Print settings can't be saved/Only US-letter format

[zasq]

Binary package hint: firefox-3.0

Hi.
In the firefoy configuration I set: print.save_print_settings true but nevertheless firefox won't save the settings. Therefore, it always prints in US-letter format instead of A4 which is the format I set in the print menu.
I am using ubuntu hardy.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Jul 19 18:17:37 2008
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 8.04
NonfreeKernelModules: hsfengine fglrx
Package: firefox-3.0 3.0+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.8.04.1
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games
 LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: firefox-3.0
Uname: Linux 2.6.24-19-generic x86_64

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

i havent verified my self, but i assume that this is really an issue (ffox was never good at saving printer settings and now they switched the dialog even in 3.0).

Can you please bring the description in a form lik https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MozillaTeam/NormalizedBugFormat referenced in the mozillateam triagers handbook (https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MozillaTeam/Bugs/TriagersHandbook).

Thanks!

[Alan Lord (theopensourcerer)]

Im on Ubuntu Intrepid. All up to date as of today (16/02/09).

For the last couple of releases of Ubuntu, for me the "Print" option dialogue settings have not been persistent.

I have to regularly reset my options as they have gone back to the defaults (I prefer to turn off all the header and footer printing options and enable printing of background colours and images).

It also fails to recall that fact my printers are all A4 - I'm in the UK.

What further information would you need to help find a resolution?

In about:config the save print settings is set to true.

print.save_print_settings;true

[Thomas Hood (jdthood)]

I am unable to print automatically on A4 paper on a HP LaserJet 5100, either from Firefox or OpenOffice. The printer always asks me to insert Letter paper, even though
* I have set "Media Size" to A4 in the printer's Printer Properties | Printer Options;
* and (in OpenOffice) I have set the Format | Page | Paper Format | Format to A4;
* and (in OpenOffice) I select A4 in File | Printer Settings | Properties | Paper size;
* and (in Firefox) I set File | Page Setup | Paper size to A4;
* and in the File | Print dialogs the paper size is set to A4.

I have up-to-date Jaunty.

[Conrad Wickers (conrad-wickers)]

Ubuntu 9.04, firefox 3.0.12

Problem confirmed.

My default system paper settings are a4 - as found in /etc/papersize

This appears to be a _very_long_standing_ bug from 2004(!?!), as this article indicates:
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=236227

Would be great if someone could get firefox, either generally or at least in an Ubuntu compliation to catch up with modern web browsing.

[Conrad Wickers (conrad-wickers)]

The only solution/ workaround may be to:

open about:config in a tab
search for print
change print.postscript.paper_size to a4

also if this is a useful (and it is for some wishing to print wide, as viewed webpages consistently);
change print.postscript.orientation to landscape

[flummy (nospam09)]

Please raise the importance of this bug, because _every_ European Ubuntu user with a printer has to change the print settings _every single time_ a page is printed from firefox or remove a paper jam otherwise.

The "Letter" Paper format is not used in (continental?) Europe, A4 being the standard: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_216

[flummy (nospam09)]

After months without printing from firefox under ubuntu I tried again today and noticed on STDERR:

(firefox:14903): Gtk-WARNING **: Unknown paper size A4

after setting print.postscript.paper_size to a4

[brpaolo (brpaolo)]

With Ubuntu 9.10 and Firefox (installed with Ubuntu) 3.5.8, several print settings are not retained. In particular, everytime I print a page it is in draft unless I go to to the print options and change them just before printing (Canon ip4200)

[Robert Hrovat (robi-hipnos)]

I installed Lucid beta that works pretty well, but I was so disappointed to see firefox still doesn't retain settings and it keeps defaulting to 300 dpi on printing. This is a big minus!

[Alan Lord (theopensourcerer)]

I am surprised that this bug is still in existence. But I still have the same problem. It hasn't gone away. Firefox does not persistently remember my printer settings.

Surely, this must be limited to only a few people? If this affected *every* European user then this bug should have attracted far more attention.

How can we track it down and fix it?

[Robert Hrovat (robi-hipnos)]

Alan, I wish I could help if I know how. But I've noticed this bug is present even in Thunderbird and Sunbird.

[Alan Lord (theopensourcerer)]

I just did a quick search on Bugzilla:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=460747
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=470566
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=510841
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=526811
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=539427

I am sure there are others too. All the above report similar problems.

Can someone poke upstream?

[Robert Hrovat (robi-hipnos)]

Some time ago I have reported it here https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/forum/1/547037

[areteichi (areteichi)]

Still having this problem in Lucid with Firefox 3.6.3.

[Alan Lord (theopensourcerer)]

Me too.

This is a very annoying and very long standing bug. But I am somewhat surprised by how few people it seems to be affecting. Does this mean either:

We have some weird configuration or Profile issue or,
It only affects those who use Thunderbird too or,
We are the only ones who notice or
Something else...

[Robert Hrovat (robi-hipnos)]

The reason, only few people noticed this, probably depends on printer driver. I have few different printers and when I used manufacturer PPD, I had this issue. After switching to Foomatic / PCL driver, this issue is still there, but it defaults to high quality print settings - so, the opposite :-)

[areteichi (areteichi)]

I have the same problem with Firefox 3.6.6 under Ubuntu 10.04, although I've been experiencing this for quite some time.
I have two problems: the page size reverts back to 'US Letter' even after I select 'A4', and header and footer choices revert back to default. Please fix this problem soon as this issue has persisted a long time.

[JohnA (ubuntu-launchpad-online-catmanchest)]

I'm running Firefox 3.6.7 under Ubuntu 10.04 (lucid), and Firefox fails to remember the print settings: EVERY TIME I PRINT I have to change the print quality from 300dpi to 1200dpi (else it's draft quality and mostly unreadable). I've been using the same printer for years, so no changes there. The CUPS defaults show the Resolution is 1200dpi (High Quality), not Draft, so Firefox is deliberately setting Draft instead of using the default under the printer driver settings. Very annoying!