[Richyfp]

I know that Windows has this feature already and I would like to see it implemented in Panther: The ability to specify multiple page ranges to print in one go. The following screenshot illustrates the idea...

I have submitted this image as feedback to Apple.

[clarkgoble]

Great idea. Unfortunately printing is one of the weakest elements of OSX. Which is odd since in many ways printing was one of the stronger features of OS9. I'm definitely no OS9 whiner. (I rather dislike OS9, truth be told) Still one hopes that 10.3 improves the printing situation.

[Richyfp]

Originally posted by clarkgoble:
Great idea. Unfortunately printing is one of the weakest elements of OSX....

While we're on the subject - does any else have any new feature suggestions for printing in Panther??

[fetopher]

Originally posted by Richyfp:
I know that Windows has this feature already and I would like to see it implemented in Panther: The ability to specify multiple page ranges to print in one go. The following screenshot illustrates the idea...

I have submitted this image as feedback to Apple.

I know you can accomplish this in InDesign by entering 1-12,23-27,42-43 in the from line. I dont know how it could be incorperated into other apps. It would be great though.

[Oneota]

I know you can accomplish this in InDesign by entering 1-12,23-27,42-43 in the from line. I dont know how it could be incorperated into other apps. It would be great though.

Even if you can do that in every app (which I haven't tested at all, so I don't know if you can), RichyFP's implementation is much more user-friendly. Here's hoping it gets implemented!

[Richyfp]

Originally posted by fetopher:
I know you can accomplish this in InDesign by entering 1-12,23-27,42-43 in the from line. I dont know how it could be incorperated into other apps. It would be great though.

I've just tried this in TextEdit (as a typical Cocoa app) and it's not possible to even type either a '-' or a ',' in the From: box. Shame. I take it, then, that this has just been implemented by Adobe.

Originally posted by Oneota:
....RichyFP's implementation is much more user-friendly....

Why, thank you!

Any other new printing suggestions?...

[Developer]

It's a nice idea, but it would require support by the application. So even when Apple implements it, we would have to wait for applications to adopt it.

Send feedback to Apple.

[Mediaman_12]

Originally posted by Developer:
It's a nice idea, but it would require support by the application. So even when Apple implements it, we would have to wait for applications to adopt it.

Send feedback to Apple.

Humm! maybe not. It could be implemented in a similar way to the PDF preview, in post processing. i.e. The app would send the full range of pages to the print centere, then the print centere can weed out the unwanted pages as it procceses them for the printer.

[GORDYmac]

Would printer manufacturers have to incorporate this? It seems that every printer driver is different, so I'm thinking that printer companies would have to share the blame here. Maybe if Apple made it available, the Epsons of the world could incorporate it into their drivers?

Cool idea, nonetheless.

[pimephalis]

Originally posted by Mediaman_12:
Humm! maybe not. It could be implemented in a similar way to the PDF preview, in post processing. i.e. The app would send the full range of pages to the print centere, then the print centere can weed out the unwanted pages as it procceses them for the printer.

I personally would rather see it in the pre-processing stage rather than post. If you're dealing with a large, graphics-intensive file, doing the work in the post phase would use up many cpu cycles needlessly. Also, if it can be handled in the front end then drivers would not have to be modified (I believe).

[Richyfp]

Originally posted by GORDYmac:
Would printer manufacturers have to incorporate this? <snip>

This is a probably a question best answered by a driver developer... But here's my take

I believe that a certain minimal functionality is provided by Apple in all cases and manufacturers may add to this if their printer supports additional functions. So Apple provides only functionality that is common to all printers. Manufactureres then add a GUI for their special features and of course add the necessary code to deal with communication with the printer.

I didn't think that individual applications would need to add support for this, I thought that all this kind of stuff was dealt with by the drivers. Though I'm sure that Developer knows more than I do on the matter... (any further explantion would be appreciated!)

Oh yeah, and I have to agree with pimephalis on the pre-processing stage - the app should only have to prepare the specified pages to save time.

[Developer]

Originally posted by Richyfp:
Though I'm sure that Developer knows more than I do on the matter... (any further explantion would be appreciated!)

As far as I know the application gets only one range of pages it is supposed to print. In the example above the printing system could ask the application to print the range from page 1 to 43 and omit the non desired pages, but they would still be printed by the application.
There might be cases where this could fail. An application might decide to print one large page on 2 or 4 physical pages for example, so the printing system would omit the wrong page ranges. That's why I think it would require application support. Printer drivers probably don't care about it at all.

I don't assume I have more knowledge on the matter by the way.

[Richyfp]

Originally posted by Developer:
I don't assume I have more knowledge on the matter by the way.

I don't either, I was just basing that on your many well-informed posts in the past...

[boardsurfer]

Another idea mentioned in another thread is an option to reverse the print order. Multiple page documents are printed with the last page coming out on top. (On my C80 anyway, and other inkjets I imagine).

[Xestrel]

I would like to see the ability to print multiple pages of a document on one page in a thumb-nail style, like you can do with some post-script printers. Since the print services are just printing pdf files, I don't see why they wouldn't be able to print something composited from a number of pdfs

... xest

[gthyb]

yeah correlate does not work for me. no matter what i do, i have to reorder the pages after printing.

but my bigest beef is with choosing the quality. everytime i print something, i have to switch to draft quality. it isn't automatically on it from the previous print. and the option to save presets doesn't keep the quality setting either.

-ryan

[Ghoser777]

I want ipps support so my university can finally switch to OS X! ipp won't cut it when we need to send user passwords to a Novell print release station.

Matt Fahrenbacher

[Diggory Laycock]

Originally posted by Xestrel:
I would like to see the ability to print multiple pages of a document on one page in a thumb-nail style, like you can do with some post-script printers. Since the print services are just printing pdf files, I don't see why they wouldn't be able to print something composited from a number of pdfs

... xest

Can't you do this by setting the print size to 25% ?

[Rmh1572]

I would also like to see the reverse printing. Plus I like th print selection feature. At school every computer has this capability and everyone uses it. its one less step than compy paste. it has to be applications though because in Word my printer has the print selection capability. I have a Deskjet 935

[tritonus]

In Windows, my HP LaserJet 1200 had a manual duplex function in the driver. The driver took care of the whole sorting process.

I miss that in OS X. Another suggestion for Panther, maybe.

[mark9939]

I would liek to see "background" printing in 10.3. In Windows, there is no app that opens when you print, however in 10.2, you have to see Print Center open each time. It's just a pet-peeve of mine.