How to Set Up Separate Printer Configurations for the Same Printer

Last reviewed: 01/26/2012
Article ID: R10776

The information in this article applies to:

• All Versions of Tabs3 and PracticeMaster software

SUMMARY

Creating multiple installations of the same printer allows you to preserve customized margins and other print settings for use with various distinct types of print jobs. For example, the margins you want to use for printing checks in Tabs3's Accounts Payable software may be different than the margins you want to use for Tabs3's Trust Accounting software checks. Likewise the font you want to use for checks may be different than the base font you want to use for Tabs3 reports. With only a single installation of a printer, these and other print settings may need to be changed each time you switch print jobs.

All Tabs3 and PracticeMaster software store the last printer that was used in the workstation's STI.INI file. Once additional installations of a single printer have been created, the appropriate installation can be selected from the Print dialog in any Tabs3 and PracticeMaster application, as needed. For example, when printing Tabs3 reports, you might select the Tabs3 Report Printer. Later on, when printing APS checks, rather than going through the print setup and changing margins, fonts, etc. for the Tabs3 Report Printer, you would simply select the APS Check Printer and begin printing.

SETUP INSTRUCTIONS

The following are instructions for setting up an additional installation of an existing printer:

• Windows 7
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP

Windows 7

The procedure for setting up an additional installation of a printer on a Windows Vista computer depends on whether the printer itself is a local printer (i.e., attached directly to the computer) or a network printer (i.e., attached to another computer on the network).

• Setting up an additional installation of a local printer on Windows 7
• Setting up an additional installation of a network printer on Windows 7

Setting up an additional installation of a local printer on Windows 7

1. Select Start | Control Panel | Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click the printer you want to duplicate, and choose Printer Properties.
3. Click the Ports tab and note which port is selected.
4. Click the Advanced tab and note the contents of the "Driver" field.
5. Click Cancel.
6. Click the Add a printer button.
7. Click Add a local printer.
8. A printer wizard will assist you with adding an additional printer. When asked to select an existing driver, be sure that it matches the model of the current printer. When prompted for a printer name, we recommend changing the default name to a printer name that will help you remember what this printer is used for (e.g., Statement Printer, APS Check Printer or 1099 Printer).

Setting up an additional installation of a network printer on Windows 7

1. Select Start | Control Panel | Printer.
2. Click the Add a printer button.
3. Click Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer.
4. Searching for available printers will be listed at the top of the wizard.
• If the printer you want is listed, select that printer and click Next.
• If the printer you want is not listed, click The printer that I want isn't listed to open a wizard that will assist you in finding the desired printer.
5. A printer wizard will assist you with adding an additional printer. When prompted for a printer name, we recommend changing the default name to a printer name that will help you remember what this printer is used for (e.g., Statement Printer, APS Check Printer or 1099 Printer).

Windows Vista

The procedure for setting up an additional installation of a printer on a Windows Vista computer depends on whether the printer itself is a local printer (i.e., attached directly to the computer) or a network printer (i.e., attached to another computer on the network).

• Setting up an additional installation of a local printer on Windows Vista
• Setting up an additional installation of a network printer on Windows Vista

Setting up an additional installation of a local printer on Windows Vista

1. Select Start | Control Panel | Printer.
2. Right-click the printer you want to duplicate, and choose Properties.
3. Click the Ports tab and note which port is selected.
4. Click the Advanced tab and note the contents of the "Driver" field.
5. Click Cancel.
6. Click the Add a printer button.
7. Click Add a local printer.
8. A printer wizard will assist you with adding an additional printer. When asked to select an existing driver, be sure that it matches the model of the current printer. When prompted for a printer name, we recommend changing the default name to a printer name that will help you remember what this printer is used for (e.g., Statement Printer, APS Check Printer or 1099 Printer).

Setting up an additional installation of a network printer on Windows Vista

1. Select Start | Control Panel | Printer.
2. Click the Add a printer button.
3. Click Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer.
4. Searching for available printers will be listed at the top of the wizard.
• If the printer you want is listed, select that printer and click Next.
• If the printer you want is not listed, click The printer that I want isn't listed to open a wizard that will assist you in finding the desired printer.
5. A printer wizard will assist you with adding an additional printer. When prompted for a printer name, we recommend changing the default name to a printer name that will help you remember what this printer is used for (e.g., Statement Printer, APS Check Printer or 1099 Printer).

The procedure for setting up an additional installation of a printer on a Windows XP computer depends on whether the printer itself is a local printer (i.e., attached directly to the computer) or a network printer (i.e., attached to another computer on the network).

• Setting up an additional installation of a local printer on Windows XP
• Setting up an additional installation of a network printer on Windows XP

Setting up an additional installation of a local printer on Windows XP

Use one of the following sets of procedures to set up an additional installation of a local printer. The procedures vary depending on whether the Windows XP computer is configured to use the default Windows XP Start menu or the Standard Start menu.

• If the Windows XP computer uses the default Windows XP Start menu:
  1. Select Start | Printers and Faxes.
  2. Right-click the printer you want to duplicate, and choose Properties.
  3. Click the Ports tab and note which port is selected.
  4. Click the Advanced tab and note the contents of the "Driver" field.
  5. Click Cancel.
  6. Click Add Printer in the "Printer Tasks" section.
  7. A printer wizard will assist you with adding an additional printer. When asked if you would like to keep the existing driver or use the new one, select to keep the existing driver. When prompted for a printer name, we recommend changing the default name to a printer name that will help you remember what this printer is used for (e.g., Statement Printer, APS Check Printer or 1099 Printer). When asked if the new printer should be the default for Windows-based programs, select No.
 
• If the Windows XP computer has been configured to use the Standard Start menu:
  1. Select Start | Settings | Printers and Faxes.
  2. Right-click the printer you want to duplicate, and choose Properties.
  3. Click the Ports tab and note which port is selected.
  4. Click the Advanced tab and note the contents of the "Driver" field.
  5. Click Cancel.
  6. Double-click the Add Printer icon.
  7. A printer wizard will assist you with adding an additional printer. When asked if you would like to keep the existing driver or use the new one, select to keep the existing driver. When prompted for a printer name, we recommend changing the default name to a printer name that will help you remember what this printer is used for (e.g., Statement Printer, APS Check Printer or 1099 Printer). When asked if the new printer should be the default for Windows-based programs, select No.

Setting up an additional installation of a network printer on Windows XP

Use one of the following sets of procedures to set up an additional installation of a network printer. The procedures vary depending on whether the Windows XP computer is configured to use the default Windows XP Start menu or the Standard Start menu.

Note: Each additional installation must first be set up at the print server connected to the printer. If that print server also uses Windows XP, the instructions for setting up an additional installation of a local printer can be used to set up the printer on that machine. Other Windows XP workstations can then add that additional installation using the following steps:

• If the Windows XP workstation uses the default Windows XP Start menu:
  1. Select Start | Printers and Faxes.
  2. Click Add Printer in the "Printer Tasks" section.
  3. A printer wizard will assist you with adding an additional printer. When asked whether you would like to add a local printer or a network printer, select to add a network printer. When asked if the new printer should be the default for Windows-based programs, select No.
 
• If the Windows XP workstation has been configured to use a Standard Start menu:
  1. Select Start | Settings | Printers.
  2. Double-click Add Printer.
  3. A printer wizard will assist you with adding an additional printer. When asked whether you would like to add a local printer or a network printer, select to add a network printer. When asked if the new printer should be the default for Windows-based programs, select No.

References

• KB Article R10797 - Printer Properties in Windows
• KB Article R10469 - Frequently Asked Questions About Printing

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