In this article, we will look into the default print settings of 2Printer. These settings apply to all print tasks performed by 2Printer by default.
This settings panel was designed similar to Print Conductor Settings (batch printing software with GUI) and retains the same functionality.
- How to change 2Printer Settings
- Common settings
- Advanced settings
- Document printing settings
- List of Documents settings
- Page layout
- Single print job
- Attachments
- Paper sources
- Service pages
- PDF-format
- HTML format
- E-mail message format
- ZPL format
- Excel format
- CAD format
- Word format
- Text format
- Text watermark
- Multiple pages per sheet
- Files and folders
- Post processing
- Task processor
- Log
- Miscellaneous
- Print engine
- File extension aliases
How to change 2Printer Settings
To change default settings of 2Printer, open a command-line interpreter, and execute this command:
Common settings
Paper source for document [+][-]
Default: Page size based
You can set Paper source for document to:
Page size based | The paper source is controlled by 2Printer. It is set by 2Printer automatically depending on the paper size of documents. As a result, each file will be printed from a printer tray, which fits best, depending on the file's paper size. |
As in printer | The paper source is the same as in your printer's settings. To check them, go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers, then right-click a device and select Printing preferences. |
Page range [+][-]
Default: All
Select pages that should be printed. You can enter page numbers and/or page ranges separated by commas counting from the start of a document. You can enter single pages (for example: 1,3,5) or specify page ranges separated by commas, for example: 1-5,18-23.
Copies [+][-]
Default: 1; Collation by documents
Configure how many copies should be printed and how they should be sorted (collated).
Collation is a handy feature if you print multiple copies of several documents and want to sort them in advance. You can set it to:
By documents | Printouts are collated document-by-document: all copies (copies #1,2,3…) of Document 1, then all copies of Document 2 (copies #1,2,3…). |
By pages | Printouts are collated page-by-page: pages #1,1,1, pages #2,2,2, etc. of all copies of Document 1; then pages #1,1,1, pages #2,2,2, etc. of all copies of Document 2, and so on. |
Service pages [+][-]
Default: disabled
You can enable printing of additional pages: cover pages or report pages. With the cover page, you can easily distinguish between printed hard copies. Service pages will provide you with useful information about a completed print session.
Print cover page
Blank | A blank page between printed documents (including all copies). A great way to save paper! |
Filename with app logo | [Filename].[file extension] in the center of a page with 2Printer logo |
Filename without extension | [Filename] in the center of a page with 2Printer logo, without file extension |
Filename without logo | [Filename].[file extension] in the center of a page, without 2Printer logo |
-Browse for file- | Custom cover page using a selected file (e.g., PDF, HTML, or any other supported format) |
Print report page
Print a report page that shows the total number of documents printed since the installation of the program. It contains a list of all types of successfully printed documents in the current session and their number.
Advanced settings
Document printing settings
Controls with parameters that apply to documents.
Page range [+][-]
Default: All pages
Type page numbers and/or page ranges separated by commas counting from the start of a document. To set page range including last pages, use the syntax last (last1 for penultimate page, etc.). For example: 1,10-last2,last1,last
Page range selection [+][-]
Default: All
Select only Odd or Even pages.
Copies [+][-]
Default: 1
Select how many document copies should be printed.
Collate [+][-]
Default: By documents
Set page collation to By documents or By pages.
Duplex mode [+][-]
Default: As in printer
Set duplex (double-sided printing) or simplex mode (one-sided printing).
Simplex | Printing on one side of paper. |
Long-edge binding | Double-sided printing using a vertical page turn in portrait, and horizontal page turn in landscape orientation. |
Short-edge binding | Double-sided printing using a horizontal page turn in portrait; and vertical page turn in landscape orientation. |
As in printer | Printing mode is the same as in your printer's settings (Printing preferences). |
Page print order [+][-]
Default: Direct
Set the order of printing pages in a multipage document to Direct or Reverse.
List of Documents settings
Controls with parameters that apply to lists of files.
Print the file list [+][-]
Default: 1 time
Specify how many times the entire list of documents should be printed. This feature works if you specify a list with file paths as a source (-src).
