LaserWriter 16/600 PS: Use Manual Feed For Labels

I am using a LaserWriter 16/600 PS for printing labels almost exclusively. I am using the normal paper tray. However, the labels jam all the time. The manual says to use the manual feed, but I have not found a way to make the Page Setup default to manual feed. Also, the manual feed also does not allow as many labels as the paper tray does.

Are there any tips to printing labels with the LaserWriter 16/600 PS? Is there a way to default always to the manual feed?

The LaserWriter 16/600 PS print engine is not designed to handle labels from either the 250 or 500 sheet cassette trays. Trying to do so results in a higher than normal number of misfeeds, label separations, and paper jams.

Workaround

The LaserWriter 8.x driver does not have a "sticky button" feature that remembers the last paper source chosen. However, there is a PostScript level workaround that may be acceptable since you use the printer mainly for labels. It is important to note that the workaround involves modifying a value stored on the I/O controller, which stores the default paper tray information. The default tray is always set to the 250 sheet cassette tray when the printer ships from the factory, however it can be changed.

The paper out LED (Light Emitting Diode - the small amber light on the side of the printer) is activated whenever there is no paper detected in the default tray. If the default tray is set to the multi-purpose tray then the paper out LED turns on whenever there is no paper present in the multi-purpose tray, even if there is paper in the 250 sheet cassette. To prevent confusion a note should be placed on the printer explaining that a paper out condition means that paper should be added to the multi-purpose tray.

Defining the Default Paper Tray

Any of the paper trays (Multipurpose, 250-sheet, 500-sheet, or Envelope) can be set as the default paper tray if Auto Select is selected as the paper source from within the print dialog box, if the PostScript code below is downloaded to the printer. The default paper tray is the default paper tray setting for print jobs coming from any Macintosh since this value is modified at the printer hardware level.

PostScript Code

If you decide to use the PostScript code below, you need to be very careful in selecting the default tray. If the multipurpose tray is set as the default and there is no paper in it, the paper out LED will light for EVERY PRINT JOB until paper is placed in the tray. This problem has caused some users (others on the network) to think that the printer is malfunctioning and needs to be repaired. Please forewarn users about this so they can understand, that the printer's behavior has changed.

Caution! If you choose to use the PostScript code provided in this article, you assume all risks involved in making these changes. PostScript code, if not entered correctly, can place the LaserWriter into a condition requiring service.

Here is the PostScript Level 1 code to set the default paper tray:


%=========================================================
% Begin PostScript Code
%
serverdict begin 0 exitserver
statusdict begin 1 setdefaultpapertray end
%
% End PostScript Code
%=========================================================

The preceding example has a 1 as the Tray Selection option, before the PostScript operator:

1 setdefaultpapertray

This indicates that the default changes to the multi-purpose tray. If the default tray needs to be reset to the factory default at a later date then the value should be changed to 0.

To download the PostScript file to the LaserWriter copy the two lines of PostScript code into any text processor and save it as a text file. Use the Apple Printer Utility or other PostScript utility to download the file to the printer.

The following table lists the values for the Tray Selection option:

VALUE    TRAY SELECTION
-----    ------------------
0        250 Sheet Cassette

1        Multi-purpose tray

2        500 Sheet Cassette

3        Envelope tray

This is the equivalent PostScript Level 2 code:


%=========================================================
% Begin PostScript Code
%
serverdict begin 0 exitserver
1 dict dup /InputAttributes 1 dict dup /Priority [2 1 0] put put setpagedevice
%
% End PostScript Code
%=========================================================

This sets the paper tray priority to:
1st Priority - Cassette (500 Sheets) - designated by the "2" in the array above.
2nd Priority - Multipurpose Tray - designated by the "1" in the array above.
3rd Priority - Cassette (250 Sheets) - designated by the "0" in the array above.

You can change the paper tray priority order by changing the values in "/Priority [2 1 0]". For example, /Priority [0 1 2] makes the 250 sheet cassette first priority, then the Multipurpose tray next, then the 500 sheet cassette.

NOTE: Remember to reset the default value back to its original setting when you are done.

Published Date: Feb 19, 2012