We’ve been requesting this for a while too, so I wouldn’t get your hopes up about this changing soon. Here’s a thread from 4.5 years ago:
It’s not a big deal. You can add a feature-request tag to a thread either when you create it or afterwards. But it’s also not strictly necessary, because the devs read everything and will make note of good ideas, even if they’re not tagged with feature-request.
I can see why the other thread wasn’t clear to you about adding the tag vs. starting a new thread. Live and learn!
Well, he’s / she’s new, it’s totally understandable.
Because we’re using a custom interface for printing, we’re using the cross-platform capabilities of the Qt printing subsystem, which doesn’t provide easy access to the Windows printer properties dialog. You can open it if you use the native Windows Print dialog, but we choose not to use that in Dorico because we want to provide a custom print workflow that goes beyond what is possible in the native dialog.
If the main reason you need the printer properties dialog is to make a specific paper tray choice, that is something we can potentially add to the existing options in the options panel in Print mode. We’ll look into this when we get a chance.
(I have also merged the two identical threads into a single one, since there’s no need to have multiple threads from the same poster on the same topic.)
Please do so just being able to choose the proper print tray would be fantastic.
Some responders that offer snarky replies to an already frustrated user doesn’t help and only increases the frustration. That is why I refrain from using this forum even though there are good guys like yourself and a few others. But I admit the FB forum has the same.
It’s a shame.
Anyway, thanx for your support .
Another nice-to-have, as @eebiggs1 notes, would be the ability to print just left or right pages.
Wow. I ‘ve only been using the software for a few weeks (longtime Finale user) and I thought my inability to access my printer properties was simply me being stupid. This is mind-boggling given how many upgrades this software has gone through and that it’s a top of the line notation/page layout program. I do understand that most Windows users won’t have the setup that I have but so many other Windows programs allow printer properties access this really is baffling. Thank goodness I found this 6 month old thread.
Not being able to quickly access my paper trays is the least of my frustration. To be a little more specific, through my printer properties I not only have the options to print color and from various trays but also can print saddle-stitched booklets (booklets come out of the machine folded & stapled), folded 2-ups, save jobs to the hard drive on the printer itself and choose the quality of the print job. Having to go into Windows Printer Preferences to do this for each printout is quite tedious when a score/parts set could include all of these options. Having the middle step of generating pdf files is also a time waster.
Generally, I’m happy with the program (although I’m quickly finding where it’s lacking relative to my prior notation software). This will fall into the shake my head in disbelief category of experiences.
Now I just need to find where I “officially” add my vote for this feature before someone yells at me that I’m using this forum incorrectly.
There’s no place to vote on features like that, but you have just indicated your support.
BTW, I know it’s not as convenient as having access to printer properties from the Print section, but you can create duplicate printer objects in Windows, set properties on them differently, and name them appropriately. Then you can choose the one you want in Dorico without having to customize print settings each time.
This is something so obvious, I never thought of it as a solution. I’ve accidentally created such printer objects before, but always deleted them without thinking I could use them in this way.
Live and learn…
Thanks for the kind response and for the suggestion.
Unfortunately, I have 5 different printer setting I use regularly to print music (saved as profiles within the printer driver). And then times where I need to print drafts vs final outputs so I’d end up having 10 printers added to the 7 already installed. Additionally, I print to the hard drive on the printer which requires me to choose the destination folder (which is different for each piece).
But I’m willing to give it a try! Maybe choosing from a long list a printers will ultimately be faster in Dorico than choosing printer profiles within the printer driver. Though, it’ll make for a messy household as every the other programs on the computer has to see the same list.
Thanks again - always willing to try something new!
Ken
It would be nice if Steinberg would just make it work like every Windows app does. The top of pile notation software can’t access the printer.
I quote the chief developer:
The benefit of this solution is that we can use Dorico cross platform on the Mac, on the iPad and on Windows.
Since most of us export our projects and layouts to PDF before printing anyway, the urgency doesn’t feel particularly pressing.
I’m not sure that’s true.
I like to print from Dorico if possible just like I did with Finale. Of course Finale let you have full access to the printer functions. I print my concert band scores on 9x12 standard size. I have three paper sources available on my printer.
I understand and I am certain that this is way down on Spreadbury’s list of things to do and it will never see the light of day. But think the top rated notation app ignores half of its users because of the reason it works well for iPad and Mac. Although I have and love my iPad it never is used for Dorico projects.
Yes we can export PDF but that’s a work around just like some things we had to do using Finale. Sibelius can access the printer and they have Mac and iPad.
I don’t think that constant nagging will get us anywhere. Let us create and keep a polite friendly working atmosphere here on the forum. That’s actually quite essential imho, especially as this forum serves as important link between the users and the developers.