Unique content in file list [+][-]
Default: disabled
Enable or disable adding the same document to the list and printing it several times. This feature works if you specify a list with file paths as a source (-src).
Page layout
Controls with parameters that apply to pages.
Paper size [+][-]
Default: As in printer
Select paper size (page format), e.g., A4 or Legal.
As in printer | The paper size is controlled by your printer's settings. To check them, go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers, then right-click a device and select Printing preferences. |
Page size based | The paper size is controlled by 2Printer. It is set by 2Printer automatically depending on the paper size of pages. As a result, each page will be printed with width and height dimensions, which fit best. |
Page orientation [+][-]
Default: As in document
Set the orientation of pages to portrait or landscape (horizontal or vertical layout).
Portrait | Set vertical orientation. |
Landscape | Set horizontal orientation. |
As in document | Keep the orientation of the original document pages. |
As in printer | Keep page orientation as in your printer's settings (Printing preferences). |
Auto rotate [+][-]
Default: Clockwise
2Printer auto rotates pages automatically so that they fit a sheet of paper. The program automatically detects the best page orientation for each document and rotates it to landscape or portrait. Choose which way the pages should be turned – Clockwise or Counterclockwise – or disable auto rotation by selecting None.
Color mode [+][-]
Default: As in printer
Set color mode to:
- Grayscale – grayscale mode, print using various shades of grey
- Color – color mode, print in color mode
- As in printer – as in your printer's settings (Printing preferences)
Don't change the default setting if you want to keep some special color properties defined in your printer's settings.
Printer resolution [+][-]
Default: As in printer
You can get a quick version (draft) of your documents or a slower, but high-quality output. Change printer resolution to:
- As in printer – as in your printer's settings (Printing preferences)
- High – print at a high-quality level
- Medium – print at a standard quality level
- Low – print at a low-quality level
- Draft – print low-quality draft output
Most printers support this feature.
Scale mode [+][-]
Default: Shrink
Scale mode defines page sizing and scaling: how large or small the printouts should be. You can change it to:
Shrink | Shrink-to-page option: decreases page size to printable area. It resizes only large pages to fit the paper and prints small pages in the original size. |
Fit | Fit-to-page option: fits page size to printable area. Scales small pages up and shrinks large pages down to fit the paper. |
As is | "As is" option: prints pages or images in their original size. |
Fill | Fill-to-page option: print a full page from edge to edge on the short side. No matter the size, the page will fill the whole sheet of paper or even beyond the paper (on the long side). |
Zoom level | Set a specific scaling (e.g., 50% or 110%) in relation to the printable area. |
Print as image [+][-]
Default: disabled
Convert documents into a raster graphic (bitmap) image before printing. This feature may be handy if you have some print quality issues (e.g., characters look incorrect, or the overall quality looks poor).
Rasterization resolution [+][-]
Default: 300 DPI
Set rasterization resolution value (DPI, Dots Per Inch) which affects quality of files when they are rasterized before printing. This setting applies only when printing in Print as image mode. Resolution can be set in a range between 72 to 2048.
Print crop marks [+][-]
Default: disabled
Add crop marks (cut marks, trim marks) that are thin lines printed in the corners of your document sheets of paper to show where to trim the paper.
Horizontal alignment [+][-]
Default: Center
Align page or image to a side of a sheet of paper horizontally. Possible values:
- Left
- Center
- Right
Vertical alignment [+][-]
Default: Center
Align page or image to a side of a sheet of paper vertically. Possible values:
- Top
- Center
- Bottom
Horizontal offset [+][-]
Default: 0
Shift the page or image's position horizontally (X-axis) using a custom value, which equals 0.01 inch. Zero (0) is the starting point located in the top left corner of a page or image. You can enter any positive or negative value.
Vertical offset [+][-]
Default: 0
Shift the page or image's position horizontally (Y-axis) using a custom value, which equals 0.01 inch. Zero (0) is the starting point located in the top left corner of a page or image. You can enter any positive or negative value.
Single print job
Controls with parameters that apply to 2Printer's single print job mode.
