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Asked: 2024-09-28T01:27:31+05:30 In:

How can I resolve the issue of unwanted two-up printing on A4 paper in Ubuntu, while apps like LPR print without any problems?

I’ve been having a really frustrating issue with my printer setup in Ubuntu, and I could use some help from anyone who’s faced something similar. Here’s the deal: I primarily use my computer for work, and I swear I just want to be able to print single-sided pages without any hassle. But somehow, every time I try to print a document directly from applications like LibreOffice or even the PDF viewer, it defaults to printing in two-up mode on A4 paper! It’s so annoying because I’ve double-checked all the settings and yet it keeps happening.

What’s even weirder is that when I use the command line utility LPR, everything prints out perfectly – one page at a time, just like I want. I’m puzzled why it works fine via LPR but not through the GUI apps. I’ve glanced through the printer settings and the print dialog options a million times, but I can’t seem to find the source of the problem. There’s no “two-up” option selected anywhere that I can find, so it feels like a hidden setting or a bug that I’m not aware of.

I’m using an Ubuntu setup with a decent printer that has been working fine for a while now, so it’s not like it’s a compatibility issue. I really don’t want to keep resorting to LPR for all my printing needs, especially since I like the convenience of just hitting print from an application.

So, has anyone else experienced this weird two-up printing issue with Ubuntu? What did you do to resolve it? Are there any hidden gems in the printer settings I might be overlooking? Or maybe there’s a config file that needs tweaking? Any suggestions or insights would be greatly appreciated – I’m tired of wasting paper and ink on prints that come out half-done!

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    2 Answers

    1. Frustrated with Two-Up Printing on Ubuntu? You’re Not Alone!

      I totally get your frustration! It sounds like a tricky situation. You’ve confirmed that LPR prints perfectly, which suggests that your printer setup is fine and it’s just the GUI apps causing the trouble. Here are a few things you could try to troubleshoot this issue:

      Check Print Preferences

      Even if you think you’ve checked everything, it’s worth revisiting:

      • Go to Settings > Printers, select your printer, and look through the properties. Check the Default Options to see if it’s set to “Two-Up” printing.
      • When you’re in the print dialog in applications like LibreOffice or your PDF viewer, look for an Output Options or Printing Preferences tab. Double-check there!

      Application Settings

      Sometimes specific applications have their own printing settings:

      • In LibreOffice, you can try this: go to File > Print, then click on Properties and ensure Page Layout is set to Single Sided.
      • For your PDF viewer, similar steps should apply. Look for any layout or print settings right before you hit print.

      Update Your Drivers

      Sometimes issues can be caused by outdated printer drivers:

      • Check for updates in your Software & Updates application. You might find updated drivers that could resolve your printing issues.

      Reset Printing System

      If none of the above work, consider resetting your printing system:

      • Open a terminal and run sudo systemctl restart cups to restart the printing service.

      Comb through Config Files

      There might be a setting hidden in a config file. You might want to look in:

      • /etc/cups/cupsd.conf – be careful with this one!
      • Check /etc/cups/printers.conf for any unusual settings.

      Community Input

      Lastly, consider reaching out to the Ubuntu community forums or check on sites like Ask Ubuntu. Sometimes someone else has already solved the same problem!

      Don’t lose heart; these quirks happen, and there’s bound to be a solution. Good luck!

    2. The issue you are experiencing with Ubuntu’s printing settings can indeed be quite frustrating, but there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem. First, ensure that the default printer settings are correctly configured. You can check this by going to the “Printers” section in the system settings and selecting your printer. From there, you can access the printer properties to confirm that the default print option is set to single-sided (simplex) and that it isn’t accidentally set to “two-up”. Sometimes, applications save their own settings, so it’s a good idea to ensure that both your system-wide and application-specific settings are aligned. When printing from LibreOffice or your PDF viewer, make sure to review the print dialog settings carefully before confirming the print job, as these applications often have their own print properties that might be overriding the default options.

      If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be worthwhile to explore the CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) configuration files directly. You can access these settings by navigating to `http://localhost:631` in your web browser. This interface provides detailed information about your printers and print jobs. Additionally, you can check if there are any print presets that might be enforcing the two-up layout unbeknownst to you. Look for any advanced settings that could impact print formatting. If all else fails, consider resetting the printer’s configuration or reinstalling the printer drivers to eliminate any underlying issues. Engaging with the Ubuntu community forums can also yield helpful insights, as other users may have encountered similar issues and could share their solutions.

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