ACC: "Printer Isn't Available" Error in Preview or Print (95901)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Access 1.0
  • Microsoft Access 1.1
  • Microsoft Access 2.0
  • Microsoft Access for Windows 95 7.0
This article was previously published under Q95901
Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

SYMPTOMS

When you preview a form or report, you may receive the following error message.

In Microsoft Access for Windows 95 version 7.0:
This document was previously formatted for the printer <printer name> on <printer port>, but that printer isn't available. Do you want to use the default printer <printer name> on <printer port>?

In Microsoft Access versions 1.x and 2.0:
An error occurred while attempting to retrieve printer information for the <printer name> on <printer port>.

CAUSE

This error occurs when the printer driver that was in use when the form or report was created no longer exists on the system. If you print the form or report rather than preview it, you receive the following error message from Commdlg.dll.

In version 7.0:
This document was previously formatted for the printer <printer name> on <printer port>, but that printer isn't available. Do you want to use the default printer <printer name> on <printer port>?

In versions 1.x and 2.0:
This document was previously formatted for the printer <previous printer name> on <PORT>, but that printer is not available. Use the default printer <default printer name> on <PORT>.

RESOLUTION

NOTE: This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Access 97.

In version 7.0:

When you receive the error message, click OK or Setup. If you click OK, Microsoft Access resets and saves the report using the default printer. If you click Setup, you can assign a new specific printer to the report.

In versions 1.x and 2.0:

Open the form or report in Design view, and make sure that the selected printer is correct. If Specific Printer is selected in the Print Setup dialog box, the printer driver that was in use when the form or report was created must be installed on the system. Save the form or report before you preview or print it.

Selecting Default Printer in the Print Setup dialog box before you save a new form or report makes the form or report more portable, because the form or report will use the default printer on any system when that form or report is previewed or printed.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

NOTE: The following steps apply only to Windows version 3.x. If you have Windows 95, please search for "Printer drivers, installing" using the Windows 95 Help Index before deleting your printer icon in the Printers folder in My Computer.
  1. Create a new form.
  2. Before you save the new form, click Print Setup on the File menu. Select the Specific Printer option, and then select a printer.
  3. Save the form, and then close it.
  4. Open File Manager.
  5. Locate the printer driver for the printer you selected in step 2. (Printer drivers are usually in the Windows\System folder.)
  6. Rename the printer driver file.
  7. Open the form you created in step 1.
  8. Preview the form. You should receive the error message noted above.

REFERENCES

For more information about printing forms and reports, search in the Help Index for "print events."
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/9/2003
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb kbprint KB95901
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