Enabled [+][-]
Default: disabled
Enable single print job mode if you want your files to be printed as a solid batch, in a strictly defined order. This mode ensures that:
- the file order is 100% correct, and the Windows print spooler doesn't mix them;
- print jobs coming to the same printer from different users are not mixed up.
Print extra blank even page in duplex mode [+][-]
Default: enabled
When printing in the single print job and duplex mode at the same time, an extra blank even page is added in the middle (for documents with an odd number of pages) by default. This way, every new document (or next copy) will start from a new paper sheet. If you want to print the whole set of documents without these blank pages in the middle, uncheck the Print extra blank even page in duplex mode option.
Single print job name [+][-]
Default: 2Printer's solid print job
Enter a specific name for single print job file(s). The name appears in the print queue (spooler) on the computer and the printer display – one name for the entire set of documents. This way, you can quickly identify which job is currently being printed or is having issues.
Attachments
Controls with parameters related to file attachments handling.
Print attachments [+][-]
Default: After main document
Set the method of processing attachments. If you print files that have attachments, such as emails or PDF Portfolio documents, you can select what 2Printer should do with them:
- Ignore – ignore attachments
- After main document – print attachment after a document
- Before main document – print attachment before a document
- Print only attachments – print attachments only
Sort attachments [+][-]
Default: Name
Select how file attachments should be sorted:
- Name
- Type
- Size
- Date
- Unsorted
- Name descending
- Type descending
- Size descending
- Date descending
Extract by include mask [+][-]
Default: *.*
Use expression that allows printing certain attachments by mask. For example, use *.pdf to print PDF attachments only; enter attachment.* to print only files containing "attachment" in the filename.
Extract by exclude mask [+][-]
Default: none
Use an expression that restricts printing of certain attachments by mask. For example: *.docx
Paper sources
Controls with parameters related to printer tray selection.
Paper source for document [+][-]
Default: Page size based
Select the input tray for paper, for documents.
Possible options:
As in printer | The paper source is the same as in your printer's settings (Printing preferences). |
Page size based | The paper source is selected automatically by 2Printer to fit the page size of documents the best way. |
The same as for document | The paper source is the same as for document(s). |
Paper source for selected pages [+][-]
Default: List is empty
Select input tray(s) for paper, for a specific page range. Has the same options as Paper source for document.
Paper source for covers [+][-]
Default: The same as for document
Select the paper source for cover pages. It has the same options as Paper source for document.
Paper source for folder cover [+][-]
Default: The same as for document
Select the paper source for folder cover pages. It has the same options as Paper source for document.
Paper source for report [+][-]
Default: The same as for document
Select the paper source for report pages. It has the same options as Paper source for document.
Service pages
Print cover page [+][-]
Default: disabled
Enable printing an additional cover page. The cover page is a sheet of paper that separates each newly printed document from the previous one. You can select a cover page template that you prefer.
Print folder cover page [+][-]
Default: disabled
Enable printing an additional folder cover page – a cover page separating printed files located in different folders. With this setting enabled, 2Printer adds an extra cover page for each group of documents coming from a specific folder. Thus, you can easily distinguish files coming from different folders.
Print report page [+][-]
Default: disabled
Enable printing an additional report page. The report page shows the total number of documents printed via 2Printer since the installation of the program. It also contains a list of all types of documents printed in the current session and their number.
Service pages paper size [+][-]
Default: Default
Select a paper size or set a custom size for service pages. You can select:
- Default – use the standard local paper size based on your printer or computer's system locale; e.g., A4 in Europe and Letter in the U.S.;
- Standard – select a pre-defined format;
- Custom (set any width x height in millimeters, centimeters, or inches.
Please note that this setting applies to both report pages and cover pages.
Cover page mode [+][-]
Default: One cover page for all copies
Set the way of inserting cover pages. By default, cover pages are added between the documents (including all copies if there are any). To insert a selected cover page between every copy, change it to Cover page for each copy.
Cover page template [+][-]
Default: Blank
Select a cover page template.
Folder cover page template [+][-]
Default: none
Select a template for a folder cover page. It has the same options as Cover page template.
