Problem with Print dialog box (changing focus)

[Kimberly D]

When I am about to print a document, I click on the "Print" icon and the Print dialog box appears. When I want to select the duplexing option to print double-sided, I click the "Properties" button from within the "Print" dialog box. I have been doing this for a long time without any problem, but now when I click "Properties," instead of seeing the Properties dialog box, the focus shifts to a completely different application, usually to the browser window that I have open at the time. I then have to click on the Word application in my task bar to return to the Print (Properties) dialog box to finish the request to print my document double-sided. I have a new Dell laptop XPS L701X with Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit installed, and as I mentioned, this problem just started a couple of days ago for no reason that I can ascertain.

 

[Jacee]

Right click on the printer (control panel > Devices and Printers)
click on Printer Properties (not Properties). In the Properties dialog box, select the Advanced tab and set your printer up the way you want it.

 

[Kimberly D]

Thank you, but when I do what you suggest, I don't see any options in Printer Properties that would seem to address my issue.

Another way to state my problem is that when I click "Properties" in the Print dialog box (to select duplex printing), the focus is then shifted to another application (usually a browser window) instead of staying focused on the newly generated Print Properties dialog box. The dialog box I want to see (Print-Properties) disappears, and I have to re-focus on the application from where I'm printing.

 

[Jacee]

Once you click on the Advanced tab, click on the Printing Defaults button. On the right hand side you'll see that you can select to 'print on both sides' .... off or on.

 

[Kimberly D]

Thanks, Jacee, but my problem really has to do with the Print Properties dialog disappearing behind another open window - my problem isn't about being able to print double-sided. (I switch back & forth between printing single-sided and double-sided, so I don't want to set my Printer Properties to print duplex all the time.) Sorry if I was unclear.

My problem is this: When I click "Properties" from within the Print dialog box, the focus shifts to a completely different application. In other words, instead of seeing the Properties dialog open, a different window comes to the foreground, and the only way I would even know that the Properties dialog actually opened is because the application I'm printing from (usually Word) is flashing on the task bar. So then I have to click on the flashing icon (Word application) to see the Properties dialog, and then I can select duplex and send the print request. It's very annoying.