FIX: REPORT FORM Command Returns Wrong Font Size in Windows 95

 Last reviewed: October 29, 1997
Article ID: Q156866
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

When printing a report using Windows 95 only and the REPORT FORM TO PRINTER PROMPT command, the printed output is reduced down to only one quarter of the page. This makes the printout very small and difficult to read. This problem is sometimes reversed and the output is 200-400 percent larger than expected. This problem has been corrected in Microsoft Visual FoxPro version 5.0a.

CAUSE

There are several scenarios that produce the bug in Windows 95 only. This is not a problem in Windows NT. The anomaly appears only if printer drivers are installed in a certain way or if the printer driver cannot pass the correct information through the printer dialog box.

It also seems to make a difference if either one of the drivers has been installed, and deleted, and reinstalled. Depending on which has been installed makes the other exhibit the bad behavior.

WORKAROUND

To Fix the Hewlett-Packard (HP) printers' output, use the following steps if you are having problems:

  1. Uninstall ALL printer drivers.

  2. Reboot.

  3. Install the IIIsi first and overwrite files if prompted.

  4. Reboot.

  5. Install the 4SI. DO NOT over-write the drivers if asked. Take the default recommendation. If you overwrite the drivers, you may experience the problem.

  6. Reboot

This install procedure seems to install the drivers correctly and the command REPORT FORM TO PRINTER PROMPT works in the HP situation.

Another possible workaround would be delete the PROMPT clause from the REPORT FORM command and issue the following commands first. 

   SET PRINTER TO
   SET DEVICE TO PRINTER  PROMPT
The problem with the above is that the SET PRINTER TO causes a blank sheet of paper to be ejected.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem has been corrected in Microsoft Visual FoxPro version 5.0a.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Depending on how you installed the drivers, using printer drivers for an HP LaserJet IIISI and an HP LaserJet 4SI may produce the problem. The problem can occur under different circumstances, but only one case seems to always produce the problem.

All drivers are installed by double-clicking the Printers icon in the Control Panel while Visual FoxPro 5.0 is not running.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior (on an HP printer)

  1. Uninstall all Printer drivers. (This does not really delete the drivers.)

  2. Reboot. (This is important.)

  3. Install the 4SI driver. (If you have had this previously installed you are prompted that the Drivers exists and do you want to overwrite them. Choose YES if you are prompted.)

  4. Reboot. (This is important.)

  5. Create and run a simple one line report named "Test.frx" that uses one or two fields from \Samples\Tastrade\Data\Customer.dbf

    To run the report, issue the following command: 

          REPORT FORM test TO PRINTER PROMPT

    This report should appear fine. (If you previously had the driver installed, you may get the problem now.)

  6. Go back to Printers on the Control Panel and install the HP IIISI. When asked "Do you want to overwrite the existing drivers?" click Yes.

    Note that in all cases you are asked if you want to overwrite files. Just make sure you install the IIISI after you have installed the 4SI.

  7. Reboot.

  8. Run the same report on both printers.

The font size most likely is either much larger or much smaller than expected on the IIISI. The font size is more often than not much larger than expected. This sometimes occurs on the 4SI. 
Keywords          : FxinteropDbase FxprintDriver FxprintFont vfoxwin vfpfix5.0a kb3rdparty kbprint kbbuglist kbfixlist
Version           : 5.0 5.0a
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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Last reviewed: October 29, 1997
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