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besposito
besposito
Participating Frequently
August 13, 2020
Answered

Unable to print mixed letter and legal size PDF using a Mac with Brother printer

  • August 13, 2020
  • 9 replies
  • 22228 views

This appears to be an ongoing issue for the past several years and I am still experiencing what so many others have found. There is a problem printing a LARGE (100+) PDF with mixed legal and letter sized pages using Adobe Reader on a Mac with a Brother laser printer.

 

I think that Adobe support has not been able to recreate the issue because their test file has only two pages. If they create a 100+ page test file with mixed letter and legal and they should be able to replicate the issue.

 

Here is what I have:

 

 

When I print a large (100+) PDF file with mixed legal and letter it initially works for the first 10 or 20 pages but eventually the pages get cut off with legal pages being printed half way down the page and/or cut off. It is as though the data being sent to the printer eventually becomes "corrupted" so that it is unable to print correctly.

 

The only solution I have found is to run Windows on my Macbook Pro using VMWAre Fusion and printing from Windows to my printer. Doing this it works fine.

 

Attached is a test.pdf file of multiple mixed size pages that I used to replicate the issue.

Also attached is a result.pdf which is a scanned result from the printing showing the issue with pages being cut-off / misprinted. Note that the A4 pages are scanned as legal size, but you can still size how they actually printed on the actual paper.

 

Any additional help in solving this would be appreciated!

    Correct answer swapnilsrivastava
     

    Hi There,

     

    Thanks for reporting the issue here.

    Before sending the file for printing; inside the Print Dialog, there is a checkbox for "Choose paper source by PDF Page size". Please check that before printing; its unchecked by default.

    Do let us know, if the issue still persists.

     

    Regards,

    Swapnil Srivastava

    9 replies

    F
    Felicia27691226yfx3
    Participating Frequently
    January 11, 2023

    So i tried your test.pdf, it worked, page 21 was my only test page and it cut off the borders to the top half.. the same way it cuts off right side up.. What am i doing wrong?? Please assist...

    B
    Brittany W, Notary Public
    Participant
    February 24, 2022

    I recently had this issue. It took two weeks of being told by Brother representatives that it was an Adobe issue and being reminded by Adobe's answering machine that free users do not have access to support, before I was able to get the help I needed.

     

    Back to the point...

     

    The issue was solved with a few steps:

    1. Go to Printer Properties and look at the box that says, "Paper Available."  It should include both letter and legal. If it does not (mine was only reading Letter), check the Device Settings tab and click Auto Detect. If the column labeled Paper Size says "undefined," go to the Ports tab and see if the box checked says "Standard/TCP IP Port."  If not, click "Add Port," select "Standard/TCP IP Port" and click "New Port."  Then, type in your printer's IP address. When the Wizard opens, you should click next and that should detect the port and allow you to then click "Finish."  It will give you a list of things to check if the port is not detected (make sure you are still connected to the internet).

    Now, when you go to the Device Settings tab and click Auto Detect, you should see the paper sizes set in your machine load in the Paper Size column. In essence, this fixed a break in communication between your printer and your computer.

     

    If you can print mixed paper sizes at this point, "Hallelujah!"  I had to take a couple more steps. The next being this:

     

    1. Open Adobe and click the Edit tab. Select Preferences all the way at the bottom of the list. Make sure that the checkbox for the first option that reads "Enable Protected Mode at Startup" is UNCHECKED. Then, close and try again to print mixed paper sizes.

     

    If you still cannot print mixed paper sizes (I could not at this point either) go to the last step:

     

    1. Open a browser window and type in your printer's IP address and click Enter. It will open a page with your machine's name and settings (might not look the same as mine if you do not have a brother printer so you may have to interpret things in relation to your device). My page had a Login button that required a password only. The Brother Technician typed in the password (I later got it from him, so hint to you to ask machine support if you do not know it). Then, more settings options appeared. He selected the Firmware Update option. Firmware Update should be Enabled, and you should click the "Check for new firmware" button. When it has finished updating, click the Check for new firmware button again just to be sure it is fully updated (mine took two rounds). Then Click the Print tab and confirm your paper sizes. When that is complete, try again printing mixed paper sizes.

