Printing in Windows - drawstring gives incorrect character spacing

[Tim_Meadows]

Here is the fix for HP Printers on Windows boxes. Use a PS (post-script) print driver NOT the PCL. I changed my to the PS driver for my HP m401 and it works great now!

Tim

[Michel_Bujardet]

@226464:@Harrie Westphal

Glad you found the problem. It is not too common; but, it is not the first time that I have seen a printer go awry. Not too sure that a change in drivers will fix the problem. Seems more like a mechanical defect; however, I will not bet a paycheck on that idea.

Some Windows default printer drivers are awful. Most of the time, it is better to go to the maker’s web site, download the driver and install it.

[Jeff_Tullin]

If I recall correctly from years ago…the PCL driver will substitute in-built printer fonts for Times, Arial, Courier if the printer detects that you have used those fonts.
The idea being that you (more or less) get an A for a character 65, instead of having to send hundreds of pixels.

Presumably switching to the postscript driver forces it to always render as graphics instead of built-in fonts.

[Tim_Hare]

I’m glad that using postscript is working for you. But just as another data point, Harrie’s code runs flawlessly on my Laserjet m401 using the Windows PCL driver. I think you have a hardware issue that you are working around. PS is not universally required.