Can't Print! What is "Print to File/Output File Name" Box?

[D***@adobeforums.com]

Only recently have I been unable to print PDFs. It's not an error, but just something I've never seen/never been asked for.

When I hit "print"....you get the "progress" window/graph..it starts then you get another box 'titled' (in the blue bar)"Print to File". It has a field you're supposed to fill in called "Output File Name:"

I've never been asked for this, I don't know what it means, and every attempt to fill in a file name doesn't do anything; If you type something in...the box disappears, the progress bar fills in to 100%, that box disappears...

and nothing prints!

When I print any other document or photo, it just prints. I've printed PDFs for a few years, and this never came up. I'm running XP media center on an HP computer (Athlon X2 64). My printer is an HP 2401 all-in-one. I have Reader 8.1, which I updated to yesterday AFTER I got this problem, thinking it might fix it (it didn't). I had some Windows updates install last week..not sure exactly what, though.

What do I need to do to go back to the situation where when I hit "Print"...something just prints; I don't need to name an output file (whatever that means!). Do I do something with/to Reader? Is it a Printer setting, or something in Windows "My Printers"/Control Panel?

HELP!!

Thanks!

[graffiti]

File>Print, unselect "print to file".

[s***@gmail.com]

Post by graffiti
File>Print, unselect "print to file".

I have been battling with that problem for AGES and today sat down and thought, "There MUST be a solution to this", so I googled it and came up with your post. Saved me!! Thanks A LOT!

[l***@tampabay.rr.com]

Only recently have I been unable to print PDFs. It's not an error, but just something I've never seen/never been asked for.
When I hit "print"....you get the "progress" window/graph..it starts then you get another box 'titled' (in the blue bar)"Print to File". It has a field you're supposed to fill in called "Output File Name:"
I've never been asked for this, I don't know what it means, and every attempt to fill in a file name doesn't do anything; If you type something in...the box disappears, the progress bar fills in to 100%, that box disappears...
and nothing prints!
When I print any other document or photo, it just prints. I've printed PDFs for a few years, and this never came up. I'm running XP media center on an HP computer (Athlon X2 64). My printer is an HP 2401 all-in-one. I have Reader 8.1, which I updated to yesterday AFTER I got this problem, thinking it might fix it (it didn't). I had some Windows updates install last week..not sure exactly what, though.
What do I need to do to go back to the situation where when I hit "Print"...something just prints; I don't need to name an output file (whatever that means!). Do I do something with/to Reader? Is it a Printer setting, or something in Windows "My Printers"/Control Panel?
HELP!!
Thanks!

[a***@gmail.com]

while you are priting your file please un-select the "Print To File" option

THANKS

[k***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
while you are priting your file please un-select the "Print To File" option
THANKS

I have default printer selected but item still goes to print to file .prn I don't have print to file selected. I'm stumped!!

[q***@gmail.com]

Post by a***@gmail.com
while you are priting your file please un-select the "Print To File" option
THANKS

thank you and its worthy

[s***@gmail.com]

Post by D***@adobeforums.com
Only recently have I been unable to print PDFs. It's not an error, but just something I've never seen/never been asked for.
When I hit "print"....you get the "progress" window/graph..it starts then you get another box 'titled' (in the blue bar)"Print to File". It has a field you're supposed to fill in called "Output File Name:"
I've never been asked for this, I don't know what it means, and every attempt to fill in a file name doesn't do anything; If you type something in...the box disappears, the progress bar fills in to 100%, that box disappears...
and nothing prints!
When I print any other document or photo, it just prints. I've printed PDFs for a few years, and this never came up. I'm running XP media center on an HP computer (Athlon X2 64). My printer is an HP 2401 all-in-one. I have Reader 8.1, which I updated to yesterday AFTER I got this problem, thinking it might fix it (it didn't). I had some Windows updates install last week..not sure exactly what, though.
What do I need to do to go back to the situation where when I hit "Print"...something just prints; I don't need to name an output file (whatever that means!). Do I do something with/to Reader? Is it a Printer setting, or something in Windows "My Printers"/Control Panel?
HELP!!
Thanks!

YES it's in the Cpntrol panel, printer options

[b***@gmail.com]

Post by D***@adobeforums.com
Only recently have I been unable to print PDFs. It's not an error, but just something I've never seen/never been asked for.
When I hit "print"....you get the "progress" window/graph..it starts then you get another box 'titled' (in the blue bar)"Print to File". It has a field you're supposed to fill in called "Output File Name:"
I've never been asked for this, I don't know what it means, and every attempt to fill in a file name doesn't do anything; If you type something in...the box disappears, the progress bar fills in to 100%, that box disappears...
and nothing prints!
When I print any other document or photo, it just prints. I've printed PDFs for a few years, and this never came up. I'm running XP media center on an HP computer (Athlon X2 64). My printer is an HP 2401 all-in-one. I have Reader 8.1, which I updated to yesterday AFTER I got this problem, thinking it might fix it (it didn't). I had some Windows updates install last week..not sure exactly what, though.
What do I need to do to go back to the situation where when I hit "Print"...something just prints; I don't need to name an output file (whatever that means!). Do I do something with/to Reader? Is it a Printer setting, or something in Windows "My Printers"/Control Panel?
HELP!!
Thanks!

[Dayna Wesley]

For the person reading this in 2023:

1. Open any PDF
2. Go to "File"
3. Select "Print"
4. Click on "Advanced"
5. At the bottom you'll see "Print to File"
6. Uncheck "Print to File" and you should be good to go :)