PDF-format
Controls with parameters related to batch printing of PDF documents.
Draw annotations [+][-]
Default: enabled
Enable printing annotations and pop-up comments in PDF files. By default, they are printed.
Overprint [+][-]
Default: disabled
Enable overprinting for PDF with graphics. This setting simulates the blending and overprinting of colors in PDF documents.
Portfolio files pre-sorting [+][-]
Default: Unsorted
Enable sorting By index for PDF Portfolio attachments.
HTML format
Controls with parameters related to the processing of HTML files.
Page size [+][-]
Default: Default
Select a page size for HTML files. You can select:
- Default – use the standard local paper size based on your printer or computer's system locale; e.g., A4 in Europe and Letter in the U.S.;
- Standard – select a pre-defined format;
- Custom – set any width x height in millimeters, centimeters, or inches.
Page margins [+][-]
Default: 0, 0, 0, 0
Specify custom page margins for HTML files, in points.
Zoom level [+][-]
Default: 0
Scale up or down the size of HTML pages, in percents.
E-mail message format
Controls with parameters related to the processing of EML, MSG, OST, PST, P7M, and other email files.
Page size [+][-]
Default: Default
Select a page size for email files. You can select:
- Default – use the standard local paper size based on your printer or computer's system locale; e.g., A4 in Europe and Letter in the U.S.;
- Standard – select a pre-defined format;
- Custom (set any width x height in millimeters, centimeters, or inches.
ZPL format
Controls with parameters related to printing Zebra ZPL files (barcodes, labels).
Dpmm [+][-]
Default: 8
Set print density for ZPL files. We recommend choosing one of the following values:
- 6 dpmm (152 DPI);
- 8 dpmm (203 DPI);
- 12 dpmm (300 DPI);
- 24 dpmm (600 DPI).
Width [+][-]
Default: 4
Set width for ZPL files, in inches.
Height [+][-]
Default: 6
Set height for ZPL files, in inches.
Proxy host [+][-]
Default: none
Configure ZPL proxy host settings. You can change it to the needed value.
Proxy port [+][-]
Default: 0
Configure ZPL proxy port settings. You can change it to the needed value.
Excel format
Controls with parameters related to printing Excel spreadsheets.
Split worksheets [+][-]
Default: disabled
Split multi-sheet spreadsheets when printing. When it's on, 2Printer splits the document when sending it to a printer – each worksheet as a separate item in the print queue (spooler).
Hide main window [+][-]
Default: enabled
Hide the main window of Excel (or Excel alternative) during batch printing via 2Printer.
Scale mode [+][-]
Default: As is
Scale mode defines page sizing and scaling for Excel files. You can change it to:
Shrink | Shrink-to-page option: decreases page size to printable area. It resizes only large pages to fit the paper and prints small pages in the original size. |
Fit | Fit-to-page option: fits page size to printable area. Scales small pages up and shrinks large pages down to fit the paper. |
As is | "As is" option: prints pages or images in their original size. |
Fill | Fill-to-page option: print a full page from edge to edge on the short side. No matter the size, the page will fill the whole sheet of paper or even beyond the paper (on the long side). |
Zoom level | Set a specific scaling (e.g., 50% or 110%) in relation to the printable area. |
Worksheet names [+][-]
Default: *all*
Define which worksheets should be printed. You can set it to:
*all* | Print all worksheets contained in a file |
*default* | Print default (active) worksheet only |
My worksheet 1 | Print a specific sheet (by worksheet name, e.g., "My worksheet 1") |
Print headings [+][-]
Default: disabled
Enable or disable printing headings (row 1, 2, 3… and column numbers A, B, C…) to the output printed pages.
Print comments [+][-]
Default: Print at the end of sheet
Define how comments in Excel files should be processed: Print at the end of sheet, Print as displayed on sheet, Print without comments.
CAD format
Controls with parameters related to printing DWG, DXF, DFT, SLDDRW, and other CAD drawings.
