Operation Manual

Formatting
Using the Report Design Environment
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Crystal Reports User’s Guide 259
Printer drivers
Updating printer drivers
In order to maintain performance, Crystal Reports queries the printer driver
for each of the font elements (font metrics), such as average character height,
character width, height of the ascenders and descenders, internal leading,
and so on. A problem may develop if using an older printer driver that does
not return the font metrics accurately. If you are experiencing problems when
printing (missing fields, incorrect formatting, and so on), it is recommended
that you obtain and install the most recently updated drivers for your printer. In
many cases, the newer printer drivers provide accurate font metrics and any
printing issues are quickly resolved.
Inconsistencies due to printer drivers
When printing, inconsistencies may occur if different printer drivers are used to
create and print your reports. These inconsistencies are a result of the various
methods that individual printer drivers use to measure text metrics such as font
size. When printed, text-based objects may be misaligned, truncated, or
overprint each other. Examples of text-based objects include string or
character fields, text objects, memo fields, numeric fields, and formula fields.
Problems such as these may arise when you have:
• Two identical printers, but each one is using a different printer driver.
• Two different printers using the same printer driver.
• Two different printers using different printer drivers.
• One printer driver that uses the TrueType font and a second printer driver
that maps TrueType fonts to PostScript fonts.
• Two identical printers using the same printer driver, but each one is
printing from a different version of Microsoft Windows.
• Two identical printers using the same printer driver, but the printer drivers
are different versions.
• Two identical printers, two identical printer drivers, and two identical
operating systems, but the resolution of the video drivers is different.
Therefore, while a document using one printer driver may require six full lines
to display a block of text:
• Using a second printer driver that measures fonts narrower could result in
the same block of text requiring less than six full lines.
• Using a third printer driver that measures fonts wider could require more
than six full lines.