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Wm0D4D
Participant
September 2, 2022
Answered

Cannot access HP Printer Custom Page Sizes from InDesign MacOS

  • September 2, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 1300 views

Hello.

I want to print a document to a 6in x 12in sheet directly from InDesign.

 

From the Print dialog (1st screen shot), I am unable to select Custom, since it is greyed out, and no custom page sizes appear here.

 

When I try from the (highly discouraged) Page Setup dialog (2nd screen shot), I can select the Manage Custom Sizes... option, and am able to create/delete custom page sizes there, but the custom page sizes are greyed out, and I am unable to select/use them.

 

Previous versions of these custom sizes (now deleted) used to work correctly, via the Page Setup dialog.

This feels like a MacOS permissions issue, but I can't be sure. This change may be the result of an automatic MacOS and/or InDesign update, but I can't identify which ones. HP Print drivers now seem to be installed automatically by MacOS.

 

Has anyone else had this problem? If so, how can I fix it?

 

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Wm0D4D

Ok, I made some progress troubleshooting this issue. The printer (HP LaserJet M1536dnf) has been connected to a router by Ethernet cable. While this has been working in the past, it no longer works. BUT, when I connect to it directly with a USB cable, I can select and access custom page sizes. So, I tried attaching the printer to the router via USB cable, and it continues to work as expected. I noticed that, while setting up the printer drivers over USB, different driver names were presented (with Hewlett-Packard spelled out, while over ethernet, they started only with HP.)

 

So, by connecting the printer to the router with a USB cable, I now have my networked printer with custom page sizes back. The issue seems to be related to connecting over Ethernet and to which drivers are presented when setting up the printer.

 

Thanks for listening and for the suggestions. Perhaps this will be helpful to someone else.

3 replies

W
Wm0D4DAuthorCorrect answer
Participant
September 3, 2022

Ok, I made some progress troubleshooting this issue. The printer (HP LaserJet M1536dnf) has been connected to a router by Ethernet cable. While this has been working in the past, it no longer works. BUT, when I connect to it directly with a USB cable, I can select and access custom page sizes. So, I tried attaching the printer to the router via USB cable, and it continues to work as expected. I noticed that, while setting up the printer drivers over USB, different driver names were presented (with Hewlett-Packard spelled out, while over ethernet, they started only with HP.)

 

So, by connecting the printer to the router with a USB cable, I now have my networked printer with custom page sizes back. The issue seems to be related to connecting over Ethernet and to which drivers are presented when setting up the printer.

 

Thanks for listening and for the suggestions. Perhaps this will be helpful to someone else.

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 2, 2022

    Hi@Wm0D4D ,

    sorry, I have no idea why this is. I'm on Windows 10.

    The workaround: Export to PDF and use Acrobat Pro DC or Adobe Reader for printing.

     

    Regards,
    Uwe Laubender
    ( Adobe Community Professional )

    W
    Wm0D4DAuthor
    Participant
    September 2, 2022

    No. Unfortunately, it generates a PDF with US Letter (default) page size.

      W
      Wm0D4DAuthor
      Participant
      September 2, 2022

      Note: I am able to work with and print with all these custom page sizes from other apps, like Text Edit. Just not in InDesign.

      Rishabh_Tiwari
      Community Manager
      Rishabh_TiwariCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      September 2, 2022

      Hi,

       

      Sorry to hear about the trouble. Generally, If you’re using a printer that accommodates various paper sizes, such as a high-resolution imagesetter, you can specify a custom paper size when you print. InDesign makes the custom option available only if the selected PPD supports custom paper sizes, more information is available here. Having said that, please try Uwe's suggestions and let us know if that helps.

       

      Regards

      Rishabh

      W
      Wm0D4DAuthor
      Participant
      September 2, 2022

      I am able to use and select the custom page sizes I created from other apps, like Text Edit. They act as expected (so the PPD does support custom paper sizes). Only in InDesign (and Illustrator and Photoshop) are they disabled and unusable. Plus it used to work before.

       

      Thanks.

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