Worksheet name [+][-]
Default: *all*
Define which worksheets should be printed. You can set it to:
*all* | Print all worksheets contained in a file |
*default* | Print default (active) worksheet only |
My worksheet 1 | Print a specific sheet (by worksheet name, e.g., "My worksheet 1") |
Split worksheets [+][-]
Default: disabled
Split multi-sheet spreadsheets when printing. When it's on, 2Printer splits the document when sending it to printer – each worksheet as a separate item in the print queue (spooler).
Skip model view [+][-]
Default: disabled
Skip model view of a CAD drawing.
Default line weight [+][-]
Default: -1
Change how the lines should look on a printed CAD drawing. You can make them thinner or thicker.
Paper size limit [+][-]
Default: A3
Set the maximum page size (paper format) for printing CAD drawings. You can select a Standard or Custom page size in millimeters, centimeters, or inches.
Try to use SHX fonts [+][-]
Default: enabled
Use SHX fonts (if they are contained within your drawings). By default, 2Printer tries to use them.
SHX font folders [+][-]
Default: enabled
Browse for folder(s) where SHX fonts are located so that 2Printer could use them.
Page margins [+][-]
Default: 0, 0, 0, 0
Specify custom page margins for CAD drawings, in points: left, right, top, and bottom margin.
Word format
Controls with parameters related to printing DOCX, DOC, and other Word documents.
Update fields [+][-]
Default: diabled
Automatically update dynamic fields in Microsoft Word files (e.g. [Date], [Time], [Name]). As a result, the up-to-date values of Microsoft Word's built-in dynamic fields will be displayed in the output documents after printing.
Hide revisions [+][-]
Default: disabled
Do not show all the revisions that were made to a document while the Track Changes option was turned on. The changes remain part of a Word document until they are accepted or rejected.
Skip comments [+][-]
Default: disabled
Print Word documents without comments if they were made inside a document.
Markup mode [+][-]
Default: As is
Select Markup mode and which revisions should be kept:
- Balloon revisions
- Inline revisions
- Mixed revisions
- As is
Export create bookmarks [+][-]
Default: As is
Select bookmarks which should be kept:
- Export create word bookmarks
- Export create heading bookmarks
- Export create no bookmarks
Text format
Controls with parameters related to printing plain text files.
Code page [+][-]
Default: Default
Select character encoding for plain text files, e.g., Unicode or ASCII.
Font [+][-]
Default: "Consolas" 11
Set font style and size.
Line spacing [+][-]
Default: 0.15
Define a custom spacing between lines of text, in points.
Paper size [+][-]
Default: As in printer
Select paper size (page format), e.g., A4 or Legal.
- Standard – select a pre-defined format;
- Custom – set any width x height in millimeters, centimeters, or inches.
Page margins [+][-]
Default: 10, 8, 10, 8
Specify custom page margins for text files, in points: left, right, top, and bottom margin.
Text watermark
Controls with parameters related to adding a text watermark onto pages.
Enabled [+][-]
Default: disabled
Enable text watermark. When it's on, the text watermark ({srcfilepageno}) adds page numbers onto pages in the bottom right corner of pages. You can modify the watermark using Text watermark settings.
Text watermark settings [+][-]
Default: {srcfilepageno}
Configure a text watermark. You can:
- add custom text – you can enter any text and customize the text watermark, including font style, size, and background color
- add page numbers – {srcfilepageno}
- add other source file data such as filename, folder name, date/time, pages, and more
- change watermark font style, alignment, margins, rotation, background color
To add source file data, you can use and combine various macros. Click the {=} icon to select a macro to be used.
Multiple pages per sheet
Controls with parameters related to printing several pages of a multipage document onto a single sheet of paper.
Enabled [+][-]
Default: disabled
Enable 2Printer's multiple-pages-per-sheet mode.
Horizontal pages on the sheet [+][-]
Default: 1
Set the number of pages placed horizontally.
Vertical pages on the sheet [+][-]
Default: 1
Set the number of pages placed vertically.
Horizontal space [+][-]
Default: 0.5
Set space gaps between pages placed horizontally.
Vertical space [+][-]
Default: 0.5
Set space gaps between pages placed vertically.
Draw rectangular frame [+][-]
Default: enabled
Add a border around every page when multiple-pages-per-sheet mode in on. You can change the frame color manually or enter RGB values or an HTML code to be used.