     

    Hopefully, this helped!

     

    A
    Andre23333156qox8
    Participant
    February 25, 2022

    Is this solution for Windows or Mac?  I don't think this applies to Mac. Thank you. 

    A
    AlishaPag
    Participant
    December 16, 2021

    Hey Besposito,

     

    Thank you for your advise so far on the matter. I have been pulling my hairs trying everything and nothing works. My last attempt is downloaded Parallels, like VMWAre Fusion it will help me use Windows on my Mac. How did you set it up to print mixed paper? What were your steps? It's been a long time (years) since I have used Windows so I would greatly appreciate your advise. Thanks!

    besposito
    bespositoAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    December 16, 2021

    Try using Foxit PDF from Foxit software. It resolved my issues. I dont use Adobe anymore.

    Foxit PDF has a free version and has an option to select paper based on print size. They also have a Mac version.

    B
    Blue5CC4
    Participant
    February 15, 2021

    I am having the same issue. Paying for something i thought would make my life easier and it just made it harder. The messed up part is i am paying for the grief...Good thing NNA has a page splitter you just have to put the stack together. I am looking for alternatives. It Sucks Adobe is doing nothing about a problem that has plagued their system for years. 

     

    No need for a renewal here. Adobe is worthless if this feature is not working properly..

    besposito
    bespositoAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 15, 2021

    It looks like Adobe broke the Choose paper source by PDF page size functionality again on a recent update. I finally gave up using Adobe. I am now using Foxit PDF reader from Foxit software. Its a free download. Offers the same fucntionality and just plains works.

      S
      Adobe Employee
      SubratoNamata
      Adobe Employee
      February 16, 2021

      Hi,

      Thank you for your patience and sorry for the inconvenience caused.

      We have released an update for Acrobat and Reader DC(version 21.001.20138) that contains the fix.

      Please try updating the application to the latest version. In the application, go to Help > Check for updates.

      For more information about the latest version, please refer to this link: https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/continuous/dccontinuousfeb2021qfe....

      Let us know how it goes.

      Thanks,

      Subrato

      K
      kennedymt
      Participant
      December 2, 2020

      The 180 degree rotation trick fixed it for me (Mac OS10.15.7, Acrobat DC 2019.021.20048, Canon D1620 printer).  I also tested on Big Sur 11.0.1 and it works there as well.

       

      One important note: I had to use the postscript (PS) version of the printer driver. The default multifunction driver DOES NOT work.  When you set up your printer (system preferences>printers & scanners), don't use theDefault/Bonjour setup. It won't work.  Instead, choose IP in the menu bar, enter your printer's IP address, then in the Use: pulldown at the bottom, choose "select software..." then choose your postscript driver.  Voila!

       

       

      This dang problem had plagued me for 6 years. Problem Solved!  Thanks, besposito!!

        G
        George5EC1
        Participant
        December 3, 2020

        Polly0101, I have tried your suggestions numerous times, but for whatever reason today it dicided to start working.

        Using Adobe Acobat Pro DC, I converted the file from pdf file to Word and attempted to print.  Still would not print correctly.  I then deleted the printer from my computer and shut down then restarted the computer.

        Installed new printer driver and now when I print a pdf file it prints correctly on legal and letter size pages within the same file...

          J
          J5FC2
          Participant
          November 13, 2020

          I founded out, it is Adobe issue, Adobe is aware of it for last 6 years without resolving it.  Which is very sad and fustrating to find out after purchasing Adobe and having to go through hours of trying to get refund, since it is usless.  

