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Setting document printing defaults

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Setting document printing defaults

Device-specific properties such as resolution and memory specify a printer's hardware characteristics. Document printing defaults describe how that hardware can be used to perform a printing task. Unless you override them, a program uses the default document properties that are set for a printer.

Typical document default properties include:

  • Page orientation

  • One-sided or two-sided printing

  • Paper source

  • Type of form (paper size)

You can set other preferences as well. To view the document printing preferences, see Set Printing Preferences.

Setting default printing preferences

As administrator, you can set the initial defaults for a printer. When a user connects to the printer, the user's defaults are set to these global settings. For more information on setting the printing default preferences, see Set printing defaults.

Setting personal printing preferences

Individual users can change default document properties and set their own personal printing preferences. These preferences include the same options as the default printing preferences except that they apply only to that user instead of to the printer. As with Windows NT 4.0, a user can also change the printing defaults from the print dialog box of the application. In such a case, the new defaults apply when a program prints. Note that changes made by an administrator after a user has established a connection to a printer have no effect on that user. For more information on setting personal printing preferences, see Set personal printing preferences.