However, there is a better solution than leading you through how to change the PPD.

HP released Mac OS X "Software" "HP LaserJet Mac OS X Installer (Universal Binary)" on 20 Apr 2006. The PPD in this "Software" does not have EconoMode enabled. So Mike N's recommendation to check for updates from HP was the key. I have no clue as to why HP calls one a "Driver" and the other "Software" except to say they are HP.

Course of action. Download the Universal Binary "Software" for the LaserJet 4mv from HP's site. A shortcut would be to go to <ftp://ftp.hp.com//pub/softlib/software7/COL14920/lj-39729-1/> and download the HPLaserJet v5_52.dmg file.

Once you have the download completed, do the following:
NOTE: If you have already downloaded and installed the Universal binary software, do item 1 and then skip to item 7.

1. Delete your current LaserJet 4mv print queue.
2. Delete the "hp" folder from the /Library/Printers folder.
3. Delete all the HP Plugins from the /Library/Printers/PPD Plugins folder.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Empty the Trash.
6. Install the new "Software" from HP.
7. Use Printer Setup Utility to add you LaserJet 4mv printer using the new software.

You should be good to go. Let us know how you fare.

Matt

Mac Mini; B&W G3/300
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User profile for user: jodij
jodij Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jul 13, 2006 6:50 AM in response to Matt Broughton

Matt-

Well, I tried everything you said yesterday and it's still not working. I too saw this update on the HP site, but since it said Software and not Driver, I hadn't done it yet. However, yesterday I did, but EconoMode is still enabled. Could there be something else that should have been thrown away that wasn't? Again, in my print utility setup when I go to add a new printer, it's still giving me that weird Beta driver for my printer. Beta to me has always meant "in testing". I'm wondering if this is what could be doing it. It gives me three drivers to choose from, two of which are the same, but regardless if I select either one of those other two, it always defaults back to the Beta driver. I'm at a loss as I'm sure you are to. I know this issue is not "life threatening", but it's rather just annoying. It's just that I don't always remember to uncheck it and end up having to print things a million times. If you have any other thoughts, let me know, but I don't want you wasting anymore time. I appreciate all the suggestions you have provided so far. Thanks!
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User profile for user: Matt Broughton
Matt Broughton
User level: Level 5
4,997 points

Jul 13, 2006 12:10 PM in response to jodij

Well, I tried everything you said yesterday and it's
still not working.


Well, that's your problem, following my advice will always get you into trouble. 🙂

Could there be something
else that should have been thrown away that wasn't?


Yes, I forgot to have you delete old PPD files that the "Driver" installed. My apologies.

Let's try again.
1. Delete your current printer using Printer Setup Utility.
2. Quit Printer Setup Utility.
3. Go to the folder /Library/Printers/PPDs/Contents/ResourcesEnglish.lproj and delete the following files. Be careful about getting the exact filename as there will likely be a corresponding file with a very similar name.

HP Color LaserJet
HP Color LaserJet 5M
HP LaserJet 4 Plus
HP LaserJet 4 Plus 300 dpi
HP LaserJet 4ML
HP LaserJet 4MP
HP LaserJet 4MP (300 dpi)
HP LaserJet 4Si (300 dpi)
HP LaserJet 4Si v2011.110
HP LaserJet 4V
HP LaserJet 5M
HP LaserJet 5MP
HP LaserJet 5Si
HP LaserJet 5Si Mopier
HP LaserJet 6MP
LaserJet 4
LaserJet 4 (300 dpi)

The new "Software" from HP installed very similar files with names than end with ".gz". We want to make sure that those files are kept.

4. Open Printer Setup Utility and add your LaserJet 4mv again. There should only be one choice now rather than the two you indicated in your last post.


Hopefully, everything will work properly now. Let us know what happens.

Matt

Mac Mini; B&W G3/300
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How do I disable EconoMode in my Standard Presets for my printer?

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