Page Setup

Modified by Susan Riege on Aug 15, 2018

Summary

This dialog provides controls to configure how the software outputs the specified printout to the chosen printer, in terms of paper, scaling and color settings.

While the controls of the dialog remain the same, the actual use of the dialog and its banner text will vary depending on the type of document being printed.

Access

The dialog can be accessed in the following ways:

From the Schematic and PCB Editors, use the Outputs | Documentation | » Page Setup command from the main menus.
Right-click on a document's entry in the Projects panel then choose the Page Setup command from the context menu (where available).
Right-click in the Print Preview dialog then choose the Page Setup command from the context menu.
Select an entry on the Default Prints tab of the Project Options dialog then click the Page Setup button.

Options/Controls

Printer Paper

Size - use this field to choose the size of paper on which you are printing. The field's drop-down populates with all paper sizes supported by the printing device chosen in the Printer Configuration dialog.
Orientation - use this control to determine the orientation of the printed output on the page, either Portrait or Landscape.

Scaling

Scale Mode - use this field to determine the mode of scaling employed. Choose from either Fit Document On Page or Scaled Print.
- Scale - this field becomes available when the Scale Mode is set to Scaled Print. Use it to define how much the document is scaled. Entering a value greater than 1 will essentially enlarge the print (a zoomed-in effect), while entering a value less than 1 will shrink it (a zoomed-out effect).

When the print is enlarged, the true content of the original page is still printed but it will be divided over a number of pages. These pages, when printed and placed together, will show the enlarged original printed content.

Corrections

X/Y - these fields become available when the Scale Mode is set to Scaled Print. Use them to adjust the printout in the horizontal and vertical planes, respectively, for scaling errors in the printer.

Offset

Horizontal - use this field to manually adjust the position of the printed content on the page in the horizontal plane. Enter a positive value to shift the printed content to the right on the page, or a negative value to shift it left. If the field is set to zero, the minimum horizontal left-hand margin required by the printer is used. Enable the Center option to automatically position the printed content so that it is centered horizontally on the page.
Vertical - use this field to manually adjust the position of the printed content on the page in the vertical plane. Enter a positive value to shift the printed content upward on the page, or a negative value to shift it downward. If the field is set to zero, the minimum vertical bottom margin required by the printer is used. Enable the Center option to automatically position the printed content so that it is centered vertically on the page.

It is a good idea to show the printable region when using the Print Preview dialog (right-click then choose Show Print Region). This enables you to see how manual adjustments to the offsets affect the printed content in relation to the area of the page that your printing device can actually print.

Color Set

Use the options in this region to choose which color set you want to use for the printed output. Available color sets are:

Mono - choose this option to use the monochrome color set; the content will be printed in black and white only.
Color - choose this option to use the full color set; the content will be printed using all colors available for the nominated printing device, as required.
Gray - choose this option to use the gray scale color set; the content will be printed in shades of gray only.

Additional Controls

Print - click this button to print the required content. The Printer Configuration dialog will appear in which you can confirm what is to be printed and to which printing device.
Preview - click this button to open the Print Preview dialog with the page(s) to be printed loaded and in accordance with the defined page setup and printer configuration. Use the previewer to make sure the resulting print looks exactly as you need it to prior to generating the actual print(s).
Advanced - click this button to access an additional properties dialog with printing options in relation to content included in the print. The actual dialog accessed and the options it provides depends on the document type you are trying to print:
- Schematic - accesses the Schematic Print Properties dialog.
- PCB/PCBLib - accesses the PCB Printout Properties dialog.
- PCB 3D Print - accesses the PCB 3D Print Settings dialog.
- Text - accesses the Advanced Text Print Properties dialog.
Printer Setup - click this button to access the Printer Configuration dialog in which you can define what is printed and to which printing device it is sent.

Content