           

            P
            Polly0101
            Participant
            October 29, 2020

            I am having the same problem but with a PC running windows 10.  My documents are over 100 pages.  Adobe confirmed the bug and said it was even in their paid products.  This is quite disappointing to learn the bug has been reported for years.  I am a mobile signing agent for loans and just getting started.  I have invested so much in my new career and equipment and now UNABLE to print from a printer designed to print legal and letter.  Support asked me to try the rotate 180 and this did not work for me.  Are you being successful and can anyone provide a solution for me.  I am willing to buy their paid version if it would work but just this week, Adobe says it has the same bug.  Some of my associates have this same printer and they are printing fine so I don't truly know where the problem lies but I am desperate to find a solution.

             

              G
              George5EC1
              Participant
              November 13, 2020

              Polly0101, I am in the same situation as you.  None of the workarounds mentioned in this thread are working for me either.

              swapnilsrivastava, not that easy of a fix.  Of course I have that box checked, but the issue is not resolved.

              P
              Polly0101
              Participant
              November 13, 2020

              George5EC1, In a very convoluted way, miraculously the problem got solved this way.  I purchased Adobe Acobat Pro DC which allowed me to call Adobe for support (again) and I was told to convert the pdf to a Word document and then print.  Miraculously, the Word document spit out proper legal and letter.  After this started working, I tried the same document as a pdf and it has printed properly ever since!  It is as if it had to get started first by printing it in Word.  Now all I have to do is open all my pdf documents with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and select "actual size" in the print dialog and also click "choose paper source by pdf page size."  I also had installed the Brother driver as a USB connection and I deleted that one and I only use my wireless connection.    I really think converting the document to Word and printing is what got things working.  You can get the 7 day trial and try it out before you buy.  It is the only thing that lets you convert the pdf to a Word document.  I print multiple 100+ loan packages daily and it has worked flawlesslessly ever since.  I hope it will work for you.

                swapnilsrivastava
                Community Manager
                swapnilsrivastavaCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
                Community Manager
                August 14, 2020
                 

                Hi There,

                 

                Thanks for reporting the issue here.

                Before sending the file for printing; inside the Print Dialog, there is a checkbox for "Choose paper source by PDF Page size". Please check that before printing; its unchecked by default.

                Do let us know, if the issue still persists.

                 

                Regards,

                Swapnil Srivastava

                besposito
                bespositoAuthor
                Participating Frequently
                August 14, 2020

                Yes, I have the checkbox for "Choose paper source by PDF Page size" checked. I followed all of the directions provided on your support page for this issue. It still does not work.

                 

                There is an issue with Adobe Reader and how it sends mixed pages to any laser printer. If there are many pages (not just two or three) it will eventually begin misprinting and cutting off pages. I provided a test file and a results file showing this.

                 

                Have you tried to replicate this issue using MY test file, with a Mac and a Brother laser printer?

                  besposito
                  bespositoAuthor
                  Participating Frequently
                  August 13, 2020

                  Brother support got back with me immediately. They confirmed the issue is with Adobe Reader on a Mac as the issue also occurs with other brands of printers.

                   

                  The provided a workaround that appears to work:

                   

                  WORKAROUND: Rotate the view of all of the pages by 180°, so it looks upside down on the screen.
                  Then print the document as usual, and all the pages should print completely. You cant do the rotate with the free version of Adobe Reader BUT you can open the PDF using Apple Preview, rotate the pages, save it and then re-open it in Adobe Reader for printing. This worked for me.

                   

                  It would still be nice if Adobe could confirm the issue (using a large test file than 2 pages) and fix the problem.

                    radzmar
                    Community Expert
                    radzmarCommunity Expert
                    Community Expert
                    August 14, 2020

                    This is a user forum not the Adobe support. If you have discoverd an issue, please file a bug the official way. https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html

                    besposito
                    bespositoAuthor
                    Participating Frequently
                    August 21, 2020

                    Thank you for your eager desire to help, but I was aware that this was the Adobe "SUPPORT" Community forum where their tag line is "Come for help, be inspired."

                    This bug has been reported as far back as 2016. I was hoping someone on this "Adobe Support Community" forum might have a solution as Adobe support does not. Turns out Brother printers has a solution which I posted above so other users could find it. Hopefully someday Adobe support will address this bug that has already been reported.

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