Why can't I print?

LegacyUser

Why can't I print?

When I try to print in Landscape, Portrait or Fan Chart nothing happens. The Print dialog doesn't appear. The desktop flashes then nothing.

Dennis J Yancey

do you have the same issue when you print outside of FamilySearch?

like in WORD?

 

also make sure that when the list of printers displays that you have selected the correct printer (and for example - haven't chosen the "print to pdf" option.)

LegacyUser

I have no issues printing with any other platform.

Julia Szent-Györgyi

Taking the comment from Dennis a bit further:

Can you print from other programs?

Can you print from your browser on other websites?

Can you print other parts of FamilySearch (such as from the "Print" section on a person's detail page)?

 

Note that depending on your settings, the "Print" label may be wrong: it may actually be more accurately labeled "Create PDF".

LegacyUser

Hi Julia,

Yes to all. As an example: let's say I go to Search from the FamilySearch home page. If I enter a person and find them in a census. If I open the census document and click on the "Print" icon on the right it brings up the print dialog. Of course I print from there.

Brett .

@Randall Molitor​ 

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Randal

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Just checking ...

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In the 'Print' "Dialog Box", is the "Destination" correct?

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Sometimes, the "Destination" it is 'set' as (for example) "Save as PDF" (or, something else), rather than an actual "Printer".

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It drove me 'crazy' a couple of times, until I finally 'twigged' it was the "Destination".

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And, just sometimes, the 'link' to a "Printer" may not be working properly; and, you need to reboot/reconnect the 'link' to that particular "Printer".

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It was NOT 'Familysearch' in either case, it was external to 'FamilySearch'.

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I hope this is the case; and, helps.

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Brett

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LegacyUser

Hi Bret,

I don't see the print dialog box when I try and print my tree but I do see it when I try and print a document from a search as stated above. Indeed when I try and print a document from a search the default printer is Microsoft Print to PDF. I went through my Documents and Pictures folder and tried to print from many files and the printer dialog box in all cases does NOT default to the Microsoft Print to PDF. Now, I can change the preferences for each of my two printers but this won't correct the issue. There must be somewhere where the preferences can be set for the printer dialog box.

After typing the above I tried another browser. It works fine. I have found the issue is with the Firefox browser. I just checked the printer configuration for the printer and it is set to Microsoft Print to PDF. I will report back later when I have it resolved in case someone else runs into this issue.

LegacyUser

I have fixed the problem. Mozilla has 2 fixes for printer problems. I did both. Here are the two fixes:

 

Reset Firefox printer setting

1. Several printer issues can be resolved by resetting Firefox's printer settings:
2. Type about:config in the address bar and press Enter.
3. A warning page may appear. Click Accept the Risk and Continue to continue to the about:config page.
4. In the Search field, type print_printer.
5. Click the Delete button to the right of the print_printer preference.
6. Click the Firefox menu and select Exit.

When you start Firefox again, try printing the page that you had problems

with previously.

 

Reset all Firefox printer settings

If the above steps did not work, you may want to reset all of Firefox's printer settings:

1. Open your profile folder:

• Click the menu button , click Help and select Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
  • Under the Application Basics section next to Profile Folder, click Open Folder. Your profile folder will open.

1. Note: If you are unable to open or use Firefox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.
2. Click the Firefox menu and select Exit.
3. In your profile folder, copy the prefs.js file to another folder to make a backup of it.
4. Open the original prefs.js file in a text editor (such as WordPad).
5. Remove all lines in the prefs.js file that start with print_ and save the file.

If something goes wrong when you open Firefox, close it again and overwrite prefs.js with the backup you generated.

 

When I did the first fix the default printer was Microsoft Print to PDF. After these two fixes the problem wasn't fixed. At this point I had to figure the issue was with my Firefox. I Refreshed Firefox and the problem is now gone. Refreshing Firefox may have fixed it from the beginning but I'm not sure.

 

Brett .

@Randall Molitor​ 

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Randall

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This is just great ...

This is what this "Community.FamilySearch" Forum is all about ...

Users/Patrons HELPING Other Users/Patrons.

And, then, in turn, helping themselves and every one else as well.

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I am sorry, I have been out most of the day.

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'Yes', the DIFFERENT "Browsers" do not all work the same; and, hence, the 'many' and 'varied' solutions.

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I basically mainly use 'Google' "Chrome" for 'FamilySearch'

And, that includes "Printing" and "Downloading".

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Whereas, I do use 'Mozilla' "FireFox"; but, mainly, when we want to check something, at the same time, in an other Family members Account.

Which does NOT include much "Printing" and "Downloading".

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It is so great what you found; and, even, better that you 'posted' that here for all to see.

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Brett

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