Duplex printing in LibreOffice not working

[Torben Stones]

I have an Epson Stylus Office BX625FWD printer and am using the epson-inkjet-printer-workforce-635-1.0.1-1lsb3.2 driver package. When I try to print duplex from LibreOffice it will always print single sided, yet if I print from any other program it will work as expected.

WORKAROUND: Use Abiword or print to PDF and then print via Evince / Adobe Reader (via WINE).

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: libreoffice-writer 1:3.5.4-0ubuntu1.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-33.52-generic 3.2.31
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-33-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu15
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sun Nov 25 18:49:59 2012
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111011)
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_GB:en
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: libreoffice
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-05-19 (190 days ago)

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Torben Stones, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better. Could you please test this in Quantal via http://releases.ubuntu.com/quantal/ ? This will help in narrowing down if this issue is already fixed in a newer release, and could be backported to Precise.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Torben Stones (torben-stonesweb)]

Christopher I have tried it on Quantal now and I have the same problem. It has actually been a problem for a long time I've only just got around to reporting it.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Torben Stones, thank you for testing for this problem in Quantal. Did this problem not occur in a release prior to Precise?

[Torben Stones (torben-stonesweb)]

Hello Christopher,

I believe the problem existed in 11.10 and 11.04. I've had the problem ever
since I got this printer (which was around april or may 2011 I think), but
I've been lazy and never got around to raising the issue, as I could export
it as a PDF and the print that with duplexing. A bad excuse I know.

Thanks
Torben

--
Sent from my Droid
On Nov 28, 2012 10:15 PM, "Christopher M. Penalver" <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Torben Stones, thank you for testing for this problem in Quantal. Did
> this problem not occur in a release prior to Precise?
>
> ** Tags added: quantal
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1082941
>
> Title:
> Duplex printing in LibreOffice not working
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libreoffice/+bug/1082941/+subscriptions
>

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Torben Stones, thank you for your comments. Regarding them https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libreoffice/+bug/1082941/comments/6 :
>"I believe the problem existed in 11.10 and 11.04."

Just to clarify, you had 11.04 installed, and this problem is reproducible in it?

>"I could export it as a PDF and the print that with duplexing."

Just to clarify, what package specifically could you duplex print the PDF with, acroread, evince, another?

[Torben Stones (torben-stonesweb)]

Hello Christopher,

Regarding https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libreoffice/+bug/1082941/comments/7

>>"I believe the problem existed in 11.10 and 11.04."

> Just to clarify, you had 11.04 installed, and this problem is reproducible in it?
That is correct. I have reproduced the problem in 11.04, 11.10 and 10.04

>>"I could export it as a PDF and the print that with duplexing."

>Just to clarify, what package specifically could you duplex print the PDF with, acroread, evince, another?
I can get duplexing to work in all other programs, i.e. acroread, evince, Abiword, it is just LibreOffice that is causing the problem.

I originally thought that it was because it uses its own print dialogue (and it still could), as all other programs I had tried, used the standard gnome dialogue. But I've just tried aroread and that uses its own dialogue too.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Boaz Dodin (bdcomp)]

Same here:
Kubuntu 12.04 64bit
LibreOffice 3.6.5
Epson WF-7520
epson-inkjet-printer-201115w_1.0.1-1lsb3.2_amd64 driver.

I have a feeling that LibreOffice ignoring some of the driver properties and just use some defaults instead.
For example, I just printed the same document twice - "fast economy" and "quality", and the output was exactly the same.

[Björn Michaelsen (bjoern-michaelsen)]

is this a dupe of bug 894763?

[Christoph Fischer (christoph.fischer)]

First of all, I can confirm this bug is also there on an EPSON Workforce WF-3540 DTMF. I can print duplex from all programs except LibreOffice.

Second, I don't think this is a duplicate of bug 894763, since the duplex options show up fine in LO -- they're just ignored when printing.

BTW, I'm using LO 4.0.1.2 (Build ID: 400m0(Build:2)) on an up-to-date quantal install with the latest official drivers from the EPSON site.

[Rob Cannell (r-cannell)]

I'm also seeing this with an HP Officejet Pro 8100

Ubuntu 12.04 64 Bit

LibreOffice 3.5.7.2 Build ID: 350m1(Build:2)

[Rob Cannell (r-cannell)]

I seem to have found a fix:

Under "File - Printer Settings - Properties - Device"

Change language to "Postscript (level from driver)"

Libre Office then prints duplex. The trouble is I can't see a way to make the change permanently - I have to set it each time I want to print.

[Bib (bybeu)]

Same issue here. I think it is a LO (3.4 & 4.02)~bug~ because I also have the issue in Windows.

[Matthew (tigger-outgun)]

I also have the same issue. Workforce 633. The fix in #14 doesn't work for me, but printing from a PDF does fine.

[ullix (ullix)]

same problem here with Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS on a HP Officejet Pro 8600plus.

I can print duplex from ever program I used, except for Libreoffice (LibreOffice 3.5.7.2 Build-ID: 350m1(Build:2)). I went through all options without success.

[mabab (mabab)]

Go to spadmin an deactivate support for cups. Go to new printer and import your ppd-file from /etc/cups/ppd. In my case it works.

[Leo Seghers (leo-seghers)]

I'm also seeing this DUPLEX problem.

With an HP Officejet Pro 8600 - Plus, using driver HPLIP-3.14.4.
I'm using Ubuntu 13.10 - 64 Bit and LibreOffice 4.2.3.3.

When will it be finally solved ?

[William T. Lowther (624wtl)]

I have Ubuntu 13.10 w/ Libreoffice 4.1.3.2, an HP 6520 and HPLIP v 3.14.4. After selecting file/print/properties, in the new window the option for "Duplex" shows "Off". If I change that to "Long-Edge", then "OK", and then select "Properties" again, "Duplex" shows "Off" again. However, if I change "Off" to "<ignore>", then "OK", and then select "Properties" again, now "Duplex" shows "Long Edge" and the printer prints on both sides!

[Aang (aang-aero)]

I have Ubuntu 14.04 w/ Libreoffice 4.2.4.2 and an HP Office Jet Pro 8600. My File --> Printer Settings --> Properties indicate (and save) the Duplex option, however, upon printing the duplex option is not being respected. I have to print first to PDF, then with the PDF viewer print in duplex :-(

[Zieher (zieher)]

@William T. Lowther: I can confirm that it saves the setting, when I go on as you say. But it still does not print on both sides for me
 :(

[Chris Ingram (cingram)]

I am also seeing this problem.

Printer: HP OfficeJet Pro 8620
OS: Ubuntu 12.04.5 LTS 64 Bit
LibreOffice: 3.5.7.2 Build ID: 350m1(Build:2)
HPLIP: 3.12.2

The fix that Rob Cannell mentioned in Comment #6 seems to have solved the problem for me as well:

Under "File - Printer Settings - Properties - Device", change language from "PDF" to "Postscript (level from driver)".

[Sasa Paporovic (melchiaros)]

Due to user comment 21 the trusty tag was added.

[Sasa Paporovic (melchiaros)]

Can confirm the behaviour(different printer) for trusty.

[Marcus Tomlinson (marcustomlinson)]

This release of Ubuntu is no longer receiving maintenance updates. If this is still an issue on a maintained version of Ubuntu please let us know.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for libreoffice (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]