Files and folders
Controls with parameters related to files and folders.
Recurse subfolders [+][-]
Default: disabled
Allow including files from subdirectories and print them too (subfolder recursion). You can uncheck the box next to Include files in subfolders to disable this feature or enter paths to folders that should be ignored.
Password list [+][-]
Default: none
Enter the password for the source files, if they are password-protected. If your files are protected with more than one password, you can specify multiple passwords too. Enter them in double quotation marks, separated by commas.
Exclude files by mask [+][-]
Default: none
Enter an expression to restrict printing of certain files by mask. For example, use *.docx to ignore Word files.
Keep source files available for editing [+][-]
Temp folder [+][-]
Default: %TEMP%
Set path to a folder for temporary files. By default, it is C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Local\Temp
To change the TEMP folder:
Open 2Printer Settings with this command: 2Printer.exe -ini
- Go to the Advanced tab and find the Logfile folder setting
- Enter a new folder path or click a folder icon to open the Select folder dialog box.
Post processing
Controls with parameters related to post-processing actions to be performed automatically after printing.
Successfully printed files [+][-]
Default: none
Select an action to be performed with successfully printed files: do nothing, copy/move to another folder, or delete.
Files that failed to print [+][-]
Default: none
Select an action to be performed with files that failed to print for some reason: do nothing (none), copy/move to another folder, or delete.
Task processor
Controls with parameters related to the operation of 2Printer.
Timeout [+][-]
Default: 5 minutes
Set time limit for processing a single file. After this time is over, 2Printer will proceed to another file.
Memory leaks limit [+][-]
Default: 512 MB
Set limit to random-access memory allocated for 2Printer's work. If the amount of memory leaks exceeds a certain limit, the program engine restarts automatically without interruption. This lets 2Printer process any number of files per session.
Restart after jobs number [+][-]
Default: 4096 jobs
Automatically restart the program engine after a certain number of print jobs.
Disabled helpers [+][-]
Default: none
Disable specific components 2Printer that are used by the program to print certain types of files. Please do not change this parameter unless our support service advised it.
Log
Controls with parameters related to logging made by 2Printer.
Verbosity [+][-]
Default: Verbose
Select the type of log created by 2Printer. You can select between Verbose, Regular, and Laconic.
Create new logfile after [+][-]
Default: File size limit exceed
Choose when a new log file should be created (and the old log replaced). You can select between File size limit exceed and Everyday.
File size limit [+][-]
Default: 16 MB
Set limit for the size of a logfile.
File history size [+][-]
Default: 8 file(s)
Set the number of files that keep the log history.
Logfile folder [+][-]
Default: %TEMP%
Set path to a folder for log files. By default, it is C:\Users\[User]\AppData\Local\Temp
Miscellaneous
Controls with parameters that don't fit into any section.
Check for updates [+][-]
Default: enabled
Allow 2Printer to automatically check for updates when a new minor or major update is released.
Remember printer name and settings [+][-]
Default: enabled
Let 2Printer save preferred print settings and use the same printer's name and settings since the last print session.
Print engine
2Printer can be flexible when it comes to processing different file types. It can switch between different modules if an uncommon file cannot be handled properly. The modules include Cnv2Pdf, CADlib, Patagames, EDrawingsHelper, and some others. Please do not change these settings and contact our specialists if you have any issues with a specific type of file.
File extension aliases
If you have files in supported format but with a non-standard file extension, 2Printer won't let you process these files. Still, there is a way to print them.
For example, your software generates [filename].invoice files, which are structurally PDF. 2Printer does not recognize files with ".invoice" extension. However, with the help of the File extension aliases tab, it is possible to import and print them – just associate your .invoice files with PDF format. Then your files will be processed the same way as PDF, which is one of the supported file types.
Associate files without extension
If you have files without any extension, you can associate them with one of 2Printer's formats, for example, TXT.
To set file type associations for files without extension:
- Open 2Printer Settings with this command: 2Printer.exe -ini
- Go to the File extension aliases tab.
- Add "empty extension" by entering symbols "" at the end of the list.