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From: robertt@hp-vcd.HP.COM (Bob Taylor)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: Excel 3.0, Win 3.0 and ATM 1.0 problem
Message-ID: <920007@hp-vcd.HP.COM>
Date: 25 Apr 91 15:01:09 GMT
References: <1991Apr23.123441.6101@cc.helsinki.fi>
Organization: Hewlett Packard, Vancouver, WA
Lines: 26

This is a known bug in quite a few printer drivers.  Essentially what happens 
is that, in Excel 3.0, the drivers get defaulted to their lowest resolution.
This aggravates an Excel problem that causes text not to print on the DeskJet
at any resolution other than 300DPI(to give a hopefully brief explanation, 
Excel sends a clipping rectangle (the size of the text cell) with all of its
text.  Windows automatically scales all graphics and text calls to the correct
resolution, but it doesn't scale clipping rectangles.  This causes the text
to be placed outside of its clipping rectangle, so it doesn't print.  The
Excel folks say this is a Windows problem, the Windows folks say its an Excel
problem, so it doesn't get fixed).

Luckily, however, there is a fix:

In your win.ini, find the [DJ500,LPT1]
entry, where LPT1 is whatever port your printer is connected to. (note that
this fix also works with the ms-shipped deskjet driver, but the name is
[DESKJET,LPT1]).
Immediately after this entry (i.e., on the next line) add the following
(note that it !is! case sensitive)
prtresfac=0
This will cause the DJ500 driver to default to 300DPI and all should work fine.

hope this helps -

bob taylor
HP Vancouver