Printing Envelopes on a HP DeskJet from Impression
Andrew Provan was quoted in May's Archive asking how to design an Impression master to print envelopes via the envelope feed of a DeskJet Plus.
The problem with his request is that is rather long winded having to create a document and then go through the tortuous business of originating a master page to suit envelopes. My solution is to have a ready prepared document called !-Envelope. This document started life as a blank !DJPaper document and has merely had a text window added where the address is to go. The advantage of !DJPaper is that it is quicker for printing and one does not need the quality of the outline text on an envelope (I thought). The procedure to use it is (it is quick once you have got the hang of it):
1. Ensure you have the SaveDeskJe module loaded, if you are using an !-Envelope document created from !DJPaper.
1.1 It is best to put SaveDeskJe in the Auto directory so that Impression always starts up with it loaded; it only uses 2.5k so should not cause any trouble with 1Mbyte machines.
2. Save the address(es) to a text file, called "Address".
2.1 The address can be saved from a letter by selecting the address section on the letter and saving it as a text story.
2.2 When saving text stories you are better off disconnecting the "with Styles" radio button.
3. Open the !-Envelope document.
4. Select the window area of the document, by clicking inside it.
5. Drag the address file into this window area.
6. Insert the envelope into the DeskJet and press the two "Envelope" keys on the DeskJet. (On my machine it is tricky to get the envelope to feed straight, but I succeed nine times out of ten these days!)
7. Ensure the text window with the address in it remains selected on the document. (Things go funny if it isn't.)
8. Point through “Save Text Story” on the Impression Document menu to get to "as DeskJet". Then drag the DeskJet icon to the printer icon on the desktop bar. The envelope should print...
