Product Info

5
SP Series Info Central
Working with Properties and Printing Preferences
Printer driver settings and data are organized in a set of dialog boxes or pages where settings for the
printer are displayed and can be changed. The dialog boxes are organized differently for Windows Me and
98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows NT. Use the section that applies to the operating system
you use.
The default printer name when the driver is installed is SmartDriver. References in this guide to the printer
driver refer to the SmartDriver. The driver detects the type of printer attached and displays a status icon
that matches the printer type.
Tips for Properties and Printing Preferences
• When it is installed, the SmartDriver printer driver uses default settings for the printer. Make
sure that driver settings match printer features and supplies used.
• For settings that affect the printer, such as magnetic stripe settings, make sure that the printer
and PC are connected so the value you select is sent to the printer and saved. (For settings
that affect only the card format, such as landscape or portrait orientation, the printer does not
need to be connected and powered on.)
• The Print Ribbon Type setting depends on the printer and cannot be changed.
• The card creation application might include settings that override driver settings. Also, you can
access printer settings through the application’s print feature. (Depending on the application
and operating system, settings might apply only to the current document or session.)
• When the printer is installed, the default spool setting is “Spool printing so program finishes
printing faster.” Use this setting, not “Print directly to printer.”
• When the printer is installed, “Enable bi-directional support” is selected. This setting is required
to display messages, print test cards, and perform other functions.
Properties for Windows Me & 98
The Properties dialog box includes the following settings or data:
• Card design settings, such as landscape or portrait orientation and print blocking pattern
• Print ribbon type
• Magnetic stripe encoding formats and coercivity
• Data about the printer, including the printer type
• Port to which the printer is attached
• Port settings for a directly networked printer
Use the Properties dialog box
Make sure the printer power is on and the printer is connected to the PC.
1 Select Start from the Windows task bar.
2 From the Windows Start menu, select Settings and then Printers. The Printers window appears.
3 Click once on the SmartDriver icon.
4 Select File from the Printers menu bar, and then select Properties. The SmartDriver Properties dialog
box appears.